Post Christmas Let-Down
It is a sad reality that most of us feel an immediate let-down following the celebration of the birth of our Lord. We have been preparing for His coming for four weeks. He has come and now the joy is over. . . No! . . . That must not be the way for us who are evangelized Christians. Gaudete! Christus est natus! – Rejoice! Christ is born!
In the words of the prophet Isaiah: “For unto us a child is born, to us a son is given; . . . and his name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” (Is 9:6). And now that he has come, nothing is to ever be the same again. For upon his coming, “the wolf shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid, and the calf and lion and the fatling together and a little child shall lead them. . . The [child] shall play over the hole of an asp . . . and place his hand upon the adders den.” (Is 11:6-8). Nor shall there be any more hurt or destruction. (Is 11:9).
We ask ourselves why we do not feel the euphoria or see the blissful vision predicted by Isaiah. Is it because Christ did not complete His salvific work? No! The kingdom is at hand! We have been deified by Christ. The perfection predicted has been won by the blood of the Lamb. . . but . . . we must now do our part.
The heavenly vision of Isaiah ends with the words: “ . . . for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea.” (Is 11:9). Christ has come. That is for sure. But is the earth “full of the knowledge of the Lord?” Is Christ as prevalent in all men’s hearts as the water is in the sea? What have we done to accomplish this?
It is no accident that the very day after the Church celebrates the birth of our Lord, it celebrates the feast of the first martyr Stephen. It would be nice to sit and stare at the “little Lord Jesus asleep in the hay” for a day, a week or a month. But that is not what we are called to do. Christ has come. Now we must, like Stephen, announce His coming.
Just two days after Christmas, the Gospel provides an account of the Resurrection - Mary Magdalene “ran” to tell Simon and John what had happened. (Jn 20:1). The following Monday’s Gospel recounts the shepherds praising God and “making known the message that had been told them about this child.” (Lk 2:17). The Gospels in the following days tell of John’s heralding Christ’s coming and the coming of the Kingdom.
What do we learn from Mother Church through her loving, inspired choice of these gospels? We learn that there is no time to be melancholic, even as we put away decorations and place our tree in the street. This is not a time for remorse, but a time of absolute joy and pronounced purpose. Christ has been born for us. He has died for us. He has risen for us. And we, like John, Stephen and Mary Magdalene, are called to go out and preach this Good News!
Let this celebration of Christmas once again remind you that you are called to evangelize – to spread the good news which you have received. Go out and preach the knowledge of the Lord to all the earth. And be assured that the spirit of our Incarnate Lord will strengthen you in this task.
Merry Christmas! Now get going. . . . You have joyous work to do!
+JITIY+ |
