What Can I Offer You, Lord?

As we celebrate the glorious Solemnity of the Birth of Jesus, it is easy to become distracted by the gratifications of the various festivities that have developed around that sacred event. Although it is good to rejoice in the Lord always, we need to keep in mind the wisdom exemplified to us on the first Christmas.

Specifically, we must note that the abundance, which surrounds our celebration, is primarily spiritual - an abundance of sacrificial love and sanctifying gratitude.

For example, we often overlook the fact that the birth of Jesus was preceded by the gracious generosity of Mary.

While she was going into her ninth month of pregnancy, she was forced by an imperial decree to undergo the ordeal of traveling with Joseph over seventy miles from Nazareth to Bethlehem. Such a journey would be arduous enough for a woman, who was not pregnant. Yet, trusting in God's wisdom and providence, she echoed her original "fiat" each step of the way. Likewise, when it turned out that even simple lodging was not available, in her humble docility,, she was willing to be consigned with Joseph to a dirty stable. And after she gave birth to Jesus, she further humbled herself to give of her very substance to provide sustenance for her Child. What is often overlooked is that, when an impoverished mother is nursing her baby, her body will get calcium from her own bones to provide for the child's nourishment. Thus Mary could rightly echo to Jesus what Adam asserted about Eve, "This one is flesh of my flesh and bone of my bones."

The mystery of substantial sacrificial self-investment into the life of another is thereby revealed as the guiding paradigm of the Faith we proclaim in Christ.

May all of us come to appreciate more deeply this Christmas the substantial sacrifices (palanca) of others, which have sustained, encouraged and strengthened us in so many ways, as we continue to be formed anew in the image of God in all dimensions of our lives and relationships.

We are in great company as we do so and as we allow ourselves to be inspired to go forth and do likewise

Have a blessed Christmas!

De Colores,

Fr. Tom Collins