As we now grow in Faith with the Birth of Christ

As we now grow in faith with the Birth of Christ

How easy it becomes for us to now seek another celebration as the feast of Christmas has passed out of view.  Do we look forward to several days of a New Year with a hope of prosperity?  After all, the expense that most people spent for gifts, dinners, and with credit card totals to be coming soon, has left many heads of homes shuddering at the purchases of more than we expected.  

So much can be gleaned from the great miracle of Christ’s Incarnation has left each of us in a hope of realizing the many prophecies of a change in the release from our sins.  If the only thoughts of being thankful that this Christmas event has passed so no more expense confronts us, we have missed the most eventful miracle that God ever gave us?  

Look at what Isaiah said:  ”On this mountain the Lord of hosts will provide for all peoples.  On this mountain he will destroy the veil that veils all peoples.  On that day it will be said:  Behold our God, to whom we looked to save us!  On that day they will sing this song in the land of Judah:  “A strong city have we; he sets up walls and remparts to protect us.  Open up the gates to let in a nation that is just, one that keeps faith.  A nation of firm purpose you keep in peace; in peace, for its trust in you.”  (verses from chapter 25 of Isaiah).

If we but just take a moment to dwell upon the firm reason that God instilled this theme into our humanity was not to give us a pattern to become industrious and grow in wealth for ourselves, but the very pattern of being forgiven and finding the everlasting mercy that can only come from the Heart of Jesus through his Passion; given for you and me.

From Augustine:  “He promised eternal salvation, everlasting happiness with the angels, an immortal inheritance, endless glory, the joyful vision of his face, his holy dwelling in heaven, and after resurrection from the dead no further fear of dying.  He has promised men divinity, mortals immortality, sinners justification, the poor a rising to glory.   It was not enough for God to make his Son our guide to the way; he made him the way itself, so that you might travel with him as leader, and by him as the way.  All this had therefore to be prophesied, foretold, and impressed on us as an event in the future, in order that we might wait for it in faith, not find it a sudden and dreadful reality.”  (from a discourse on the Psalms by Saint Augustine).  

Both of these two excerpts are taken from the Office of Readings for Wednesday of the second week of Advent.

As we approach the New Year, let us become more aware than ever before of the current signs of a future for this entire planet and keep the gift of Chrisrmas forever in our minds and hearts.  

Ralph B. Hathaway