It is Christmas Eve! The anticipation of the coming of our Lord is almost over. His coming is tangible at this point. Imminent and certain. What a beautiful gift the Lord has given us. On this Eve of the Birth of the Lord, I wanted to share just a short meditation on the Nativity. I encourage you to sit in silence with this scripture and meditation today. Ask the Lord to speak to you through it. Ask Him to show you the gift of His coming, the gift of His mission, and allow Him to permeate you with His perfect peace.
The Word Made Flesh
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came to be through him, and without him nothing came to be. What came to be through him was life, and this life was the light of the human race; the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world came to be through him, but the world did not know him. He came to what was his own, but his own people did not accept him.
But to those who did accept Him He gave power to become children of God, to those who believe in his name, who were born not by natural generation nor by human choice nor by a man’s decision but of God. And the Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us, and we saw his glory, the glory as of the Father’s only Son, full of grace and truth.
-John 1:1-5, 9-14
My Meditation
The babe brings paradise among the cows and lambs. The beautiful babe, all goodness, all hope, rests peacefully in the mess of the stable. All the animals feel the soft glow of His radiating peace. Comforting and soothing the restless animals. The beloved peace, made flesh, makes everything settle and grow quiet. The gentlest soul sleeps in the manger. He is the bringer of paradise, but is also paradise itself, as His tiny heart already pours out an abundance of love.
The babe in the manger born for suffering. This precious babe will grow to take the horrible pains of a horrible death. For me…. This sweet babe asleep in the arms of His Mother, will die a gruesome death so I may live. He is the Divine Lamb asleep in the hay. Resting peacefully among His creation. The unblemished lamb worthy to be offered in reparation for all my transgressions, whose breath is enough to save the world, yet He gives an excess of charity on the cross.
This babe resting His weary head, safe in the arms of His Mother. Consoled and comforted by her gentle hands and loving heart. At her feet I am the student of love, as I witness her tender care for my beloved Savior. If only I could sit there forever. Drawn into the abyss of love they pour out. He into her, and her into Him, it is an endless stream of love. Perfect docility, perfect peace, is the scene in the stable. The Nativity is a picture of the glory of love.
How can I continue to sin when I look at the precious face of this babe? My Savior. How can sin, the enemy, continue to hold say over my heart? How can I discard Him so easily? A single glance upon His sweet face, a sleepy smile from Him makes my heart long to be hear Him always. To beg Our Lady to let me hold Him forever, which she would graciously allow. This precious babe that satisfies my whole heart and fills the emptiness of my soul.
I pray you have a very Merry Christmas!
Thrive in Jesus, my Friends!
Where do you feel most at peace with Jesus? Where do you feel the most loved by Him? What have you learned from this Advent Season? Leave me a comment and let me know!
New to my blog? Start here!