Merry Christmas!
During this Christmas season our heart is filled with joy at the good news concerning the birth of the Savior of the World. Nevertheless, we cannot lose sight of the cross of our Blessed Lord. On the days which follow Christmas we are reminded of this through Saint Stephen, the Holy Innocents, and Saint Thomas Becket. We are also reminded of this reality in the words of Simeon: “this child is set for the fall, and for the resurrection of many in Israel: and for a sign which shall be contradicted: and thine own soul a sword shall pierce.”
This prophecy ultimately leads towards the cross. It is a reminder that He is destined to die upon it in order that we may be redeemed. Thus it was upon the wood of the manger that He was laid as a child and the wood of the cross that He came to breath His final breath. He was wrapped in swaddling clothes in Bethlehem and a crown of thorns was placed upon His head at Calvary. If the Lord never came to die upon the cross there would be nothing for us to celebrate during this Christmas season. Therefore, we cannot allow ourself to take our sight off of the cross and it’s redeeming effect.
One Feast of the Blessed Mother is that of Our Lady of Sorrows. In this devotion there are seven sorrows which are present, one of which was accounted for us in our Gospel through Simeon’s prophecy. These seven sorrows begin with this prophecy and end with our Lord’s death and burial. Truly, the season of Christmas remains connected to the cross of our Lord. This is a reality that we cannot allow ourself to lose sight of.
Those who want to take their sight off of the cross dwell in a faith which is exempt from hardship and sorrow. They want to live for the joys of this life, but when hardship and sorrow come they so easily abandon the Lord. None of us here can allow ourself to take our sight off of the cross or we will fall into the same trap. The trap of a faith which is based upon feelings and prosperity and has nothing to do with Chris Jesus. As Christians we must dwell with the cross and the resurrection for from both of these realities spring forth the virtue of hope in the midst of all that we are called to endure within this life.
Truly the birth and death of the Lord are entwined. Our celebration of Christmas is an anticipation of the joy that is found at Easter through the Resurrection. Through our celebration of the Nativity we proclaim the reality that God became man and dwelt among us out of love and from that love He was willing to lay down His life for us upon the cross. At Christmas as well as from the cross we know that joy triumphs over despair and light triumphs over darkness. Through our celebration of these Sacred Mysteries may we be drawn into this life giving reality and truly be given reason to have courage and faith in the midst of all that we are called to endure within this life. From the manger extends the cross and towards these life giving realities may we always dwell.
