The Sixth Day of Christmas: New Babies! God in his wisdom chose to come to us humans as one of us in every way except sin, as a baby. We believe Jesus was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. He was totally dependent on his parents for his very life. At one time, we all were the very same, a newborn baby, 100% dependent.
Do we believe, with all our hearts, that it was God who created us, God who gave us life? Our human mothers and fathers cooperated with God to bring us to life. Despite what some moderns would have us think, we are not only animals! We each have an Immortal Soul, destined for our places in eternity! All peoples in all times, have this realization, that there is "a higher power" than themselves; all natives have created some system of worship. It was remarkable to me to learn, from my travel journeys through the pages of National Geographic Magazine, that the ancient peoples, millennia before the time of Jesus, both from India and the remote reaches of the Chinese mountains, believed in a "Triune God," a God of three persons in One.
Do we value babies? In our culture, worldwide, so many babies are treated like trash, like the 'property' of the mother, an inconvenience to kill, a burden. None of us asked to be born and we did not choose our parents. But God knew exactly when and where and who our parents would become, precisely for our good. And he may give us children to guide, cherish, and love.
After seeing the Nativity Scene up close after Mass this past weekend, my granddaughter, Heather, commented about the Baby Jesus, "I like the way they have his little foot sticking out of the blanket. It looks so real." And, indeed, it does - precious!
Today, December 31st, we can't help looking back on our Year, 2013. Let's give ourselves 'closure' and consider and evaluate what happened to us and what we accomplished, or did not, in 2013. It is useful to write down various categories and save this from year to year.
Whatever, happened this past year, we need never make ourselves miserable if 'life' didn't go the way we would prefer. We can't go back, we can only 'work' on ourselves, now and in the future. Let it go!
My first category is Spirituality. I remember being six years old and having to memorize my "Catechism" lessons. The first question and answer was: "Who made you? God made me." The second was: "Why did God make you? To know him, love him, serve him, and to be happy with him in this life and in heaven." This simple faith has lasted and grown and is a great source of comfort to me. If you'd like suggestions from my own goals, see "Map to Success," this blog, Monday, December 16, 2013. If you'd like to offer us other goals, please comment and share.
Thank you, my Lord Jesus, for revealing yourself to us and becoming one of us. Thank you for the gift of 2013. Help us all strive to live the coming year, 2014, to please you.
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