Saturday, December 18, 2004
The Reason for the Season
There is a marvelous interplay in many of the old masters' paintings of the Madonna and Child. Mary often looks sad and pensive, staring away into the distance, already our Lady of Sorrow. Sometimes Jesus is depicted with arms outstretched, or in postures that are reminiscent of the Deposition, forshadowing in this moment of joy at the beginning of his life, the moment of his death.
The Virgin of the Eucharist - Botticelli
These two events go totally together. Without the Incarnation, there can be no Passion. Without Christ's birth, there is no Ressurection.
In a way, every time we come to Adoration, we are reenacting that scene so long ago, where the shepherds came and adored the infant Jesus.
Just as every time we go to mass, we celebrate Jesus' passion and resurrection, we also are celebrating his incarnation, for he comes to us then, just as real as he was when he came to Bethlehem.
Let us then, when we walk into church or other place where Jesus resides in the Blessed Sacrament, join in the old hymn, not just during this season, but all through the year, singing:
"O come let us adore Him,
O come let us adore Him,
O come let us adore Him,
Christ the Lord."
Prayer:
Lord, in this season, where so much energy is spent on frivolous things, yet where still we keep alive the memory of that day so long ago, may we remember how you chose to be with us, not because of anything we had earned, or deserved, but simply because you loved us. And humbled by that thought, may we always be opene to what you would have us do, this day and always, Amen.
There is a marvelous interplay in many of the old masters' paintings of the Madonna and Child. Mary often looks sad and pensive, staring away into the distance, already our Lady of Sorrow. Sometimes Jesus is depicted with arms outstretched, or in postures that are reminiscent of the Deposition, forshadowing in this moment of joy at the beginning of his life, the moment of his death.
The Virgin of the Eucharist - Botticelli
These two events go totally together. Without the Incarnation, there can be no Passion. Without Christ's birth, there is no Ressurection.
In a way, every time we come to Adoration, we are reenacting that scene so long ago, where the shepherds came and adored the infant Jesus.
Just as every time we go to mass, we celebrate Jesus' passion and resurrection, we also are celebrating his incarnation, for he comes to us then, just as real as he was when he came to Bethlehem.
Let us then, when we walk into church or other place where Jesus resides in the Blessed Sacrament, join in the old hymn, not just during this season, but all through the year, singing:
"O come let us adore Him,
O come let us adore Him,
O come let us adore Him,
Christ the Lord."
Prayer:
Lord, in this season, where so much energy is spent on frivolous things, yet where still we keep alive the memory of that day so long ago, may we remember how you chose to be with us, not because of anything we had earned, or deserved, but simply because you loved us. And humbled by that thought, may we always be opene to what you would have us do, this day and always, Amen.
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