CHRISTMAS DAY 2024
FROM DEPRESSING TO BLESSING!
Lk 2; 1-14
MESSAGE
The world today offers many things to us that are depressing. Imagine the fiery election atmosphere in the USA. Think of the endless conflicts in Ukraine, Israel, and Palestine. In our country, issue and controversy pile on top of each other regarding Chinese incursions in our sea, espionage, corruption in government offices and many others.
Is it not enough that we have to contend with our own internal battles with sickness, struggles, separations, sins, and sufferings in life? Must we really be affected day in and day out, within and without, by things depressing?
But today is Christmas, and God wants us to focus once again, not on “things depressing” but on “real blessings!” At times it is hard to imagine how all this worldwide celebration is actually centered on a little Baby, on a Child born to a Virgin, on God’s Son who has become a tiny creature. Why is this Child God’s antidote to things depressing?
The Christ Child teaches us the value of confidence and trust in God our Father. He reminds us that fear, terror, doubts, and timidity are ancient illnesses that we must overcome…and which we can surmount if we offer our hearts to God once again. Then we see and experience things from another vista – all these “challenges,” these “things depressing,” become “real blessings,” “things amazing,” in the hands of God and through the eyes of faith.
More importantly, the Christ Child bestows real peace in our minds, hearts and souls. As we visit our manger and gaze on his face, we are filled with a peace the world does not know, a peace the world cannot give, a peace the world ardently yearns for. And this peace is not a dream anymore but a reality in the Child who turns things depressing into real blessing.
REFLECT
This Christmas time, focus not on things depressing, but on every actual blessing you receive from the Lord. Be grateful for life, family and friends, for the power within you to confront and overcome all struggles. Let the Christ Child fill you with blessings of love and peace that you, in turn, can share with others. Merry Christmas, dear followers of this website. Let us pray for each other!
