HEART-BREAKING SCENE

It really breaks my heart to see someone crying, I almost feel like crying myself, especially if it is a child. That is just what happened to me when I saw little Johnny, looking at the Christmas Tree; all Christmas Eve, till late in the night, and throughout Christmas Day.

No, little Johnny was not crying because his mum was ill in bed; no, not because his father was away from home; not even because he had no brother or sister to play with. He was heart-broken, because he was disappointed.

He had been writing letters to Santa Claus asking him for a red and green toy train, which he had dreamt of for so long, but the train never arrived. He was let down. But why? He had done his utmost to obey his mum and dad during the last weeks before Christmas. But why?

There he sat, shedding tears, which he couldn’t hold back. O what a heart-breaking sight. Who knows for how many nights he will be ‘Dreaming of a Black Christmas’. You wish you could take him to the first toy shop to buy him his dream-toy. What a shame, what a disappointment! Years will pass and, I’m sure,  he keeps dreaming about  this ‘A Black Christmas’.

Now, that the Christmas season is on its way out, we start putting down and packing the Christmas Tree with its decorations, festoons and what not. We pack away the tinsel, the cards we received. We certainly, pack up  … for next year …. Baby Jesus, together with the straw and manger. We sort of feel that void as we had got used to seeing and appreciating the warm-loving sight of Christmas.

But that is where Johnny comes in. Do you think that Baby Jesus, is going to remain the Betlehem Baby, He starts on His earthly Mission, and just like Johnny He will disappoint Himself in seeing how WE behave. NO, Christmas Day should be every single day of our life; that warmth, admiration, love-sharing atmosphere and joy.

That is where Jesus disappoints Himself as much as Johnny, and more, seeing what humility He suffered to be born amongst us, to offer us salvation, love, cure of soul and body, His compassion.  But many of us, will not be giving the red green train to Jesus. Unfortunately, for many, Christmas is a cultural occasion, just a day in the calendar; once it’s over, it is forgotten.

‘No, Jesus, thank you for your birth, an occasion to party, dine, sing, eat and drink, exchange presents, but once it’s over … see you next year.’ Who can make up for Johnny’s disappointment, for his let-down, his misery? I wonder if a bigger, nicer train would suffice to wipe away his disappointments. I wonder. He was expecting it, specifically from Santa. Just as Jesus is expecting that ‘something’ from me and from you. No, Jesus expects nothing expensive. He expects a return of His love through our neighbours.

Jesus, sweet and tender was born specifically for you, to die for you, the reason why we greet each other with: “A Happy Christmas”… and you are, disappointing Him if you do not accept His gift of Salvation.
Do not let Jesus down … you will be letting yourself down.                                Do not disappoint Jesus … you will be disappointing yourself.                               Do not try to ignore Jesus … you will be ignoring yourself.                                    Jesus has a ‘Gift’ for you, accept it … and may you be born again in the coming New Year, 2014.

A CONTRACT,  A TESTAMENT MUST BE  HONOURED

It is written in Genesis (17: 9 -11), that God told Abraham and his seed, that they must honour their commitment; namely that every male must be circumcised. This was simply a symbol of the Contract, of the Testament made between God and Abraham, and it had to be performed on the eight day of birth.

So, Circumcision was a sign, a token of membership in the body of Israel, because being born of Jewish parents did not give you the right of forming part of the ‘Chosen People’. Because the person being circumcised was considered to be a sinner, therefore Baby Jesus started shedding blood for me and for you, because He has taken our place as sinners. Mind you, not because we were Jews, but because we form part of the ‘Chosen People’.

Historically the Jews were the ‘Chosen People’ but we all know what happened. Today, you and I, and all those that believe and follow the Teachings of Jesus Christ, form part of the ‘Chosen People’. In fact Circumcision was a prefigurement of Baptism in the New Testament, and both symbolize the renunciation of the flesh with its sins.

Circumcision incorporates the child by the wounding of the body. Baptism incorporates the baptized by cleansing the soul and incorporates the baptized  into the body of the New Israel, or the Church. By submitting to this rite, though He did not need to as He was sinless, the Son of God, as man, satisfied the demands of His nation, just as He followed the rest of the other laws and Jewish regulations.

He observed the Passover; respected the day of Sabbath; He took part in all the Feasts during the year. The Old Law was observed until the time came for Him to fulfill its shadowy prefigurements. At he age of eight days, Jesus started the blood-shedding, His cradle was tinged with crimson, a token of Calvary; a long ‘bloody’ pilgrimage from Betlehem to Colgotha. Circumcision reflected Calvary.

Mary gave us her son; a clean, pinky flesh coloured baby, and we gave her back her son covered with blood, tortured and dead. Did it ever cross your mind, Mary, sitting down, holding that bundle of joy, which you often covered with kisses, that one day He will be again in your arms, only as a corpse, this time covered with spitting and dirt. That is the redemption of your investment when you declared: ”Be it done according to Your Will.”

That was a huge price You paid for my redemption, Jesus, and no amount of ‘Thank You’s  would suffice to show my appreciation. All you ask of me is to take up my cross and follow You, trusting in Your help.

“… AND IN LABOUR YOU SHALL BEAR CHILDREN.”  Gen. 2:16

Every woman who gives birth has to suffer a certain amount of pain and discomfort. I am conscious of this; I was present during the birth of our four children. Mentally I might have been suffering more than my wife did, who was ‘in labour’.

This experience always triggered a question in my mind.  Whilst giving birth to Jesus, has Mary undergone such pain and discomfort? Before attempting to answer it, I must say that for sure, Mary was in great pain when she was giving birth to humanity. I mean when the agonizing Christ told the beloved John: “Behold your mother.” Yes, Mary was in great pain, and how she suffered.

But the question remains unanswered.

First of all Mary was exempt from the Original Sin, and its effect. Another important point is this; Mary was, as we pray in the Rosary, ‘Virgin most pure before the Birth of Jesus, Virgin most pure during His birth, and Virgin most pure after His birth’. So if she was at every given moment Virgin most chaste and pure, as a virgin she should not have had any pain and discomfort whilst giving birth.

The other question props up: “But how is this possible?” Was not this the same question asked by Mary to Gabriel during the Annunciation? And we know the answer he gave her: “For God nothing is impossible.” Yes, Mary knew ‘no man’; she never had any sexual relations with her promised and legitimate husband, Joseph. But, how do we expect a young maiden of fourteen or fifteen to react. Mary’s reaction was so natural. Besides she had the vow of virginity.

Let’s not try to find any logical or natural solution or answer to these questions. How many times during our lifetime, when we thought that we were struggling in the dark, in utter desperation and then out of nowhere (?) we found ourselves basking in the sun. It was not from nowhere, God is always there to solve our problems.

Think about Mary this Christmas, she has a very important role in our Salvation. Her beloved ‘babe’, the fairest of all human sons, took upon Himself my sins and yours to free me and you, to redeem us all.  I suggest more questions to meditate upon during these blessed days: Did Mary know what her Son had to undergo, when, as a child He pricked His finger with a rose thorn, and blood came out, what passed through Mary’s head. When the shadow of the cross bars from the window in a moonlit night fell on the baby lying asleep in ibed, what did Mary think?

When her toddler fell down whilst playing and cried with pain seeing blood on His knees, what did Mary think … and feel. What a dear price Mary paid when she declared: “Be it done with me according to your will.” Have I the guts, the courage to make that declaration ???

The True Story of  Rudolph the red-nosed Reindeer

A man named Bob May, depressed and brokenhearted, stared out his drafty
apartment window into the chilling December night. His 4-year-old daughter Barbara sat on his lap quietly sobbing. Bob's wife, Evelyn, was dying of cancer.
Little Barbara couldn't understand why her mommy could never come home. Barbara looked up into her dad's eyes and asked,

"Why isn't Mommy just like everybody else's Mommy?" Bob's jaw tightened and his eyes welled with tears. Her question brought waves of grief, but also of anger. It had been the story of Bob's life. Life always had to be different for
Bob. Small when he was a kid, Bob was often bullied by other boys. He was too little at the time to compete in sports. He was often called names he'd rather not remember.

From childhood, Bob was different and never seemed to fit in. Bob did complete college, married his loving wife and was grateful to get his job as a copywriter at Montgomery Ward during the Great Depression. Then he was blessed with his little girl. But it was all short-lived. Evelyn's bout with cancer stripped them of all their savings and now Bob and his daughter were forced to live in a two-room apartment in the Chicago slums. Evelyn died just days before Christmas in 1938.

Bob struggled to give hope to his child, for whom he couldn't even afford to buy a Christmas gift. But if he couldn't buy a gift, he was determined to make one - a storybook! Bob had created an animal character in his own mind and told the animal's story to little Barbara to give her comfort and hope. Again and again Bob told the story, embellishing it more with each telling. Who was the
character? What was the story all about? The story Bob May created was his own autobiography in fable form. The character he created was a misfit outcast like he was. The name of the character? A little reindeer named Rudolph, with
a big shiny nose. Bob finished the book just in time to give it to his little girl on Christmas Day. But the story doesn't end there.

The general manager of Montgomery Ward caught wind of the little storybook and offered Bob May a nominal fee to purchase the rights to print the book. Wards went on to print, “Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer” and distribute it to children visiting Santa Claus in their stores. By 1946 Wards had printed and distributed more than six million copies of Rudolph. A major publisher wanted to purchase the rights from Wards to print an updated version of the book.

In an unprecedented gesture of kindness, the CEO of Wards returned all rights
back to Bob May. The book became a best seller. Many toy and marketing deals followed and Bob May, now remarried with a growing family, became wealthy from the story he created to comfort his grieving daughter. But the story doesn't end there either.

Bob's brother-in-law, Johnny Marks, made a song adaptation to Rudolph. Though the song was turned down by such popular vocalists as Bing Crosby and Dinah Shore, it was recorded by the singing cowboy, Gene Autry. "Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer" was released in 1949 and became a phenomenal success, selling more records than any other Christmas song,
with the exception of "White Christmas."

The gift of love that Bob May created for his daughter so long ago kept on returning back to bless him again and again. And Bob May learned the lesson, just like his dear friend Rudolph, that being different isn't so bad. In fact, being different can be a blessing.

MAY THE NEW-BORN CHILD OF BETLEHEM BLESS YOU ALL.

THE FIRST CAVEMAN WAS BORN

This IS a historical fact; the first ‘recorded’ birth in a cave was the birth which that young virgin of Nazareth gave of her son, and whose legitimate father was asked, ordered, by a decree of God Himself, to give Him the name of JESUS. (through a heavenly messenger, in a dream, re Matthew).

Yes, this was done by a royal command: “And you shall call His name, JESUS.” So, Joseph could not call the baby, after a grandfather, from the maternal or paternal side. This was a heavenly edict.

But going back to the birth in a cave, yes, He was exiled from the earth and there was no choice, but to take shelter, and subsequently, to be born under the earth. As we have seen in previous meditations, He should have been born in a palace, in a great mansion. After all, He IS the King of kings, He is a royal Prince. But who lives in great mansions, in villas and palaces?

HE, was born in a cave, but HE shook the earth to its very foundations. Even His death shook the earth all round, Thousands of world leaders have been born and dieD, but, they are simply mentioned as a news item … and nothing else. In fact there’s the English expression: The King is dead, God save the King But, Christ’s Death and Birth have created a sensation and both occasions are still commemorated throughout the world.

Moreover, I like the thought put forward by Fulton Sheen; ‘because he was born in a cave, all those who wish to see Him, must bend, must stoop.’ But some refuse to stoop; and these are the proud who always refuse to stoop. Therefore they miss Divinity. But those who are, willing to bend their ego to go in the cave, find that they are not in a cave at all, but they are in a universe. There, they find a babe on His mother’s lap, the babe who made the universe.

There they see God who emptied Himself to become a helpless baby, depending on His mother for His needs; to feed Him, to wash Him, to protect Him, to cuddle Him, to help Him grow with her love, to teach Him how to take His first step, to teach Him the daily prayers, to praise God.

Have you ever wondered what a wonderful mission Mary was entrusted to perform because of her humility, and because she surrendered her very self, her own free will, to be united to His Will. She certainly deserves to be called the ‘Queen of Heaven’. Congrats, Mother Mary on the Birth of your son, our elder Brother.

What a wonder is Mary! The Lord entered her, and became a Servant; the Word entered her, and became silent within her; Thunder entered her, and His voice was still; the Shepherd of all entered her, and He became a Lamb in her, and came forth bleating. –St. Ephrem of Syria

WERE THE ANCESTORS OF JESUS… SAINTS, HOLY PEOPLE???

Nowadays people strive to trace their ancestors and get a copy, over the internet, of their Family Tree. I have managed to do it as I am descended from an Irish stock coming from Cork, the reason for my Irish surname, of which I am proud.
In the days of Jesus there certainly was no internet, the only record found is that left by historians, like Tacitus, Flavius, Suetonius and others. But, in our case, talking about Jesus we do have a very good record if we refer to the Old Testament and the Gospel.

It is interesting to note that Luke traced the family tree of Jesus from Adam, as he was addressing the Gentiles, the pagans, so he wanted to give a natural descent. Whilst Matthew, who was writing for the Jewish Converts, who were proud of their kings, especially David, traced Jesus’ geneology by starting from this great king, David, and gave proof that Jesus was in a direct line, descended from David, whereby the title, “Son of David”.

Though, interestingly enough, even Joseph, His foster father was from the lineage of David, so Joseph was addressed as “The Son of David” too. Going back to Matthew, he made it clear enough that Jesus was the rightful heir to the throne of David. In fact have a look at the opening of Matthew’s version of the Gospel: “A table of the descent of Jesus Christ, son of David, son of Abraham.” (1:1)

Yes, through His Divinity Jesus is from eternity, but as a human being, he had a Jewish nature with a Jewish background. The blood that ran in His vein was Jewish blood, royal blood through His mother, who also was of the lineage of king David, notwithstanding that she was poor. We do not find any record where Jesus was called the Messiah, there were so many false pretenders going round, besides the Jews expected a military messiah to overthrow the Romans. Jesus had shown from the very first day of His mission that He was anything but not military, no violence did ever enter His mind or approach.

It is worth noting that the Family Tree of Jesus was not made up of saints and holy ancestors. For example one of His ancestors was Rahab, who was a foreigner (not Jew) and a sinner, another one was Ruth, who was a foreigner too, though she was modest, and later she was accepted into the Jewish nation. We all heard about Batsheeba or Bethsabee, who sinned with David, and shamed the Royal Davidic family.

But why did God permit such people to be included in the lineage of Jesus Christ ? Well, there is only one reason, one could think of. This proves the fact, beyond doubt, that Jesus wanted to include in His Mission of Salvation, all the peoples; be they saints or sinners, modest women or harlots, being Jews or Gentiles. This was clearly underlined in the letter to the Romans, “Now thers is no more Jew and Gentile, no man and no woman, …..” The fishing net which Jesus used to catch His fish was big enough to catch all the fishes (not fish).

Yes there were sinners in His family Tree, but ultimately Jesus was to be looked upon as the greatest sinner of all as He took upon Himself all the sins, not only of His ancestors, but also of all humanity, including mine and yours.

WHAT SHALL WE CALL OUR BUNDLE OF JOY?

Parents usually name their children, (in my days), in memory of their parents, a namesake. My eldest was called Patrick because my Dad who was a Paddy was called by the Lord a few months before. Other follow the custom of the day. When John Kennedy was president of America, many girls were called Jacqueline.

But we know the names of Mary’s and Joseph’s parents, there were no reigning Presidents, and He could not be named Herod, after the reigning king. He was called ‘Jesus’ for a specific reason. First of all it was a very common name among the Jews. In Hebrew it is ‘Josue’. Secondly, Mary was told by the Angel that she will bear a child and call Him ‘Jesus’, (look up Matthew, 1:21).

Thirdly, it was customary that people were given a name which carried the mission of the person bearing that name. To quote some; Peter, meaning rock as he was to be the rock on which Jesus had to build His Church. Moses means drawn out of the water, and he was destined to draw out the Israelites from Egypt. The name ‘Jesus’ means ‘Saviour’ because He saves people from sin.

As was well indicated by Fulton Sheen, in Jesus’ name, there was no indication of His mission on earth, because His teaching would be futile, ineffective unless there was first salvation. Yet, He was given another name (look up Matthew, 1: 23), “He shall be called Emman-u-El, meaning ‘God is with us. We, Maltese appreciate more the meaning of this name; our language being of Semitic origin, we still have the root of that verb ‘emmanu’, ‘huwa magħna’, meaning ‘He is with us’, and ‘El’ is short for God. And truly God is always with us.

Now, the Salvation promised is not a social salvation, but a spiritual one. He would not be saving people from misery and poverty but rather from sin, which is actually the greatest misery one can live. The name Jesus also brings back memories, fast-wind backward to the Exodus from the land of Egypt and the arrival in the ‘Promised land’ led by another Jesus, but known as ‘Josue’. The only difference is that whilst Josue’s deliverance was rather political, the deliverance promised by ‘Jesus’, was a spiritual one. No wonder the Jews in Jesus’ time expected a military Messiah.

It’s worth noting that the name ‘Jesus’ ... ‘Saviour’ was not given to Him as a title after he had won the laurels and trophies of war, BUT, during His conception in His mother’s womb. SO, that means that the foundation of His Salvation was a plan from eternity ... and not from time.

WE SHALL CALL OUR BUNDLE OF JOY ... JESUS.