Considering what we have taken so far about death and destruction of mankind due to the sin of Adam and Eve, the idea of God to come and save man from himself so that we might again become the children of God, the tremendous graces that God has given to us to help us in our daily lives to live as children of God, we can see how great this time of Advent can be for us as Catholics - not just a time for the preparation of things for Christmas, but a deeper realization of the coming of Christ for our soul.
For a second of two, let’s just get into the mind of God - if we may, during the long nine months within Mary - the thoughts He might have had, humanly speaking in preparation for that day when He would have to hang on the cross for our salvation.
He is looking ahead to you and me, to the salvation and the graces He has prepared for us so we can get to heaven. He sees us, second by second in our lives, knows our thoughts and desires, knows our love for Him and also knows when we prefer something else rather than Him. He knows all this from all eternity, yet he loves us so greatly that He is not stopping the process of our salvation but second by second continues until that time of His birth comes about. How different is His love from ours!
As He lies on the straw in the manger, knowing what He knows, knowing of the Magi coming to see Him, knowing the simple little children that the shepherds will bring along with them to the stable, knowing that too, some of these children in years to come would ask for His crucifixion as they are coaxed by those who hate Him, and still He does nothing to change His plan for our salvation. As we see Him on the straw how great must His love for you and me be! The graces He merited for us, the love He has for us makes us ashamed of our imperfect love and desire for Him - a love and desire so tainted by all the things in the world that draw us from Him. He comes on the straw - not fine linens that some would have; He comes on a beast, not being carried as rulers of His age come; He comes with silence, not with trumpets glaring as would be nice for a
king; He comes with a young maid, a queen of His own choice, a queen filled with desire, love and compassion only for Him and our salvation. He comes as a gift, a gift from our God to us poor sinful creatures, a gift really proving His love for us.
Let us nestle Him in the straw of our hearts as we make a throne for Him as He makes a house for us with His heavenly father.
©2009 Fr. Louis Schlangen
For a second of two, let’s just get into the mind of God - if we may, during the long nine months within Mary - the thoughts He might have had, humanly speaking in preparation for that day when He would have to hang on the cross for our salvation.
He is looking ahead to you and me, to the salvation and the graces He has prepared for us so we can get to heaven. He sees us, second by second in our lives, knows our thoughts and desires, knows our love for Him and also knows when we prefer something else rather than Him. He knows all this from all eternity, yet he loves us so greatly that He is not stopping the process of our salvation but second by second continues until that time of His birth comes about. How different is His love from ours!
As He lies on the straw in the manger, knowing what He knows, knowing of the Magi coming to see Him, knowing the simple little children that the shepherds will bring along with them to the stable, knowing that too, some of these children in years to come would ask for His crucifixion as they are coaxed by those who hate Him, and still He does nothing to change His plan for our salvation. As we see Him on the straw how great must His love for you and me be! The graces He merited for us, the love He has for us makes us ashamed of our imperfect love and desire for Him - a love and desire so tainted by all the things in the world that draw us from Him. He comes on the straw - not fine linens that some would have; He comes on a beast, not being carried as rulers of His age come; He comes with silence, not with trumpets glaring as would be nice for a
king; He comes with a young maid, a queen of His own choice, a queen filled with desire, love and compassion only for Him and our salvation. He comes as a gift, a gift from our God to us poor sinful creatures, a gift really proving His love for us.
Let us nestle Him in the straw of our hearts as we make a throne for Him as He makes a house for us with His heavenly father.
©2009 Fr. Louis Schlangen