Do You Hear What I Hear?

Well, we starting preparing for the festive day 39 days ago with the beginning of Advent and tomorrow we culminate it with the celebration of the birth of Our Lord Jesus Christ. Even though He walked the Earth approximately 2000 years ago, His teachings and beliefs are followed through faith and love by over one billion people today. That’s quite a statement for a society that has the attention span of a gnat.

Where did the forty days of Advent go? Did we spend some of the time in reflection or prayer of what over one billion people world wide are about to celebrate? Or were we too busy shopping and planning and running around aimlessly in preparation for THE DAY? If you did only that, your day might just as well be like any other day.

Remember, that even though you might have forgotten Him, Jesus never forgets about you. His actions as documented by the four great doctors of the church, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, serve as an example to us.

While many children here await the arrival of Santa Claus, children in France set out their shoes for le petit Jesus to fill with gifts. Mexicans attend Midnight Mass, la misa del gallo (rooster) and sing lullabies to Jesus. The Swiss wait for their presents from Christkindli (Christ Child).

So as you sit down with family and friends to enjoy your seven fish course, or lasagna or goose or turkey or ham, take time to reflect on why we gather and why we celebrate the festive occasion. If you do nothing at all, at least give thanks for what you have. Give thanks to the Lord for He is good His mercy endures forever.

"I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign for you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger." ~ Luke 2:10-12