Once a year we joyfully remember the events at the manger in Bethlehem.
The Jews sang: “Let us go to God’s house” (Ps 121[122]:1)
There is a new model of the temple at the manger,
and the real face of God in the baby at the manger.
Look at the baby with love,
the baby who comes totally dependent on others,
baby who trusts in others without suspect and fear.
Animals, the poor, the pagans, those judged to be sinners ….
Many are there at the manger.
Can we take into account all of them to whom baby Christ became dependent?
Those came to the manger also were ready to wait,
were open to see reality beyond their own expectations and definitions.
It is possible only in a patient waiting!
Patience of child-bearing and pain of labour,
Which has its origin in true love.
“The virgin mother longed for him with love beyond all telling.” (Preface Advent II)
Then the time for patient waiting;
To be born, to walk, to speak, to know oneself … and to bid farewell.
Absence of this waiting can bring immature interventions from us. In hurried actions ‘to make Christ born’ we may be losing our peace.
Contemplation in love, prayerful waiting for the Christ-births we want to give, patience to accept new paths and learn to walk gently, waiting for inspired words that we could speak …
The revealing, incarnating, and the dependent Christ is there in every one.
Let us go to God’s house,
To the openness of the manger at Bethlehem,
Without hating, without separating, without judging.
In such encounters, being together,
we have nativity, proclamation of the Gospel, repentance and transformation.
In kindness, compassion and mercy, there are ways made straight,
there is born Christ unnamed, and lives.
The Jews sang: “Let us go to God’s house” (Ps 121[122]:1)
There is a new model of the temple at the manger,
and the real face of God in the baby at the manger.
Look at the baby with love,
the baby who comes totally dependent on others,
baby who trusts in others without suspect and fear.
Animals, the poor, the pagans, those judged to be sinners ….
Many are there at the manger.
Can we take into account all of them to whom baby Christ became dependent?
Those came to the manger also were ready to wait,
were open to see reality beyond their own expectations and definitions.
It is possible only in a patient waiting!
Patience of child-bearing and pain of labour,
Which has its origin in true love.
“The virgin mother longed for him with love beyond all telling.” (Preface Advent II)
Then the time for patient waiting;
To be born, to walk, to speak, to know oneself … and to bid farewell.
Absence of this waiting can bring immature interventions from us. In hurried actions ‘to make Christ born’ we may be losing our peace.
Contemplation in love, prayerful waiting for the Christ-births we want to give, patience to accept new paths and learn to walk gently, waiting for inspired words that we could speak …
The revealing, incarnating, and the dependent Christ is there in every one.
Let us go to God’s house,
To the openness of the manger at Bethlehem,
Without hating, without separating, without judging.
In such encounters, being together,
we have nativity, proclamation of the Gospel, repentance and transformation.
In kindness, compassion and mercy, there are ways made straight,
there is born Christ unnamed, and lives.
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