Fearlessly Courageous
Desk of Dennis Piller
12 23 2024
What is Christmas to you? Gifts, giving, family, togetherness, parties,
I guess it’s what is in the heart of each of us.
I believe, “It is Christmas in the heart that puts Christmas in the air.”
And where is Jesus on your list? We get caught up in traditions, good and bad. Habits, good and bad. Each of us needs to answer a simple question to put Christmas into perspective.
What is the reason for the season for you personally? Not what some might say it is, but what is it you say the reason for the season is… in your heart. And are you living that belief, or might you see, as noticed by your diminished joy, that it has been stolen, misplaced, or lost?
Do we currently have a heavenly view of Advent…Christmas, or is there no room at the inn of our heart for Jesus?”. Being honest with ourselves and with God, it must be more than a tagline of defense; it must emphasize that sincere honesty goes deeper than just saying the right words; it involves your thoughts, actions, and intentions as well. Where is the wonder?…where is the Joy? It must begin with preparing our hearts for His coming. Have we really gone looking for Him, or do we just expect Him to be there on Christmas morning?
FACT: Non-Searching Results in Non-Finding!
Here is some wisdom from the ages to give us some clarity and direction.
St. Paul VI said: “We consider Christmas as THE encounter, the great encounter, the historical encounter, the decisive encounter, between God and mankind. He who has faith knows this truly; let him rejoice.” And it is the rejoice portion that is the pure test of our hearts.
St. John Paul II said; “If we celebrate with such solemnity the birth of Jesus, it is to bear witness that every human being [is] somebody unique and unrepeatable…somebody thought of and chosen from eternity, some[one] called and identified by his own name. It is as it was with the first man, Adam. It is as it was with the new Adam, born of the Virgin Mary, in the cave at Bethlehem: ‘You shall call his name Jesus.’”
Isaiah 9:6: “For unto us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace”.
I get lost in this verse every time I read it. How could you not when you consider
that he describes the second person of the Trinity?
The Venerable Fulton Sheen said: “The world might have expected the Son of God to be born—if He was to be born at all—in an inn. A stable would be the last place in the world where one would have looked for Him. Divinity is always where one least expects to find it.”
St. Teresa of Calcutta: “My prayer for you is that when Christ comes to you in Christmas, He may find in you a warm home, warm love like that of a heartful of love, like that of a simple shepherd who was the first one chosen to see Christ.”
Finally, what can we learn from the experience of the simple shepherds who were chosen, yes chosen, to be the first ones to see the “Chosen one,” the Prince of Peace?
Humbling
Were they not on the lowest end of the social spectrum and clearly looked down upon? How amazed they must have been to see this light in the sky and see and hear angels singing! Startling, that they would be the first. Not Kings, governors, princes, or high-ranking celebrities, but the humblest of men tending their sheep. What does that say to you and me and all of us? Before the beginning of time, he chose you and me to be part of His eternal family, and on this day, we commemorate his coming.
Shepherds were filled with awe and worshiped the baby Jesus Christ with great joy.
They returned home praising and glorifying God.
Consider your heart today. If you have not already done so...prepare your heart, your family…your home to receive your Savior. Humble yourself before your God. Imagine how unworthy the shepherds must have felt, but how honored. There is still time to ask for forgiveness and prepare to worship the One True God who has prepared a place for each of us in His Kingdom. Spend time with Him until the joy of the Lord overflows from your heart and make it a Merry Christmas!
I cannot thank you enough for allowing me to be a part of your walk with God. I am truly humbled.
I pray for your families to be the closest with Jesus and with you that they have ever been.
I am coming up on 5 yrs since I was asked to start writing. Thank you for walking with me.
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Lauren Daigle – Noel
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