WATCH: A Christmas Greeting from Word on Fire
Dear Friend,
Merry Christmas!
Two great truths of the faith have been on my mind during this joyful season. The first is John's great description of the Incarnation in the prologue of his Gospel: "The Word became flesh and lived among us." This is what Word on Fire is all about! The "Word" is that Word of Christ, who wants to become flesh in us. The life of Christ is not just a one-off event from long ago, but rather an ongoing event of God bringing his Word to birth in his people.
|  | This leads me to the second great truth: the role of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of God, in this extending of the Incarnation. The ancient Apostles' Creed says that Christ was "conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary." Thus, the two great figures involved in Christ coming to birth were the Holy Spirit and the Blessed Mother. This was true two thousand years ago, and it's still true today: this, too, is an ongoing event, not a one-off event from long ago, because Christ wants to be born in each of us. St. Paul declares, "It is no longer I who live, but it is Christ who lives in me." And who brings Christ to birth in us but the Holy Spirit and the Blessed Mother? This is precisely why she is not only the Mother of Christ but also the Mother of the Church. She provides a kind of matrix for the life and work of the Church.
So, this Christmas season, I invite you to be mindful of the Blessed Mother, and of her role—even now—in bringing Christ to birth in you. Take out that rosary if you haven't prayed it in a long time; remember the words of the Hail Mary, and turn to Mary in devotion. I think you will find it's a wonderful way to bring Christ more fully to birth in you now.
I send very heartfelt, impassioned greetings to you this Christmastide, that you live this time as it should be lived: as a moment of real communion with the Lord.
A blessed, happy, and merry Christmas to you!
In Christ,
|  | + Bishop Robert Barron
P.S. Word on Fire's patroness, St. Thérèse of Lisieux, had a special devotion to the Child Jesus, which illuminated her "Little Way" of spiritual childhood and doing small things with great love. If you make a tax-deductible gift of $25 or more to Word on Fire, we will send you these new Child Jesus prayer cards. Word on Fire cannot exist without the generous support of our donors, which helps us to continue sharing the love of Christ with those who most need it.
|  |
|
|
|
|
No comments:
Post a Comment