Reflection for December 14

James Spinelli, Psalm 13

Psalm 80:2ac and 3b, 15-16, 18-19

π–π‘πšπ­ 𝐭𝐑𝐞 𝐁𝐒𝐫𝐭𝐑 𝐨𝐟 𝐂𝐑𝐫𝐒𝐬𝐭 𝐌𝐞𝐚𝐧𝐬

The Old Testament book of Exodus warns us that no one can see God and live.

But in the Nativity, we are reminded that in his mercy, God has, in fact, shown us his face.

Francis of Assisi pointed out that, β€œEvery day he humbles himself just as he did when he came from his heavenly throne into the virgin's womb; every day he comes to us and lets us see him in lowliness, when he descends from the bosom of the Father into the hands of the priest at the altar.”

In his book, Jesus of Nazareth, Pope Benedict XVI tells us what the birth of Christ means. β€œHe has brought God, and now we know his face. Now we know the path that we human beings have to take in this world. Jesus has brought God and with God the truth about where we are going and where we come from.”

π‘‚π‘’π‘Ÿ π‘π‘Ÿπ‘Žπ‘¦π‘’π‘Ÿ π‘‘π‘œπ‘‘π‘Žπ‘¦: πΈπ‘‘π‘’π‘Ÿπ‘›π‘Žπ‘™ πΉπ‘Žπ‘‘β„Žπ‘’π‘Ÿ, π‘¦π‘œπ‘’ 𝑠𝑒𝑛𝑑 π‘¦π‘œπ‘’π‘Ÿ π‘ π‘œπ‘› π‘Žπ‘  π‘‘β„Žπ‘’ π‘‘π‘Žπ‘€π‘› π‘“π‘Ÿπ‘œπ‘š π‘œπ‘› β„Žπ‘–π‘”β„Ž π‘‘π‘œ π‘ β„Žπ‘–π‘›π‘’ π‘œπ‘› π‘‘β„Žπ‘œπ‘ π‘’ π‘€β„Žπ‘œ 𝑑𝑀𝑒𝑙𝑙 𝑖𝑛 π‘‘π‘Žπ‘Ÿπ‘˜π‘›π‘’π‘ π‘ . π‘€π‘Žπ‘¦ β„Žπ‘–π‘  π‘™π‘–π‘”β„Žπ‘‘ π‘ β„Žπ‘–π‘›π‘’ π‘œπ‘› 𝑒𝑠 π‘Žπ‘›π‘‘ 𝑔𝑒𝑖𝑑𝑒 π‘œπ‘’π‘Ÿ π‘€π‘Žπ‘¦.

Peter W. Yaremko

Caelie Flanagan