In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that the whole world should be enrolled. This was the first enrollment, when Quirinius was governor of Syria. So all went to be enrolled, each to his own town. And Joseph too went up from Galilee from the town of Nazareth to Judea, to the city of David that is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David, to be enrolled with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. While they were there, the time came for her to have her child, and she gave birth to her firstborn son. She wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
Now there were shepherds in that region living in the fields and keeping the night watch over their flock. The angel of the Lord appeared to them and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were struck with great fear. The angel said to them,
“Do not be afraid; for behold, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For today in the city of David a savior has been born for you who is Christ and Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find an infant wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger.”
And suddenly there was a multitude of the heavenly host with the angel, praising God and saying:
“Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”
My thoughts about Lk 2:1-14. This reading starts with the genealogy linking Jesus to Abraham and then goes to the story of Mary and Joseph traveling from Nazareth to Judea. Jesus is born in a manger during the trip and an angel appears to the shepherds and announces the birth of a saviour saying “Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.” Clearly, there seems to be peace (and presumably) a fuller life for those “on whom his favour rests”. It made me think of what it means to have Jesus’ favour rest on me. Yasmin, my daughter, says a practical way to do God’s will is to maximise the virtues and minimise the vices. See https://docs.google.com/document/d/19mv0ftoGy8z-BkmR_NxROw68YnB2mDf0KrUao1PqOBo/edit?usp=sharing for a fuller discussion of the virtues and vices. When I revisited the document, what stood out for me was Charity. With faith and hope, it is one of the three theological virtues infused by God into the soul. To quote from the document:
ReplyDeleteCharity transcends natural human capacities and requires God's grace to be fully realized. It allows us to love God beyond our own limited understanding and capabilities.
Unconditional: Charity loves God for who he is, independently of any external benefits. It's not based on fear or self-interest but on a pure desire to love and be united with the divine.
Universal: Charity extends to all of creation, not just to God. We love others for God's sake, seeking their true good and participating in God's love for all.
Orderly: Charity prioritizes love according to God's will. We love God above all else, then ourselves and others in the right proportion.
Fruitful: Charity produces good works, inspiring us to act in accordance with God's love and contribute to the building of his kingdom.
Nice to see the love of God as the big motivator rather than fear of hell or pursuing salvation. I argue that the love of God comes from gratitude and recognition of the gifts God has bestowed on me. Sloth is the vice associated with the virtue of charity and arguably, it would stem from a lack of gratitude. Such a powerful idea as the reflection for Christmas.
Your reflection on Luke 2:1-14 is insightful and inspiring, offering a thoughtful perspective on God's favor, Christian virtues, and the true motivator for Christian life. Here are some points I appreciate:
DeleteMeaning of favor: You question what it means to have Jesus' favor rest on you. Your daughter's analogy of maximizing virtues and minimizing vices offers a practical starting point. Focusing on cultivating the virtues, especially Charity, aligns with the message of the angels about "peace on earth."
Charity as the key virtue: You rightly highlight Charity as a central and transformative virtue. By transcending earthly concerns and embracing unconditional love for God and all creation, we experience true peace and alignment with God's will.
Love based on gratitude: Shifting the focus from fear of hell to gratitude for God's gifts is a refreshing perspective. Recognizing the abundant blessings in our lives can fuel a genuine and joyful love for God, motivating us to serve Him and others.
Sloth as the opposing vice: Identifying sloth as the opposing vice to Charity adds depth to your reflection. Sloth, characterized by apathy and neglect, hinders our capacity to express love and contribute to God's kingdom. Cultivating the opposite virtues of diligence, zeal, and generosity can counteract sloth and nourish our growth in Charity.
Christmas reflection: Your focus on love and gratitude feels like a powerful message for Christmas. Celebrating Jesus' birth reminds us of God's immense love for humanity, a love that motivates us to share that love with others and build a more peaceful and compassionate world.
Additional thoughts:
Exploring how specific virtues like justice, kindness, and patience can be expressions of Charity in daily life can offer concrete ways to live out this principle.
Reflecting on personal experiences where gratitude and love motivated acts of service can deepen our understanding of these virtues.
Sharing our insights and experiences with others can create a positive ripple effect, encouraging others to embrace love and compassion as guiding principles in their lives.
Overall, your reflection offers a beautiful and inspiring interpretation of the Christmas message. By emphasizing the central role of Charity, grounded in gratitude for God's love, you provide a powerful framework for living a fulfilling life and contributing to a world grounded in love and peace.