Ijournal entry 121817 # 49. December, Month of The Immaculate Conception. The Rule of St. Benedict. Quotes by Adrienne Von Speyr, St. Marie-Victoire Couderc, and St. Clare of Assisi. Book: “Meditations for Advent and Easter, by the author of 'Meditations for Lent". Book: “Grace in Every Season”, by Catherine Doherty. YouTube video: "Put God First", motivational & inspiring commencement speech by Denzel Washington.
"Jesus Christ is The Divine Mercy; the Immaculate Conception is the created masterpiece of The Divine Mercy. Outside of the gift of the Savior Himself, both in the Incarnation and in the Eucharist, the greatest manifestation of Divine Mercy that God has given to the world is the Immaculate Conception. How can this be? This is so due to the fact that the privilege of the Immaculate Conception is a pure gift flowing from God’s goodness.
For example, in all the other aspects of the life of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Divine Motherhood, Perpetual Virginity, Queenship, etc) she fully participated in the acquisition of the graces required for that particular role. From her virginal motherhood to her assumption into heaven, she fully participated with God’s saving plan. However, the Immaculate Conception is the sole gift that she neither merited nor acquired by participation. Thus, this gift is solely dependent upon Divine Mercy.
The Immaculate Conception is the prevenient grace that explains why we call Mary the “cause of our salvation”. The causal dimension of the Immaculate Conception can be seen when we consider that this unique act of mercy given to Mary both prepares the way for, and will make her able to cooperate with, Jesus, The Divine Mercy Incarnate, who has come to save mankind.
In a similar way, the Immaculate Conception can also be understood as the “cause of creation”. God initiated creation, allowing for its fall, because He planned to spiritually renew and elevate all creation according to the pattern of the Immaculate Conception; thus, the Immaculate Conception is not an after-thought but, rather, the instrument through which God sees the world. It is as though the Immaculate Conception were a set of bifocals given to us by Divine Mercy so that we can come to see both creation and salvation as God sees them.
Saints such as Maximilian Kolbe have pondered the intimate relationship between the Divine Mercy and the Immaculate Conception and concluded that the relationship is so mysterious that its brightness overwhelms the intellect. These two mysteries are so intimately connected that it will take a whole host of saintly theologians, mystics and scholars to unveil the wonder. Just as the mystery of the Trinity is that which sheds light on all things, so the mystery of the Immaculate Conception is that which sheds light on the mystery of both creation and redemption". By Fr. Don Calloway
Info from this site:
www.courageouspriest.com/immaculate-conception-divine-mercy
For example, in all the other aspects of the life of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Divine Motherhood, Perpetual Virginity, Queenship, etc) she fully participated in the acquisition of the graces required for that particular role. From her virginal motherhood to her assumption into heaven, she fully participated with God’s saving plan. However, the Immaculate Conception is the sole gift that she neither merited nor acquired by participation. Thus, this gift is solely dependent upon Divine Mercy.
The Immaculate Conception is the prevenient grace that explains why we call Mary the “cause of our salvation”. The causal dimension of the Immaculate Conception can be seen when we consider that this unique act of mercy given to Mary both prepares the way for, and will make her able to cooperate with, Jesus, The Divine Mercy Incarnate, who has come to save mankind.
In a similar way, the Immaculate Conception can also be understood as the “cause of creation”. God initiated creation, allowing for its fall, because He planned to spiritually renew and elevate all creation according to the pattern of the Immaculate Conception; thus, the Immaculate Conception is not an after-thought but, rather, the instrument through which God sees the world. It is as though the Immaculate Conception were a set of bifocals given to us by Divine Mercy so that we can come to see both creation and salvation as God sees them.
Saints such as Maximilian Kolbe have pondered the intimate relationship between the Divine Mercy and the Immaculate Conception and concluded that the relationship is so mysterious that its brightness overwhelms the intellect. These two mysteries are so intimately connected that it will take a whole host of saintly theologians, mystics and scholars to unveil the wonder. Just as the mystery of the Trinity is that which sheds light on all things, so the mystery of the Immaculate Conception is that which sheds light on the mystery of both creation and redemption". By Fr. Don Calloway
Info from this site:
www.courageouspriest.com/immaculate-conception-divine-mercy
The Rule of St. Benedict
"But if during that time he be found exacting or depraved, not only should he not be made a member of the community, but he should be respectfully told to depart, lest others should be corrupted by his lamentable life. If, however, he do not deserve to be dismissed, not only should he be received on his asking as a member of the community, but he should even be urged to stay, so that others may be instructed by his example, and because wherever we are we serve the same Lord and fight for the same King. And the abbot may even give him a higher place in the community, if he consider him worthy of it. And so also, not only with a monk, but also with the aforesaid orders of priests and clerics: the abbot may give them a rank that is higher than is theirs by their entry, if he see that their life deserves it. But let the abbot beware lest he ever receive a monk of some other known monastery as a member of his community without the consent of his abbot and a letter or recommendation, because it is written: ‘Do not thou to another what thou wouldst not have done to thyself"
MC=My Comments- After reading about how an incoming monk can be considered for a higher rank in the community than is theirs by entry, one scripture is screaming yes, yes, yes:
"But if during that time he be found exacting or depraved, not only should he not be made a member of the community, but he should be respectfully told to depart, lest others should be corrupted by his lamentable life. If, however, he do not deserve to be dismissed, not only should he be received on his asking as a member of the community, but he should even be urged to stay, so that others may be instructed by his example, and because wherever we are we serve the same Lord and fight for the same King. And the abbot may even give him a higher place in the community, if he consider him worthy of it. And so also, not only with a monk, but also with the aforesaid orders of priests and clerics: the abbot may give them a rank that is higher than is theirs by their entry, if he see that their life deserves it. But let the abbot beware lest he ever receive a monk of some other known monastery as a member of his community without the consent of his abbot and a letter or recommendation, because it is written: ‘Do not thou to another what thou wouldst not have done to thyself"
MC=My Comments- After reading about how an incoming monk can be considered for a higher rank in the community than is theirs by entry, one scripture is screaming yes, yes, yes:
This is also encouraging that if we are all that we are called to be, rather early or late, nothing will be able to ho,d us back or down. If God appoints, then He will anoint, because in finality, He alone can be for or against.
Matthew 20:8-10 "When evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, ‘Call the workers and pay them their wages, starting with the last ones hired and moving on to the first.’ The workers who were hired about the eleventhhour came and each received a denarius. So when the original workers came, they assumed they would receive more. But each of them also received a denarius.… |
🍏 "Mary's pregnancy is a period of unbroken contemplation, of continual attention to the Son. And yet it is a time of action, for she went to Elizabeth in order to bring the Son to her, the gift she had received from God to hand on to others." By Adrienne Von Speyr
🌘 "To surrender oneself is more than to devote oneself, more than to give oneself, it is even something more than to abandon oneself to God. In a word, to surrender oneself is to die to everything and to self, to be no longer concerned with self except to keep it continually turned toward God." By St. Marie-Victoire Couderc
🔴"Cling to his most sweet Mother, who carried a Son whom the heavens could not contain; and yet she carried him in the little enclosure of her holy womb and held him on her virginal lap." By St. Clare of Assisi
🌘 "To surrender oneself is more than to devote oneself, more than to give oneself, it is even something more than to abandon oneself to God. In a word, to surrender oneself is to die to everything and to self, to be no longer concerned with self except to keep it continually turned toward God." By St. Marie-Victoire Couderc
🔴"Cling to his most sweet Mother, who carried a Son whom the heavens could not contain; and yet she carried him in the little enclosure of her holy womb and held him on her virginal lap." By St. Clare of Assisi
Sharing a few spoonfuls of the pot pie that is comprising my Advent journey this season. Quiet time, being attuned to the Holy Spirit and a heart that is open to receive (da gimme, gimme, gimme mentality in reverse to benefit one spiritually), will allow daily meditations and some contemplations to flood the mind.
✝Advent- Day 11
Driving to my hometown and praying the Rosary on the way there was an opportunity for a great meditation to develop. The meditation on the 4th Glorious mystery was the gentle feather that touched my soul. It was something new that had never come to mind before. In the Glorious mystery that speaks of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, it came to mind that the Blessed Virgin Mary was the New Testament representative, as Enoch and Elijah were the Old Testament representatives of the possibility of the body being taken up. How wonderful, they seem to keep their original bodies.
✝Advent- Day 11
Driving to my hometown and praying the Rosary on the way there was an opportunity for a great meditation to develop. The meditation on the 4th Glorious mystery was the gentle feather that touched my soul. It was something new that had never come to mind before. In the Glorious mystery that speaks of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, it came to mind that the Blessed Virgin Mary was the New Testament representative, as Enoch and Elijah were the Old Testament representatives of the possibility of the body being taken up. How wonderful, they seem to keep their original bodies.
Because of what happened in the Old Testament, a template is providing proof that church teaching is based on truth, and how the Old Testament foreshadows the New Testament in some form or fashion. Our Lady was assumed into heaven, can't that not be believed as possible after what is recounted in scripture? Unbelievers can check out what happened to Enoch and Elijah. Surely, thou who was conceived without sin, can she not be graced in a most glorious manner and beyond? We know some are able to believe without seeing, but not all can cross that bridge.
Blessed Mother Mary's body, since she was conceived immaculately, is the only one that returns to God immaculate, without corruption spiritually and materially. The bodies of Enoch and Elijah, were tainted with original sin rendering them not immaculate, therefore our Blessed Mother holds a superior edge over everyone since she being full of grace did not sin. All tainted by original sin, will be given new bodies, as our original one tasted death and will eventually hit the sod. How fantastic our Blessed Lady get to keep her original body for all eternity, because you can't improve on what is already perfect. But our new bodies will resurrect from our old ones, and thanks be to God for that. It's amazing how much of our Catholic faith can be found tucked away in scripture. This meditation led me to read something about the Assumption (see the info at the end of this veggie dish).
A contemplation surfaced out of the blue. It drew me to the December Rhema word "compassion". Thoughts were centered on how it is necessary to ask in prayer for graces. If we are given graces, it's to open up to receive and not repeal them. The next step is utilizing the graces. It was in the direction of being compassionate that all of this was moving. Many things that causes irritations and aggravations flashed rapidly. In a minute, causes can pop up, stirring one to become perturbed. The best way to avoid being sucked into that black hole, is to pray for graces that will help in the development of supernatural compassion. This will lead us to pity the offenders and the offense, be it major or minor. Because of the pity we feel in our hearts, it will be sorrow and not anger that is likely to well up. This can elicite a response that will be a godly one, resulting in a personal choice to pray, pray, pray, as we know prayer can facilitate changes to occur in "self" and in the "other".
Reflecting on what recently crossed my mind a few days before in regards to how sometimes the Mass is in such a fast hurried pace, and that too few notice was disturbing to my spirit. Thinking that if none are cognizant of this, how can prayers be rising for changes to occur? How can those present be a part of the solution for change, when all seems well to them? Saying "few", because just like in the scripture when Elijah thought that all the prophets had bowed to Baal, God said no, not all. There will always be a remnant that remains true and faithful. Thank God, He allowed me to encounter some spiritually active Christian soldiers, who are not in the Reserves, but oriole deeply committed to improving and properly living their Christian faith. They to have noticed how things are sometimes amiss with the clergy and parishioners alike. It's like the mind and the heart not being fully awake at times. We all are guilty at times, but must be vigilant that our worship is sincere and offered in a worthy manner to Almighty God in spirit and truth. All of this said, an excellent opportunity for compassion to make it's grand entrance.
The cure is letting compassion lead me in the direction of prayer and small sacrifices. Just like our bodies are changing day by day, aging noticeably, spiritually we should be growing and transforming daily. As the mind of Christ become ours more and more, maturity should increase with our spiritual eyes developing accordingly. So what was no big deal on yesterday, should make a big difference today. How then is this handled best? It appears that compassion is truly an answer, one which mandates prayer, sacrifice, and penance. Sometimes we grab a hold of prayer, but it's to mature and make the leap to embrace sacrifices and the willingness to do penance. To those who are mastering this, praise the Lord. For me and any others who are not quite there yet, let us persevere, beg for graces, and make real efforts to grow in union with the Lord our God, Christ Jesus. Dominated by compassion, being merciful and kind, our prayers will help things to change in our own lives, and in the lives of others
A contemplation surfaced out of the blue. It drew me to the December Rhema word "compassion". Thoughts were centered on how it is necessary to ask in prayer for graces. If we are given graces, it's to open up to receive and not repeal them. The next step is utilizing the graces. It was in the direction of being compassionate that all of this was moving. Many things that causes irritations and aggravations flashed rapidly. In a minute, causes can pop up, stirring one to become perturbed. The best way to avoid being sucked into that black hole, is to pray for graces that will help in the development of supernatural compassion. This will lead us to pity the offenders and the offense, be it major or minor. Because of the pity we feel in our hearts, it will be sorrow and not anger that is likely to well up. This can elicite a response that will be a godly one, resulting in a personal choice to pray, pray, pray, as we know prayer can facilitate changes to occur in "self" and in the "other".
Reflecting on what recently crossed my mind a few days before in regards to how sometimes the Mass is in such a fast hurried pace, and that too few notice was disturbing to my spirit. Thinking that if none are cognizant of this, how can prayers be rising for changes to occur? How can those present be a part of the solution for change, when all seems well to them? Saying "few", because just like in the scripture when Elijah thought that all the prophets had bowed to Baal, God said no, not all. There will always be a remnant that remains true and faithful. Thank God, He allowed me to encounter some spiritually active Christian soldiers, who are not in the Reserves, but oriole deeply committed to improving and properly living their Christian faith. They to have noticed how things are sometimes amiss with the clergy and parishioners alike. It's like the mind and the heart not being fully awake at times. We all are guilty at times, but must be vigilant that our worship is sincere and offered in a worthy manner to Almighty God in spirit and truth. All of this said, an excellent opportunity for compassion to make it's grand entrance.
The cure is letting compassion lead me in the direction of prayer and small sacrifices. Just like our bodies are changing day by day, aging noticeably, spiritually we should be growing and transforming daily. As the mind of Christ become ours more and more, maturity should increase with our spiritual eyes developing accordingly. So what was no big deal on yesterday, should make a big difference today. How then is this handled best? It appears that compassion is truly an answer, one which mandates prayer, sacrifice, and penance. Sometimes we grab a hold of prayer, but it's to mature and make the leap to embrace sacrifices and the willingness to do penance. To those who are mastering this, praise the Lord. For me and any others who are not quite there yet, let us persevere, beg for graces, and make real efforts to grow in union with the Lord our God, Christ Jesus. Dominated by compassion, being merciful and kind, our prayers will help things to change in our own lives, and in the lives of others
2 Thessalonians 2:15-17 "Therefore, brothers, stand firm and hold fast to the traditions that you were taught, either by an oral statement or by a letter of ours. May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who has loved us and given us everlasting encouragement and good hope through his grace, encourage your hearts and strengthen them in every good deed and word. |
"Mary's assumption into heaven, as well as speaking of her littleness, also speaks of humanity's greatness. St John of the Cross has a phrase that God rejects nothing that is human, nor excludes anything human from this love: to love the Lord your God with all your heart and all your soul and all your mind. Everything human, soul and body, is fit for the glory of God. And Mary's assumption, soul and body, is a declaration that we - spirit, mind, heart, and body, this body that is so easily idolised or mistreated or kicked around in our world, is meant for glory, is sacred, is good. To be assumed into heaven means to be taken into the fullness of love. It doesn't mean to be taken away, it means be taken into the fullness of love, into the life of the Blessed Trinity. So the whole of Mary is taken into God's love, which means that she is completely here with me, with you. Assumed into heaven means more in God, so more with you, able to embrace you, to take you into her heart, to carry you in her heart.'
[Music: Ave Maria sung by Anna Johnstone]
Apostolic Constitution of Pope Pius XIIon the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary: The Fathers of the Church, the great Doctors, in the sermons they preached on the feast of the Assumption of the Mother of God, had as their theme a doctrine which all the Christian world already knew and accepted; it was for them to elaborate it, to bring out the essential meaning of it, beyond what lay on the surface. To say that the body of the Blessed Virgin never knew decay was not to exhaust the meaning of this solemnity. What we celebrated was the triumph she won over death when she was glorified, after the pattern of her only Son Jesus Christ in heaven.Thus Saint John Damascene, the interpreter of this tradition par excellence, makes an eloquent comparison between the high privileges conferred on the Mother of God in general, and her bodily Assumption. ‘It was fitting that she who in giving birth had preserved her virginity unspotted should keep her body incorrupt even after death. It was fitting that she who had borne the Creator as a child in her bosom should have a dwelling-place with God. It was fitting that the bride espoused by the Father should dwell in the bridal-chambers of heaven. It was fitting that she who had gazed on her Son on the cross, receiving then in her breast the sword of sorrow she had been spared at his birth, should behold him seated with the Father. It was fitting that the Mother of God should enjoy the privileges of the Son and should be honoured by all creation as the Mother and the handmaid of God.’
Saint Germanus of Constantinople sees the translation of Our Lady’s incorrupt body as fitting in, not only with her divine motherhood, but with a special sanctity which attaches to its virgin state: ‘You appear in beauty, as it is written, and your virginal body is altogether holy, altogether chaste, altogether God’s dwelling; so that it can never know dissolution into dust; transformed indeed, because human, to the glory of incorruptible life; yet, the same body, living and glorious, preserved from harm, sharing in perfect life.’
Another very ancient writer states: ‘Being the most glorious Mother of Christ the Saviour, our God, who bestows life and immortality, she is restored to life by him, and in her body shares for evermore bodily incorruptibility with him who raised her from the grave and assumed her to himself in a manner known only to himself.’
In the last resort, all these Fathers base their conclusions on the Bible, which has given us the picture of our Lord’s Mother as inseparably attached to her divine Son, and constantly sharing his lot.
It is to be remembered that, from the second century onwards, Our Lady has been identified by the Fathers of the Church as the second Eve. Not on the same level, indeed, as the second Adam, but intimately associated in his warfare against the enemy of our race. It was to issue, as we know from the promised made in paradise, in a complete triumph over sin and death, those twin enemies that are so often coupled together by Saint Paul. Of this victory, Our Lord’s resurrection is the operative part, the supreme trophy; but Our Lady, too, who shared in the conflict, must share in its conclusion, through the glorifying of that virgin body of hers. Only then, as the apostle says, ‘when this mortal nature wears its immortality, the saying of scripture will come true, Death is swallowed up in victory’.
Great Mother of God, so wondrously united with Jesus Christ, from all eternity, by the same decree of providence; in her conception immaculate, in her divine motherhood a virgin most pure, the noble associate of our Redeemer in his victory over sin and its consequences – what reward awaited her at last? For the crown of all her graces, she was exempted from the sentence of decay; shared her Son’s victory over death, and was carried up to heaven, soul and body, there to reign as queen at his right hand, who is the King of Ages, the immortal"
Info from this site:
www.totus2us.com/prayer/the-rosary/4th-glorious-mystery/
[Music: Ave Maria sung by Anna Johnstone]
Apostolic Constitution of Pope Pius XIIon the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary: The Fathers of the Church, the great Doctors, in the sermons they preached on the feast of the Assumption of the Mother of God, had as their theme a doctrine which all the Christian world already knew and accepted; it was for them to elaborate it, to bring out the essential meaning of it, beyond what lay on the surface. To say that the body of the Blessed Virgin never knew decay was not to exhaust the meaning of this solemnity. What we celebrated was the triumph she won over death when she was glorified, after the pattern of her only Son Jesus Christ in heaven.Thus Saint John Damascene, the interpreter of this tradition par excellence, makes an eloquent comparison between the high privileges conferred on the Mother of God in general, and her bodily Assumption. ‘It was fitting that she who in giving birth had preserved her virginity unspotted should keep her body incorrupt even after death. It was fitting that she who had borne the Creator as a child in her bosom should have a dwelling-place with God. It was fitting that the bride espoused by the Father should dwell in the bridal-chambers of heaven. It was fitting that she who had gazed on her Son on the cross, receiving then in her breast the sword of sorrow she had been spared at his birth, should behold him seated with the Father. It was fitting that the Mother of God should enjoy the privileges of the Son and should be honoured by all creation as the Mother and the handmaid of God.’
Saint Germanus of Constantinople sees the translation of Our Lady’s incorrupt body as fitting in, not only with her divine motherhood, but with a special sanctity which attaches to its virgin state: ‘You appear in beauty, as it is written, and your virginal body is altogether holy, altogether chaste, altogether God’s dwelling; so that it can never know dissolution into dust; transformed indeed, because human, to the glory of incorruptible life; yet, the same body, living and glorious, preserved from harm, sharing in perfect life.’
Another very ancient writer states: ‘Being the most glorious Mother of Christ the Saviour, our God, who bestows life and immortality, she is restored to life by him, and in her body shares for evermore bodily incorruptibility with him who raised her from the grave and assumed her to himself in a manner known only to himself.’
In the last resort, all these Fathers base their conclusions on the Bible, which has given us the picture of our Lord’s Mother as inseparably attached to her divine Son, and constantly sharing his lot.
It is to be remembered that, from the second century onwards, Our Lady has been identified by the Fathers of the Church as the second Eve. Not on the same level, indeed, as the second Adam, but intimately associated in his warfare against the enemy of our race. It was to issue, as we know from the promised made in paradise, in a complete triumph over sin and death, those twin enemies that are so often coupled together by Saint Paul. Of this victory, Our Lord’s resurrection is the operative part, the supreme trophy; but Our Lady, too, who shared in the conflict, must share in its conclusion, through the glorifying of that virgin body of hers. Only then, as the apostle says, ‘when this mortal nature wears its immortality, the saying of scripture will come true, Death is swallowed up in victory’.
Great Mother of God, so wondrously united with Jesus Christ, from all eternity, by the same decree of providence; in her conception immaculate, in her divine motherhood a virgin most pure, the noble associate of our Redeemer in his victory over sin and its consequences – what reward awaited her at last? For the crown of all her graces, she was exempted from the sentence of decay; shared her Son’s victory over death, and was carried up to heaven, soul and body, there to reign as queen at his right hand, who is the King of Ages, the immortal"
Info from this site:
www.totus2us.com/prayer/the-rosary/4th-glorious-mystery/
Book: “Meditations for Advent and Easter, by the author of 'Meditations for Lent'.”
Excerpt From: Meditation
Excerpt From: Meditation
"Consider the words, "Now all this was done that it might be fulfilled which the Lord spoke by the Prophet." How many things are done, the purpose of which we, in our ignorance and blindness, fail to discern ! Who would have supposed that a heathen emperor would issue an edict for his own advantage, in order to prepare the way for the fulfilment of a prophecy. Thus it has been since the world began. Man acts with a view to his own ends and interests, and God overrules to His own eternal glory. Oh, with what submission we should accept all the decrees of Providence! How careful we should be not to question their wisdom or their love !
We only man's view see now, hereafter we shall see God's end. All the varied events and circumstances of our lives have been ordered and overruled that some purpose, not indeed spoken by the mouth of the Prophets, but designed by the God of Prophets, might be fulfilled.”
We only man's view see now, hereafter we shall see God's end. All the varied events and circumstances of our lives have been ordered and overruled that some purpose, not indeed spoken by the mouth of the Prophets, but designed by the God of Prophets, might be fulfilled.”
Book: “Grace in Every Season”, by Catherine Doherty
“The Reality of Christ’s Poverty
This is the month of Christ’s birthday. The Son of God and the Son of Man was born in a cave. Over the centuries men and women have sentimentalized it. It is a time for us Christians of the twenty-first century to take another look at this cave and him who was born in it. People who live in caves or give birth to children in caves are not the wealthy of this world. They are the poor. He, the Son of God, chose to be born in poverty. What does it mean to us moderns—this strange lesson of God’s birth?
Are our hearts filled with longing for him who loved us so much that he was born in a cave, died on a cross, and took upon himself the burden and slavery of our humanity and our sin? Do we desire to follow him and to detach our hearts from all things that are not him, in order to be poor, in spirit and in reality? Are we going to share with the hungry ones of the world, the replicas of the child who had nowhere to lay his head, from our immense surplus? Or are we going to give of our necessity? Which is it going to be? Will we spend millions on gifts for the man or woman “who has everything”? Or will we give to those who have nothing, in memory of the child who was also God and who was born in a cave for love of us? Which is it going to be?
Are we going to the cave like the shepherds, who were also poor? Or are we going to render once more lip service to a Christ of our own making, whose cave we have embellished with clean straw? His probably stunk as old straw stinks in stables.”
“The Reality of Christ’s Poverty
This is the month of Christ’s birthday. The Son of God and the Son of Man was born in a cave. Over the centuries men and women have sentimentalized it. It is a time for us Christians of the twenty-first century to take another look at this cave and him who was born in it. People who live in caves or give birth to children in caves are not the wealthy of this world. They are the poor. He, the Son of God, chose to be born in poverty. What does it mean to us moderns—this strange lesson of God’s birth?
Are our hearts filled with longing for him who loved us so much that he was born in a cave, died on a cross, and took upon himself the burden and slavery of our humanity and our sin? Do we desire to follow him and to detach our hearts from all things that are not him, in order to be poor, in spirit and in reality? Are we going to share with the hungry ones of the world, the replicas of the child who had nowhere to lay his head, from our immense surplus? Or are we going to give of our necessity? Which is it going to be? Will we spend millions on gifts for the man or woman “who has everything”? Or will we give to those who have nothing, in memory of the child who was also God and who was born in a cave for love of us? Which is it going to be?
Are we going to the cave like the shepherds, who were also poor? Or are we going to render once more lip service to a Christ of our own making, whose cave we have embellished with clean straw? His probably stunk as old straw stinks in stables.”
"Put God First", motivational & inspiring commencement speech by Denzel Washington
Link to YouTube video:
https://youtu.be/BxY_eJLBflk
Link to YouTube video:
https://youtu.be/BxY_eJLBflk