“Born on straw at night
under low stable rafters,
Baby Jesus cried.”
~ Richelle E. Goodrich
Like no other, and yet no different. That is the great paradox of the birth of Jesus on Christmas. He was an infant like no other since He was the Son of God. Yet, by all appearances, He was like any other baby: tiny, fragile, and totally helpless. It was to you and me that Jesus came as an infant. He came to save us from our sins. And coming as a tiny infant, He came with an invitation.
What would that invitation be, you might ask? What do you think? Have you ever been around an infant? What is the very first thing that goes through your mind? For most people, the invitation of an infant is to pick the infant up, to cuddle the infant, to let the infant know that he or she is loved, cherished, and protected.
The touch of others is often enough to make an infant stop crying. Picking up and carrying an infant is enough to make the infant fall asleep. God came to us as an infant. He wants us to pick Him up, to hold Him, to cradle Him, and to love Him just as much as He loves us.
The “magical moment” is about to happen once again as the clock strikes midnight and Christmas comes about. We will celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ and remind ourselves that He will come again. Thus our Advent preparation will need to continue throughout the Advent of our lives.
Prepare to greet Christ, the Lord.
FAITH ACTION: Set aside time today to reflect upon the birth of Christ.