Biblical Christmas Reflections on the Eucharist

By Deacon Barth E. Bracy
Catholic Online

For God so loved the world that He sent us His only Son (Jn 3:16)

This one line is perhaps the best description of Christmas recorded in Scripture. It fully explains the divine motivation behind the Incarnation of Christ, and is the origin of the spirit of giving which we experience as an essential part of Christmas. This spirit of giving is the key for understanding the immense Gift of God to us in the Eucharist.

It is love which compels one to give. The spirit of giving is an immediate and direct consequence, as well as an indication, manifestation and proof, of the love one bears for another. Moreover, this spirit is such that the greater our love, greater still is our desire to offer a gift which adequately expresses the magnitude of our love. We can only marvel at the fact that in sending His Son, God revealed a love for us which is infinite.

Our wonder is not merely a nostalgic yearning for an event given to a privileged group of people two thousand years ago. Because God's desire to give flows from a love that transcends time, it can be satisfied only by a gift that lasts forever. Resplendently, the same divine love made visible on that silent night in Bethlehem continues to shine forth in the Most Blessed Sacrament.

When we come to the Blessed Sacrament we come to Bethlehem

"The Virgin shall be with child... they shall call Him Emmanuel." (Mt 1:23) "And you, Bethlehem, land of Judah... from you shall come a ruler who is to shepherd my people." (Mt 2:6)

Jesus chose the name Emmanuel, a name which means 'God is with us' and chose to be born in Bethlehem, a name which means 'house of bread' to let us know that in the Blessed Sacrament, the Living Bread come down from heaven, He continues to dwell with us here on earth. When we come to the Blessed Sacrament we come to Bethlehem.

Mary's Mission

"Mary set out, proceeding in haste into the hill country..." (Lk 1:39) "...the baby leapt in her womb. Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit..." (Lk 1:41)

Babies are alive in their mother's wombs from the moment of conception - fully human. Jesus was alive in the womb of Mary from the moment of her "Fiat" - fully human and fully divine. Today Jesus is alive in the 'womb' of the Church from each moment of Consecration - truly, bodily and personally Present and Alive in the Most Blessed Sacrament; with His Body, His Blood, His Soul and His Divinity.

Today Mary proceeds in haste, through the valleys and hills of our lives. As she brought Jesus to Elizabeth then, she wants to bring you to Jesus now, so that you too may be filled with the Holy Spirit, leap for joy and give praise. How often do you feel like leaping for joy?

This Christmas, Mary wants to find your heart open to accept the invitation of her Son: Come to Me in the Blessed Sacrament, be filled with the Holy Spirit, leap for joy and give praise!

St. Joseph's Mission

"...there was no room for them in the place where travelers lodged." (Lk 2:7)

Just as there was no room for Jesus back then, there is often no room for him today. The two biggest arguments against Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration are:

"We just don't have room for a chapel!" i.e. "There is no room for Jesus in the inn."

"The people of this parish are just too busy!" i.e. "There is no room for Jesus in our lives."

St. Joseph's mission remains eminently pertinent today. Christmas provides a good time to reflect on our priorities. Make room for Jesus by committing yourself to spend an hour with Him each week, or even each day. In this way you will "make ready the way of the Lord, and clear Him a straight path" (Lk 3:4).

Ask St. Joseph to help you prioritize, so that through your witness to Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament, "all mankind will see the salvation of God" (Lk 3:6).

Shepherds & Magi

God sent "tidings of great joy" (Lk 2:10) to the shepherds and astrologers of old. He did this both through messengers and through nature. God continues to send tidings of great joy in much the same way today. The message remains the same: "A Savior has been born to you" (Lk 2:11); He is the "King" (Mt 2:2).

The Incarnation of the Son of God, as a Babe in Bethlehem and as the Living Bread in the Eucharist, defies all human reason. Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen said the shepherds and the magi represent the two kinds of people humble enough to find their way to Jesus; those who are simple enough as to know they know nothing and those who are wise enough to know they do not know everything. Scripture records the accounts of these privileged witnesses as an example for us to follow.

They got the message and set out to confirm it. "We observed His star at its rising..." (Mt 2:2) "Let us go over to Bethlehem and see..." (Lk 2:15)

They went without delay and saw. "They went in haste and..." (Lk 2:16) "found the child with Mary..." (Mt 2:11)

They understood, adored and proclaimed. "they understood what had been told them..." (Lk 2:17) "prostrated themselves and did Him homage." (Mt 2:11) " ...returned, glorifying and praising God..." (Lk 2:20)

Today, as of old, one must humble and also vigilant, i.e., awake like the shepherds and alert like the wisemen, in order to perceive the tidings of great joy: God became Man for love of us and remains with us forever in the Blessed Sacrament because He loves us too much to leave us.

Go in haste, like the shepherds, even if you have to travel far, like the magi; to see Jesus, to understand His love, to adore Him and to proclaim the Good News of His Real Presence in the Most Blessed Sacrament - the continuation of His Incarnation here on earth!

Mary's Treasure

"Mary treasured all these things and reflected on them in her heart." (Lk 2:19)

What great joy and privilege were given to the shepherds and magi! Heeding the invitation to give honor, glory and praise to the newborn King they forever occupy a treasured place in Mary's heart.

When you heed the invitation to give honor, glory and praise to Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament through a holy hour of adoration, you take the place of the shepherds and magi in Bethlehem. Mary holds you in her Heart, treasuring and reflecting upon the love you give her Son, and the graces He lavishes upon you.

Mary's great desire is to keep you forever in her Immaculate Heart, guiding you day-by-day to her Son in the Blessed Sacrament, in anticipation of and preparation for the 'wedding feast of the Lamb', union with Jesus in heaven for all eternity.

More Eucharistic Christmas Reflections are available at http://www.perpetual-adoration.org/library/library_main.html#christmas.

Contact

League of Eucharistic Guardians
http://www.perpetual-adoration.org , PH
Deacon Barth E. Bracy - Moderator, 632 453-0348

Email

info@perpetual-adoration.org

Keywords

Eucharist, Christmas, Bible

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