Memorial of Sts. Basil the Great and Gregory Nazianzen, Bishops and Doctors of the Church
We have just welcomed Christ into the world. Jesus, born of the Virgin, visits us, and we call him Emmanuel. With rejoicing, we pledge our faith and life to this small child, “Lord be with us always!” Then amid the rejoicing, we begin to experience suffering, pain, confusion, and distraction—consider the feasts we have celebrated the past several days.
In the tumult of suffering and joy, we can lose sight of Christ and ask other people or things vying for our attention, “are you the Christ?” We ask if pleasure, worldly wisdom, or our labor for possessions will fulfill our need for intimacy and care. Most things are not bad in themselves, but they do point to a greater need, as John says he points to Christ.
If you seek pleasure, you may be seeking loving and caring intimacy; that is where Christ is. If you seek wisdom, you may be seeking confidence and assurance of your worth; that is where Christ is. If you seek possessions, you may be seeking hope that there is more to life; that is where Christ is.
Seek Christ, and you shall live.
Reflection by Fr. Etienne Huard, OSB
Posted in Articles for Christmas, Daily Reflections