From Crib to Cross

From the desk of Fr. Ignatius Waters, CP

Sunday, 1st January 2017

This is how St. Augustine describes what happened at the first Christmas:

“Man’s maker was made man,

That he, ruler of the stars, might be nursed at his mother’s breast;

That the Bread of Life might hunger; the Fountain thirst, and the Light fade.

That he, who is the Way, might be tired on the way; that the Truth be accused of falsehood; the Teacher be beaten with whips;

That the Source of all be suspended on wood, that Strength might grow weak; that the Healer be wounded; that the Author of Life might die.”

And this is what must continue happening in us according to Master Eckhart:  “What good is it to me,

If the eternal birth of the divine Son takes place unceasingly

But does not take place within me?

And what good is it to me if Mary is full of grace,

And I am not also full of grace?

What good is it to me for the Creator to give birth to Jesus if I do not also give birth to him in my time and my culture?”

 John leapt with joy in Elizabeth’s womb when Jesus came close in Mary’s womb.  May we also leap with joy as we celebrate God’s coming close to us in Jesus.