A Christmas Gift
By Carol Ann Gieske
Alone in the chapel of St. Joseph’s House in Combermere, Ontario one Christmas Day I was feeling miserable…
I stared at the little Infant Jesus in the crèche scene and prayed, “Lord, you know my struggle…you called your apostles friends and extend that same invitation to all who believe in you. But your divinity overwhelms me. Friendship seems impossible”.
As I held the Little Infant I seemed to hear in my heart -“I am truly human, not just divine”. I slowly closed my eyes, receiving a precious gift of accepting the possibility of friendship with Jesus. Jesus is fully human, “like us in all things but sin.” He DESIRES our friendship. He is also Son of God, One with the Father. His dual nature was a hotly debated question for early Christians. I’ll just give a little taste of the discussion.
Fully Human: “When the Son of God, God of God and Light of Light, took on our physical reality, He became a foetus in the womb of His mother. He grew and developed like all human beings. The Creator became matter, and the Infinite was contained in the womb. “The Word was made flesh.” Jn 1:14 God the Son joined us in our humanity while keeping His own distinct, divine nature and unity in the Trinity.
This is the Incarnation.” (Melkite Archbishop Joseph Raya in his book, CHRISTMAS, p.15)
Fully Divine: One with the Father and the Spirit. One of the strongest heresies, Arianism, denied the full divinity of Christ, holding that he was created. Bishops gathered from most of the Christian world in Nicea in 325 AD and affirmed that “the Word Incarnate is of the same substance with the Father (“God from God, Light from Light, True God from True God, begotten not made, consubstantial with the Father”).
We may ask: How does friendship with Jesus begin? I can only share my experience.
Friendship with Jesus develops just as any friendship does. It begins with attraction, moves to shared experiences, develops in conversations and time spent together. Growing in trust is essential as is learning to listen with the heart. I find journaling to be very helpful.
First, I take time to be quiet; then I write to Jesus about what is on my mind whether it is a joy or a trouble.
Next, I thank God for it. Then I wait with expectancy, because I have said, “Whatever I ‘hear’ next I will accept as coming from you, Jesus”.
When I began this method of praying I was stunned at the words that came forth – they were so personal! The last step in this prayer method is an essential safeguard…they must be shared with a person who knows you and whom you trust.
Advent is a time of preparation and new beginnings. Let’s be bold! Unplug from the usual to find some quiet time. Friendship can begin with the Little Infant Jesus.
Carol Ann Gieske
(The book, CHRISTMAS, is available from Madonna House.)
Previous Months Letters from Madonna House
November 2024: Finding Christ in the Saints By Mathieu Dacquay
October 2024: The Feast Day of St. Francis of Assisi By Jeanne Guillemette
September 2024: The Triumph of the Cross By Rev. Kieran Kilcommons
August 2024: Jesus and the Little Girl By Carol Ann Gieske
July 2024: Dont Forget to take Jesus Home By Jeanne Guillemette
June 2024: Living Under Mary’s Mantle By Fr. Michael Weitl
May 2024: Vocation & Journey in Christ’ By Mathieu Dacquay
April 2024: Christ Lives! By Carol Ann Gieske
March 2024: Putting everything ‘on the altar’ By Jeanne Guillemette
February 2024: Finding Peace in Surrender to Christ By Mathieu Dacquay
January 2024: Celebrating Epiphany with the Christian east By Fr. Michael Weitl
December 2023: Journeying through Advent with Joseph By Carol Ann Gieske
November 2023: The Saints Are Alive By Jeanne Guillemette
October 2023: Ordinary Miracles By Mathieu Dacquay