Prayer at Christmas

Christmas—the very name brings joy to the hearts of most people. But is our joy brought about by Christmas parties, Christmas gifts, Christmas outings and more of the same or are we focused on the Person, the central Person, Jesus, whose birthday we are celebrating? And if we are aware of our Birthday Person, are we willing to spend time in communicating with Him in love?

At Christmas, we look around our society and see signs of celebration everywhere. There are decorations wherever decorations can be placed. Wrapped packages, snow scenes—even in south Texas where snow is very unlikely to fall—scenes of partying are evident.

But not so evident, except in churches and in other religious situations, are scenes of a simple couple, the pregnant wife, making slow progress to Bethlehem. Our Christmas carols and songs ring out joyously, speaking of snow, bells, decorations, fun, while in a scene of direst poverty Mary and Joseph rejoice in the birth of Jesus.

Can we sing and talk about partying, gift-giving, decorations, as we celebrate the birth of a Child born into direst poverty, “wrapped in swaddling clothes, and laid in a manger”? Indeed we can for we know that this baby is truly Jesus, the Son of God, born for us. On the other hand, we look at Him in His poverty, and we appreciate His situation.

We can talk to Him, to Mary, to Joseph, in words and songs of joy that express our appreciation of the Holy Family’s first difficult hours of His presence here on earth. We can also sit with them in silence, savoring the presence of Jesus with us here on earth, but very aware of the difficulties that they experienced.

The first option of expressing our joy and appreciation by talking and singing is the one that is taken by most people at Christmas, and it is indeed an option open to us. The second—sitting with them in quietness—calls us to the prayer of quiet.
Jesus came to us “wrapped in swaddling clothes and laid in a manger.” In this situation, He is accessible to all of us.

And the “all” includes you and me. We have the opportunity to be with Him as Mary and Joseph were, as were the poor shepherds, as were the Magi.

At Christmas, do we have to seek material gifts, brightly wrapped packages, things that we have awaited for a long time? Perhaps. Or can we move beyond the material and simply be happy to “be with” Jesus, to grow in our closeness to Him and to Mary and Joseph?

The Babe of Bethlehem – the Son of God, born into what seems to be the direst poverty, yet full of the appreciation of God and the things of God. During this Christmas season, let us try to grow in our appreciation of God and the things of God. Let us grow in our love of Him.