Oh Come Let Us Adore Him!

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ
After every Christmas Eve Mass (almost without fail), I hear the proverbial statement from parishioners: “Wouldn’t it be great if we had these crowds every Sunday?” Yes, it would be wonderful, but highly unlikely.

In every age there will be those who love and serve God and those who live for themselves. While in most cultures, it is an abomination not to worship God or even the pagan gods, I have realized that today in modern America, it is more unusual to worship Him. To be religious and worship the invisible God is considered fanatical. Each and every man woman and child has to decide for themselves whether they will bend down in humility to see the Christ Child present today in the Most Holy Eucharist.

I cannot help but think of the words of St. Augustine, writing just before the collapse of the Roman empire, “Expergiscere, homo: quia pro te Deus factus est homo – Wake up, O man! For your sake God became man.”

Sometimes in life we need a wake up call, a reality check if you will. Most times this happens when we are struck with suffering. We know that after tragedies or hardship, people generally turn towards God for help.

Christmas is a wake up call, but it is caused by the miraculous and joyful event of the Incarnation. Eternal death would have been our sure and certain future, had He not be been born of our flesh in time. The hope of eternal life now dawns upon us. The Incarnation gives us the means to share in His divine life. Nothing on earth can give us the means to transcend this world. It is only by God’s grace that we can live forever.

God gazes upon us with love, just as He gazed upon His Son in the manger. He calls us to approach Jesus and adore Him too. Through the eyes of the most holy Mother of God, I ask you to join with me in adoring God and praying for those who do not yet know Him.

Merry Christmas to you and your loved ones, Fr. Slezak