Beloved in Christ,
While Christmas season is a very pleasant one, it is - alas - also a very depressing season for those who go through hardship, or are lonely, during this blissful time. As blissful it is, the harsh it is. I have been there myself, regretfully, and I did spend some sad Christmas.
While it makes sense for me to be depressed when I am at hardship on time of happiness, it is contrary to the true meaning of Christmas, and shows the absence - in my mind at least - of the real reason for being joyous on Christmas, which is HOPE: "Rejoicing in hope" (Romans 12:12 - NKJV) Christmas is a season of joy because it is the season of hope. And I owe this correction to a friend, who is receiving this email.
"And now abide faith, hope and love" (1 Corinthians 13:13 - NKJV)
While it is a biblical will that I should abide in faith, absolutely and regardless of my status, mode or condition, it is not something I can do, rather it is a gift. "Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit" (Romans 15:13 - NKJV) And in order to receive any gift from God, we need to simply ask for it "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you." (Matthew 7:7 - NKJV). But we also need to know that if we ask something bad, i.e., won't help us in the path our salvation, we wont receive [St. James Epistle] and that we should seek the kingdom of heaven above any other request, even above seeking virtues [St. Matthew Gospel].
So, how can I, while I am going through this terrible hardship, abide in hope, and even rejoice in that hope? Well, take time OFF, depart the world and its cares for few minutes, and spend with God some time contemplating in the Glorious Baby. Go to the Nativity scene, and take yourself in a journey 2000 years back and imagine yourself with the Magi searching for the Glorious Baby. You start by searching the royal palace of Judea, He is not there. You ask the jewish priests, and they don't know. You go to the classy neighborhoods, you can not find Him. You roam the city and after you are tired, after you reach your limits and exhaust all your energy, you lift up your eyes and heart to, or in, the sky to find His star to lead you to Him!
Where is He? In a manager! King of Kings, Lord or Lords, in a manager! Yet this is the least sacrifice He did. What I cannot yet comprehend is that He who is above time, emptied Himself, and put Himself subject to time and its constraints! My beloved, how many day dreams of power did we imagine if we have a time machine?! Or that if we can make only one visit to the future, or to the past to make one simple change that would change the world?! Imagine if you have a time machine, and you give it up for the sake of someone you love! This might be somehow close to what our Benevolent Loving God Jesus Christ did for us, for me, and for you, each by name! This is the source of all hope, that He LOVES YOU SO VERY MUCH! "Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends." (John 15:13 - NKJV)
But there is yet more good news, or divine promise, that Christmas brings to those of us who are in hardship. Not only does God loves me, but He also demonstrated throughout human history, throughout the Bible, but more importantly throughout MY past, the He is The Wisdom, and The Almighty! [Job chapters 39-42] In Christmas, we are more delightfully reminded that God has a perfect plan for us, for "when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law" (Galatians 4:4). And there is the fullness of time for everything: "To everything there is a season, A time for every purpose under heaven" (Ecclesiastes 3:1)
I invite myself, and invite you, this very Christmas to take this journey inside my/your heart, staring at His star in heaven, searching for a manager to host the Glorious Baby, to realize the joy of living the fact that under all circumstances; in poverty or richness, in health or sickness, in success or repeated trials for success, in north or south, east or west, day or night, only one thing matter: to be with Him.
Have a Blessed, Joyous, and Merry Christmas!
