+Our society teaches us that Christmas is about being with family and giving gifts. The Blessed Mother knows that Christmas is not meant to be about that. Christmas is the time we celebrate the birth of the God-man, her son, at the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. It is about the King of Kings that showed as Isaiah professied, that the rulers of this world and all the material goods are coming to nothing --- but that what brings life and true joy is Christ. To the very extent that we lack this complete trust and hope in the one, true God, we are like mini Jerusalems, hoping for a messiah to bring us temporal comforts, when really we should be thinking of the real Messiah -- who rules heaven and earth, and promises us a heavenly kingdom. This trust in Christ can come only if we are in a state of grace through the Sacraments (for us Baptised Catholics, that means Confession, Holy Communion), along with preparing to receive our Lord in Communion by renouncing our attachment to sin and the things of this world. Christ let's even his own people suffer in this life that they might come to a better understanding of how he suffered for us. He has given us to his own mother, and wants us to remember also her sufferings. These are jewels that are our inheritance as Catholics. We are part of the world's greatest Royalty, and we owe it to our King and Queen to think of them and their sacrifices that we may know how best to serve them. There are keys in the mysteries of their suffering which unlock the questions we have in what we are to do in order to serve God in our sufferings.
It was, afterall, God who loved you first and is waiting for you to come closer to Him in this life.
O come, O come, Emmanuel
And ransom captive Israel
That mourns in lonely exile here
Until the Son of God appear.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.
O come, Thou Day-star, come and cheer
Our spirits by Thine advent here
Disperse the gloomy clouds of night
And death's dark shadows put to flight.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.
O come, Thou Key of David, come,
And open wide our heavenly home;
Make safe the way that leads to Thee,
And close the path to misery.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.
O come to lead us Adonai,
Who to the tribes on height of Sinai
In ancient times did'st give the Law,
In cloud, and majesty and awe.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.
O come, Thou Rod of Jesse, free
Thine own from Satan's tyranny
From depths of Hell Thy people save
And give them victory o'er the grave!
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel. Amen.+
It was, afterall, God who loved you first and is waiting for you to come closer to Him in this life.
O come, O come, Emmanuel
And ransom captive Israel
That mourns in lonely exile here
Until the Son of God appear.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.
O come, Thou Day-star, come and cheer
Our spirits by Thine advent here
Disperse the gloomy clouds of night
And death's dark shadows put to flight.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.
O come, Thou Key of David, come,
And open wide our heavenly home;
Make safe the way that leads to Thee,
And close the path to misery.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.
O come to lead us Adonai,
Who to the tribes on height of Sinai
In ancient times did'st give the Law,
In cloud, and majesty and awe.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.
O come, Thou Rod of Jesse, free
Thine own from Satan's tyranny
From depths of Hell Thy people save
And give them victory o'er the grave!
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel. Amen.+
