The Bridge Builder

Christmas 2009

This week, Christmas is the celebration we are all focused on and as there are different readings for Christmas, depending on which Mass you attend, I have chosen something from the solemn blessings to do a short reflection on.

When the word became flesh, earth was joined to heaven.

I read once that in all the world’s non-Christian religions, people are expected to strive to reach up to the God they worship but Christianity is the only one where God reaches down to us.

We forget that. In all of our desires to serve our Lord and attain his blessing, we forget that it is only possible to have a close relationship with God because God built the bridge. It isn’t just our will and striving that connects us to the Lord of the universe; it is his will and desire that allows us to succeed. The bridge he built was a baby named Jesus.

A child was born and earth was joined to heaven. During this Christmas season, spend some time contemplating the nativity and say a prayer of gratitude that this wee babe was and is a Christmas gift from the Father to us, a bridge, the gift of the ability to touch heaven. Within your gratitude, remember that the Father sent this gift out of his desire to be attainable and accessible to you.

The Father wanted you. He wanted you to be able to come into the courts of the Holy of Holies to rest in his presence and to commune with him, even before you die. He wanted you to have life before death. Is that not the most gracious and precious Christmas gift you have ever received? And not only did he want you to be in relationship with him but, as the words of the rest of the Christmas blessing say - "May he give you his peace and goodwill, and fellowship with all the heavenly host." - his desire is that you have a bond with the whole community of heaven, all the angels and saints, including those you love who have already gone home. The Father does not want even one of his beloved to be alone. He sent Jesus. He built the bridge.

Every night I pray for all of you. This week I will be praying that you will experience a gift from the Father, a gift that will bless you and encourage you in your time of waiting. But, you’ll have to pay close attention and watch for it. Often God’s gifts start out as small, weak and obscure as a newborn infant in a manger – but end up to be as big as heaven itself.

A blessed and Holy Christmas to you all. May it be a place of wonder-full rest on your adventure in waiting.

The next Manna Gathering post will be after New Year’s so I’d also like to send you all a New Year’s Blessing.  I pray that this next year for you will be one of deep spiritual growth and many revelations of how beloved you are.

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communication of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen. (1Cor. 13:14)