Et Verbum caro factum est

On Monday, we went to celebrate a group Mass in the cave of the Nativity, near the very place where the Lord Jesus Christ was born.

I'm sure everyone thinks "aww...that sounds so nice and quaint." Well, it was a little distracting to have a crowd of pilgrims coming and going all around us, trying to take pictures of everything (including our priest celebrating the Mass!).

However, it was a great moment for prayer. We celebrated a votive Mass of Christmas at dawn (readings can be found here). I was reflecting on what happened in that very spot 2000+ years ago, how

The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world.
He was in the world,
and the world came to be through him,
but the world did not know him.
He came to what was his own,
but his own people did not accept him.

Isn't this what Advent is about?

2000 years ago, some innkeeper was not prepared to see the unique gift which was in front of him - the long-awaited messiah was in his presence, asking for a place to stay. God was visiting him from on high, and he did not see him. Rather, he sent a woman who was about to give birth to a barn, no place fit for a newborn, much less the King of the Universe.

But to those who did accept him
he gave power to become children of God,

This is God's will for us - that we should be called the children of God. How much love must the Father have for us, that he sent his only Son to us, who would reject and crucify him, so that in him we too could become his children by grace! The coming of Jesus tells us - each of us - that God loves us from before our very birth, that he is looking down upon us with love, calling us to himself; that he will not leave us orphans, but will forever be our loving Father. And to demonstrate this, he sent the Son.

And the Word became flesh (Latin: et Verbum caro factum est)
and made his dwelling among us,
and we saw his glory,
the glory as of the Father’s only Son,
full of grace and truth.

There I was, in the very place where 2000 years ago God pitched his tent and made his dwelling among us. It was in that cave where all of creation was able to, for the first time ever, look upon the very face of God. It was there that we first saw his glory - that of a humble child, the only Son of God.

And, Christ continues to come to us today - in fact, each and every day. As I was looking at the spot of the birth, I had but to turn to my right to see God the Son descending from on high again to be with us - there on the altar!

What a great blessing to be here during Advent! Pray for me, that I may continue to prepare my heart to receive the Lord when and where he comes.