Photo by Walter Chávez on Unsplash
Luke 2:13-19 (NIV):
“Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
“Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”
When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”
So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.
But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.” (Emphasis added)
Adventus, the Latin word for Advent, means to come.
And so, the people came.
They came to behold the glory of Christ wrapped in cloth and lying in a manger. Gifts were given, praises rang out, and the eyes of onlookers filled with wonder as they caught glimpses of living Hope wrapped in soft, supple, unmarked flesh.
As word quickly spread and crowds began to gather, Mary wasn’t consumed by anything other than the present moment. She took in the faces of strangers, watched as the Wisemen knelt down to worship their King, and made the intentional decision to pause, treasure up, and ponder.
She allowed herself to be totally immersed in the moment at hand, not thinking ahead nor looking behind. She allowed herself the sacred gift of stillness and because of that, she was able to truly behold Emmanuel – God with her – that glorious day.
What would she have missed had she not stopped to ponder?
What would’ve happened if she had rushed past the moment, wishing it to be over, wishing for sleep, a comfortable bed, and maybe something hot to eat? Wouldn’t we all be tempted to do the same in our own human state?
But no; she chose to notice, lean in, pay attention. She chose to rest in the moment and in the presence of her Son and God wrapped up in One.
Mary chose to be still and know.
Because of her choice, she was undoubtedly blessed with a peace that surpassed all understanding and a perspective that can only be found by looking through the lens of Heaven.
Stillness; slowing down long enough to ponder and hold deep within the miracle of God with us.
That is what Christ is inviting you to do today, dear one, on this very Merry Christmas day. As Advent ends and Christ’s birth begins, Jesus invites you to encounter Him and experience the gift of His presence with you, fully.
So, as the gifts are dispersed and unwrapped, Christmas meals cook and simmer on stovetops, and loved ones and travel plans come and go, remember to behold – to look for – His presence with you today, and everyday.
He is a God that longs to be seen by you, so today, look for all the ways in which He is constantly revealing Himself to you. This is the ultimate gift that we continuously are invited to receive: God’s presence with us in the everyday mundane moments of our right now lives.
Come, kneel before Him, treasure, and ponder this day – this moment – in your heart.
Jesus is inviting you to be still and know, that He has come.
peace be with you,
celia
A Place to Ponder
How can you intentionally remind yourself to look for God’s presence with you today? And remember, friend, to praise Him in the beholding.
A Blessing for The Eyes of Jesus
Over the last year, I have found it extremely life-giving to borrow words or prayers, or blessings from others. I’m doing that here, sharing with you borrowed words from John O’Donohue’s To Bless the Space Between Us in an effort to give language to the longings within ourselves. I pray they bless you and keep you.
I imagine the eyes of Jesus Were harvest brown, The light of their gazing Suffused with the seasons: The shadow of winter, The mind of spring, the blues of summer, And amber of harvest. A gaze that is perfect sister To the kindness that dwells In His beautiful hands. The eyes of Jesus gaze on us, Stirring in the heart's clay The confidence of seasons That never lose their way to harvest. This gaze knows the signature Of our heartbeat, the first glimmer From the dawn that dreamed our minds, The crevices where thoughts grow Long before the longing in the bone Sends them toward the mind's eye, The artistry of the emptiness That knows to slow the hunger Of outside things until they weave Into the twilight side of heart, A gaze full of all that is still future Looking out for us to glimpse The jeweled light in winter stone, Quickening the eyes that look at us To see through to where words Are blind to say what we would love, Forever falling softly on our faces, His gaze plies the soul with light, Laying down a luminous layer Beneath our brief and brittle days Until the appointed dawn comes Assured and harvest deft. To unravel the last black knot And we are back home in the house That we have never left.
Christmas Day Resources
Emily P. Freeman shared a lovely Christmas Blessing this week on her podcast. Listen alone in silence or gather the family around to hear her words on this blessed Christmas day: A Blessing for Christmas Week
Say a Christmas blessing or prayer with your friends and family today to help you behold God with you on this sacred day. I found a blog post with 25 different Christmas prayers and blessings here that you can borrow: Christmas Prayers
One of my favorite food bloggers has a whole list of healthy, yummy (emphasis on the yummy… seriously, they don’t taste healthy but they don’t make you feel sugared up either), Christmas recipes! Cooking is its own kind of liturgy. Check out the list here and make something yummy and fun with your family today: Molly’s Christmas Recipes
As you move from the Christmas season and into the new year, maybe there’s still some grief that you still need to process with the Lord. Check out my friend and fellow writer, Kari Bartkus’, Journal Gently program. Journal Gently is an 8-week program designed to help you use writing as a way to process hurt, grief, and trauma with God: Journal Gently