Our society loves to follow the rich and powerful and know what’s happening in their lives. In England it’s the royal family. In America it’s the Hollywood celebrities, CEOs, or our highest politicians.
When Christ was preparing to come into the world, He came into a small tribe of Israel. He came to a nation that wasn’t even independent, but subject to Roman rule. He came to a “puny” clan, a hometown that was looked down on, and to a poor family.
“But you, Bethlehem…too small to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel…” (Micah 5:2)
Israel was hoping for a powerful savior. However, they did not expect a king to come as an infant in a poor family and be of lowly birth.
Today – do we see Jesus in the lowly, vulnerable form of the Eucharist?
Through the Eucharist we receive Christ into ourselves, through a form the world does not see or understand. This mirrors Mary, who received Christ in a most preeminent way, and then immediately went “in haste” to visit her cousin Elizabeth. Elizabeth was of a much higher status than Mary (her husband being a Levitical temple priest). Yet she recognizes that within Mary is a great treasure, a great cause for joy.
This Advent, do we seek wealth, power, and joy in achieving or possessing things of this world? Or do we rejoice in hope of the immeasurable inheritance we have through Christ? No power, no wealth, no joy is greater than the power, wealth, and joy of Christ. Yet do we recognize Him when he comes in the Eucharist? Do we recognize him in our neighbor, who may seem “poor” and of lesser worth in our eyes?
Prayer: Lord, open our eyes to see You in the sacred mysteries. Help us to receive you anew. Grant us the grace to notice how you work in our lives each day and give us an opportunity to see You. You have promised that if we seek, we shall find. Come then, Lord. We seek you anew this day, this Advent season. Let us lay aside the treasures of this world for the greatest hope we can have in being a part of Your family and being partakers of Your inheritance, which You desire to give, and which You have planned for us from before the beginning of time. Come, Lord Jesus. Increase our hope, our longing, and our joy.
Action: Ask God for an opportunity to see Christ in your neighbor. Remember that the rich can sometimes be spiritually poor, and the materially poor can sometimes have much spiritual treasure to share with us. Pray for an encounter of the kind of Mary and Elizabeth.