December 23, 2013
How did Ben Franklin put it? “Guests, like fish, begin to smell after three days.” A bit cynical, to be sure.
Guests arrive and we welcome them with an initial rush of greetings and sharing of news. Then the quiet may turn into an awkward silence. Then a look of, “Well, don’t you think it’s about time you for you to get going?”
For close to four Advent weeks, we prepared for a different kind of guest, the Christ Child in our lives. We made room for him; indeed, we made accommodation for him both with a manger scene in our front room and a “manger in our hearts,” a dwelling place in our lives. After a few days, we store away the manger scene. But what about Christ dwelling in our lives?
The invitation for us now is to welcome Christ not as a Christmas guest whom after a few days we store away with the other statues of the crèche scene, but as a permanent resident in our hearts, a companion along our life’s journey. As one picturesque translation has it, “the Word became flesh and pitched his tent among us.” He did not come for a visit but to take up residence. He is not a houseguest for a few days.
And so our Christmas gift is to recognize Christ’s permanent dwelling among us. What a blessing, what a gift!
We Paulists are so very grateful to you, our generous supporters. We actively – with expectation and joy – join you in welcoming our life’s companion Christmas. And we are grateful.