Recently when speaking with a friend, he asked me if I have a cross in my room. I answered yes, saying that most people have at least one cross in their home. Next he asked if I had a Nativity scene. Proudly I told him that I did indeed have one, a statue of Joseph, Mary, and Jesus that was hand-carved in Poland. Finally, he asked me if I put it away after Christmas. To his surprise I answered NO, I keep it out all year long – it’s so beautiful! He smiled and said that I was probably one of the few people, himself included, who keep the scene out all year round.
We continued talking on this topic of the Crucifix and the Nativity for some time. I asked what made him keep his scene up throughout the year, as I had already told him why I did.
“Well,” he told me, we know why we display the Crucifix; it reminds us that God became man and by dying on the cross, He brought salvation to us all. Jesus’ life comes to an end and in three days, salvation becomes ours. The Crucifix reminds us of that part of Jesus’ life. Jesus made choices and they lead Him to those final days.”
My friend then caught me off guard when he said, “But what about the baby in the Nativity scene?”
“No choices there. Jesus was dependent on his mother. We see Jesus as helpless, cooing and crying as any baby would. He needed Mary and Joseph to care for Him and to love Him.”
He then said something that I will never forget. “Jesus was in some version of diapers longer than He was on the cross. He was speechless and gazed upon his mother longer than he was hanging on the cross, giving forgiveness to his murderers.”
I had never thought about that. So little is written about Jesus before he began his public ministry.
This Christmas, are we ready to celebrate the fragile, innocent baby, Emmanuel, who came to us, dependent on human care and compassion? The least we can do, especially during this year of Eucharistic Revival, is share that love and compassion with those we meet each day. That’s our gift back to our Savior, who paid for our salvation by dying on the cross. My friend told me that his Nativity scene reminds him daily of our role of bringing meaning to the life of Jesus.
This Christmas season, take some time to visit several Nativity scenes and pray to that dependent helpless babe in the manger, asking for the gift of becoming more Christlike. For a real treat, take the time to listen to Pentatonix sing a beautiful rendition of Mary, Did You Know.
Merry Christmas!
Till next week,
Sister Theresita
