Meditating for the New Year
Whenever the new year ushers in, there is a natural tendency to reminisce on the past year and to lay out plans for the year ahead. We have somewhat of an idea of practical things that we want to accomplish but sometimes we don’t exactly know how to approach the year as far as our spiritual life is concerned. When we come to this dilemma, one sure measure is to meditate on the themes of the Christmas season.
The Manger and the Eucharist
When we think of Christmas, we think of the Infant Jesus lying in a manger. Why did God choose to be born in a manger? First of all, what is a manger? It is a box or a trough for food for horses or cattle. This is a very simple description of a very simple object. The Son of God humbled Himself to become one of us, born in a box that was used for animal feed, precisely so that He may become our Spiritual Food. The Infant Jesus in the manger is our Food, the Eucharist. May we come to a deeper love for the Eucharist this new year.
Activity to strive for: Daily Mass and Eucharistic Adoration
The Manger and the Cross
Jesus came as an Infant Babe so as to save mankind from sin by dying on the Cross. On Christmas day, He is cradled by His Mother in a box made of wood. On Good Friday, His Mother watches as He is crucified to the wood of the Cross. May we learn to meditate on the sufferings of Jesus so that we may receive the grace of uniting our daily crosses with the Cross of Our Blessed Lord.
Activity to strive for: Making the Stations of the Cross
The Swaddling Clothes and the Resurrection
Mary wrapped her Infant Son with swaddling clothes. Swaddling clothes is defined as the strips of cloth often wrapped around a newborn or infant child. Mary’s heart was filled with joy when she wrapped her Son with these strips of cloth. Little did she know that after thirty three years, she would see her Son’s Body being wrapped in strips of burial cloth. Her heart would once again be filled with joy when she learns of His Ressurection! May we come to a deeper longing for Heaven, that we may strive to live holier lives so as to be united with our Lord Jesus in Heaven.
Activity to strive for: Spiritual readings and direction
The Three Kings and the call to Conversion
The Magis, Melchior, Balthazar, and Gaspar, were the kings of Ind, Chaldea, and Persia. They watched the star that brought them to the King whom they wanted to worship. Now why would three kings from the east who were “stargazers” even want to worship a King? They were good men who heard God’s voice in creation. The Creator called them through his creation, the star of Bethlehem. They were the first converts to Christianity because they responded to God’s call by making the first Christian pilgrimage. May we also seek out Jesus by making spiritual recollections and pilgrimages and may we come to do His Will by responding to the call to daily conversion.
Activity to strive for: Spiritual pilgrimage and frequent Confession
(An original reflection by St. Peter's Helpers inspired by Mary Magdalene)
The Manger and the Eucharist
When we think of Christmas, we think of the Infant Jesus lying in a manger. Why did God choose to be born in a manger? First of all, what is a manger? It is a box or a trough for food for horses or cattle. This is a very simple description of a very simple object. The Son of God humbled Himself to become one of us, born in a box that was used for animal feed, precisely so that He may become our Spiritual Food. The Infant Jesus in the manger is our Food, the Eucharist. May we come to a deeper love for the Eucharist this new year.
Activity to strive for: Daily Mass and Eucharistic Adoration
The Manger and the Cross
Jesus came as an Infant Babe so as to save mankind from sin by dying on the Cross. On Christmas day, He is cradled by His Mother in a box made of wood. On Good Friday, His Mother watches as He is crucified to the wood of the Cross. May we learn to meditate on the sufferings of Jesus so that we may receive the grace of uniting our daily crosses with the Cross of Our Blessed Lord.
Activity to strive for: Making the Stations of the Cross
The Swaddling Clothes and the Resurrection
Mary wrapped her Infant Son with swaddling clothes. Swaddling clothes is defined as the strips of cloth often wrapped around a newborn or infant child. Mary’s heart was filled with joy when she wrapped her Son with these strips of cloth. Little did she know that after thirty three years, she would see her Son’s Body being wrapped in strips of burial cloth. Her heart would once again be filled with joy when she learns of His Ressurection! May we come to a deeper longing for Heaven, that we may strive to live holier lives so as to be united with our Lord Jesus in Heaven.
Activity to strive for: Spiritual readings and direction
The Three Kings and the call to Conversion
The Magis, Melchior, Balthazar, and Gaspar, were the kings of Ind, Chaldea, and Persia. They watched the star that brought them to the King whom they wanted to worship. Now why would three kings from the east who were “stargazers” even want to worship a King? They were good men who heard God’s voice in creation. The Creator called them through his creation, the star of Bethlehem. They were the first converts to Christianity because they responded to God’s call by making the first Christian pilgrimage. May we also seek out Jesus by making spiritual recollections and pilgrimages and may we come to do His Will by responding to the call to daily conversion.
Activity to strive for: Spiritual pilgrimage and frequent Confession
(An original reflection by St. Peter's Helpers inspired by Mary Magdalene)
6 Comments:
That was wonderful! It touched on all I have ever meditated upon in the Joyful Mysteries of the Rosary. Where did this come from?
Thank you for dropping by Tima. Just a reflection inspired by the love for the Infant King, Baby Jesus.
God bless you and thanks for visiting. Please drop by again.
Beautiful! That is a beautiful meditation for the new year. It gave me shivers. I love especially the very first one.
Thank you :)
You're welcome Carmel!
Wow, these reflections on the Christian belief got me! I never thought about the reason for the three kings or why Jesus was born in a manger. Thank you a lot, it is a great contribution top our religion!
Hi Stef. Good to hear from you. Don't mention it. God bless.
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