By Fr. Christopher Foeckler, MJ •  St. Josaphat Formation Center • Phoenix, AZ

There are any number of virtues and good qualities that we can imitate in the life and actions of our Lord as recorded in the Gospels. Our Lord was outstanding in His great charity towards those in any need. Whether they were hungry, abandoned, lost, sick, dying or bereaved, He promptly cared for them and exhorted His disciples to do the same. The word ‘immediately’ is often used by the Evangelist in reference to Our Lord’s response to a request for help. He spoke the Truth with authority, clarity, fearlessness and tirelessly. He forgave sinners readily and was severely criticized for its frequency. Even while they were nailing Him to the Cross, He prayed for His persecutors: “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” But the virtues that Jesus specifically asked us to learn from Him were His meekness and humility. “Learn of me, for I am meek and humble of heart.” (Mt 11:29)

Now in the Advent and Christmas seasons we consider as the center piece of the mystery we celebrate with anticipation and great joy the Lord humbling Himself to become a little child, conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary, wrapped in swaddling clothes and laid in a manger by his Mother because there was no room for them at the inn. It is the first and very vivid lesson of His meekness and humility that we are to learn from Him. (cf. Phil 2:5-11)

This lesson should be taken to heart in a real and even radical way, since in His later preaching Jesus exhorts us solemnly: “Amen, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoever receives one child such as this in my name receives me.” (Mt 18:2-5)

St. Augustine said: “We become like what we gaze upon.” Let’s consider the Child Jesus and how He humbled Himself to become a child, so we might become like Him and so be able to enter the kingdom of heaven. The benefits of becoming child-like are a deeper trust in our heavenly Father, especially in the face of trials and hardships, a trust that affords natural fidelity and especially a continual spirit of joyfulness. Merry Christmas to all our readers! God bless you in the New Year of 2017!

This post is also available in: Hindi Italian Polish Slovak Spanish Ukrainian