Accept the Gift: Receive Jesus!

Where is Bethlehem?

I am humbled that our Holy Orthodox Church clearly proclaims that God's great gift was not a philosophy, a code of ethics, or a new age way to look at life, but His gift was God Himself, Jesus Christ! One of the pearls in the book Daily Meditations and Prayers for the Christmas Advent Fast and Epiphany by Harakas and Coniaris is the following:

Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea. But where is Bethlehem? Did the Son of God come to be born in a tiny hamlet in far-away Palestine? Or was He born there that He might come to be born somewhere far closer? If Christmas is the time that God chose to come close to us, then Bethlehem must be somewhere very close to us. Where is Bethlehem? It is not far away at all. Bethlehem is your heart and mine! This is where Jesus came to be born. This is where He wants to be born. This is where He wants to live and bring us new life—the very life of God. If Christ is a thousand times born in Bethlehem and not in your heart and mine, then we have missed the whole meaning of Christmas. Where is Bethlehem? 'Behold I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come into him and sup with him' (Rev. 3:20). There is Bethlehem! Where is Bethlehem? 'I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in me, and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing' (John 15:5). There is Bethlehem! Where is Bethlehem? 'He who eats of My flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me and I in him' (John 6:56). There is Bethlehem! Where is Bethlehem? 'It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me,' said St. Paul for whom Bethlehem was within. Bethlehem is within!

The Virgin Mary: The First to Say Yes

I am sure the Virgin Mary and all the saints were able to say, "It is not I who live but Christ who lives in me." They would say Bethlehem is within our heart. And during this time of year, it is worthy to remember the Virgin Mary as the first living person accepting Jesus. Not only in her heart, but she became the vessel God chose for your salvation and mine!

St. Ambrose said it well: "Eve is called the Mother of the human race, but the Virgin Mary became the Mother of Salvation." And the Mother of Salvation said yes to the great invitation of the Holy Spirit for her to bear Jesus. The Panayia accepted Jesus in her heart, became His tabernacle where He dwelt, she became the scroll that held the Word, she became the lamp that holds the Divine Light.

We Are His Beloved

The Theotokos and all the saints invite us into this sacred space to realize that we too can say it is no longer I who live, but Jesus who lives in me! May we truly say that Bethlehem is in our heart and Christ is welcomed in to shine His Life and Light. And when we shine the light of Christ in the world we become partakers of Divine nature as St. Peter writes in II Peter 1:4.

Jesus comes to remind us who we are—that we are created in His image and likeness and He personally knows us by name. We are His beloved and we are His unique and prized possession! As a matter of fact, you and I are extinct! There will never be another you or me. We are extinct, one of a kind! And He is here to save us and restore us to our original beauty!

What an amazing thought to know that we are truly temples of the Holy Spirit. St. Paul reminds us of this truth: "Do you not know that your bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit?" (I Cor. 6:19). He has called us by name and He loves each and every one of us, and He desires so much that our gift to Him becomes an open heart so He can abide with us in His everlasting love.

Will You Receive His Gift?

Jesus did not come to be born in a cave in Bethlehem but desires so much to be born in your heart and mine! That is the Gift! He is asking you and me a question: Will you receive My gift? Will you receive Me?

Jesus is calling us, He is inviting us, He is standing ever so patiently, He is calling ever so sincerely. He is knocking at the door of our heart hoping we will open the door and receive His Gift. To receive HIM!

Faithfully receive His gift! Let us faithfully receive Him in our heart and re-dedicate our life to Christ. Let us present our bodies as a living sacrifice to Christ, not being conformed to the world. May our minds be renewed seeking what is good and acceptable to God. Let's strive to make our love be genuine. Let's hate what is evil, and let's hold on to what is good that we may outdo one another with love and affection!

Make this your Christmas and New Year's resolution to outdo one another with kindness and love! Then it will be a good day!

A blessed Christmas to all!

+Fr. Tom

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