“Good News For The Weak”

I love the season of Advent. It’s a time of preparation and expectation for the great and beautiful arrival of Christmas. And I really love the Christmas season …..  it’s richness and beauty and hope, the trees and lights, the mangers, midnight mass, the music, the gifts, the memories of childhood. I love watching the great movies that reappear during this season…”It’s A Wonderful Life” with James Stewart and Donna Reed ….  “Mr. Potter, and Clarence the angel. It came out in 1946, the  year I was born. 

This is a season for the needy, for the weak, for the humble, for the childlike. The proud and haughty don’t seem to fit very well around the manger. And if we’re honest, we know we are needy. One of my favorite verses is from Luke 10 where we see Jesus getting excited, not about the grandeur of the universe, but about the blessings of the simple…… “Jesus rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and said, “I give you praise, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for although you have hidden these things from the wise and the learned you have revealed them to the childlike.Yes, Father, such has been your gracious will ….. turning to the disciples in private he said, “Blessed are the eyes that see what you see. For I say to you, many prophets and kings desired to see what you see, but did not see it, and to hear what you hear, but did not hear it.” (Luke 10:21-24)

A couple of days ago a precious soul arrived on the scene, clearly in great need, unable to care for himself, not able to even breathe on its own, weighing less than 4 pounds.  Brought forth by his brave and loving mother and the prayers of his family, little Quentin Isaac is an icon of how each of us is so precious to the Lord and so needy. The more needy and childlike we are, the more attentive and tender the care needs to be. (Note: he’s doing well, but please pray.)

I was struct by the words of a Father Jean du Cœur de Jésus d’Elbée († 1982), a French priest and spiritual author. (ref. Magnificat, Dec. 5, 2023) “Is it not good to be a poor man made rich, a blind man made to see, a prisoner made free, a condemned man granted mercy—much more, a sinner pardoned and raised to divine life? I have often thought about the comment that Maurice Maignan made after a retreat: “One thought strikes me. All the means of sanctification the preacher proposes and develops require a strong soul…. I will not profit from exercises designed for strong souls. O my God, show me the exercises designed for feeble souls…. I am one of those souls and I bless you for having revealed to the weak and the little ones what you do not always accord to the valiant and the strong.” There is nothing in the world of which I am more sure than I am of the love of Jesus for each one of us. There is nothing I affirm with more assurance to a soul than the fact that Jesus loves each of us to the point of the foolishness of the cross and the glory of the Resurrection. You must repeat again and again, to believing and unbelieving souls, in awaiting his return, that Jesus loves them. Repeat again and again the message of the Christmas angel: I bring you tidings of great joy: a Savior is born unto you.”

As we prepare for the birth of our savior born as a little baby in a cold manger in great need, let us not be afraid to admit that we ourselves are in great need… whether 3 days old in the NICU or 90 years old in a nursing home. We can be confident that the Lord is there for us, at our side, ready to help us. And that is very good news.