1. Christ remaining unnoticed. "It’s Christmas again. In October already I started to be anxious about what will happen this year. ... Jesus? Oh, really! I have seen something like a little Jesus. It was at the toy department but the place was so crowded that I could not get there eventually." (If you would like to read more about this, please read my Christmas essay here.)
2. Christ born besides us. "We had a very nice Christmas again. We went to the church in the morning. Our children were doing great. We were a little cold but the sermon was beautiful. ... The smallest child had the role of the angel. He distributed the gifts. Everybody was happy. We went to the Midnight Mass, too. It was also very nice. This Christmas remains in my good memories." (If you would like to read more about this, please read my Christmas essay here.)
3. Christ born within us. Let me suggest all my Readers that you should remain silent at least for a few hours during Christmas. Kneel down in front of the manger in your mind. Rejoice in that God has opened the gate of Paradise again and raised You also into pureness. Step forward in your mind! Hold the little Jesus in your arms. Feel that the House of the Father is open to You to enter. Feel that the little Jesus, whom You hold in your arms and who has touched You, is the Door. STEP INSIDE! Feel the Totality of the Father’s joy as You entered His House. Feel the great rejoicing. Why? Because You have come Home. This place will be your Home from now on. You will return to your loved ones and immerse in the bustle of the world after this miracle. But You will know that the Door of the Father’s House will always be open for You. Because You can go in and out freely from now on. And You will find peace there. This is the Real Christmas. This is how Jesus has been born also within You – and not only besides You. (If you would like to read more about this, please read my Christmas essay here.)
Introduction. All essays published since September have been preparing these Christmas thoughts. The soul’s improvement during the natural alternation of good and bad, the gratitude, the communion of love, the love networks, the conversion, the prayers, the Silence and the touch of Totality all have been preparing us for meeting Christ. The present Christmas essay is about meeting Jesus. That is why it is quite short. Because the essence of meeting Jesus is incomprehensible, inexpressible and unexplainable. But that is why it is wonderful. Because it is Total. And because it is completed. And it is Life. If you wish to read more about Christmas, please read my last year’s Christmas essay that describes the same – with more words but from the point of view of the Essence, in a much poorer way. I wish all my Readers a beautiful Christmas full of Meeting!
1. Christ remaining unnoticed
"It’s Christmas again. In October already I started to be anxious about what will happen this year. The Christmas tree will be thicker again than its holder. Then it will fall. The fairy lights will tangle. The kid will be choosy because he had a similar toy already. There will be too many fondant candies. There will be far too few fondant candies. The fish will not be fresh enough in the fish soup for my husband. Anyway: there used to be even pikes in the soup when he was a child. Grandma will argue about the family cake. It should have been dried longer. But today’s people start everything only in the last minute... Jesus!!! Jesus? Oh, really! I have seen something like a little Jesus. It was at the toy department but the place was so crowded that I could not get there eventually."
2. Christ born besides us
"We had a very nice Christmas again. We went to the church in the morning. Our children were doing great. We were a little cold but the sermon was beautiful. The Christmas tree was nice, too. Our children made even a nativity scene in front of it. We were thinking a lot about what size the little Jesus should have been. Because if He is too small, it may seem that He is insignificant. But if He is too big then the whole scene is not credible. But finally it was very nice. And the children were very happy. And this is all what matters. We had a modest dinner. There was not a rush, we had a pleasant time. Grandpa came over, too, and was telling jokes. We were singing nicely next to the Christmas tree. The children started the prayer. The smallest child had the role of the angel. He distributed the gifts. Everybody was happy. We went to the Midnight Mass, too. It was also very nice. This Christmas remains in my good memories."
3. Christ born within us
"It can be only a gift when Jesus is born within us.
A gift cannot be enforced.
It has to be awaited humbly, trustingly, silently.
But do not be afraid: He will not be late.
As soon as He can see that your desire is honest,
you have really had enough of your guilty life,
and you are really ready to accept His one,
He will not keep you waiting for a moment."
(Aladár Gáncs, The Beam of Light, 1928)
Let me suggest all my Readers that you should remain silent at least for a few hours during Christmas. Kneel down in front of the manger in your mind, and say a prayer for Jesus. Notice the Glory. Enjoy it. Feel the warmth of love. Melt all miseries that you have had during the past years with this endless love. Smell the scent of purity. Rejoice in that God has opened the gate of Paradise again and raised You also into pureness. Step forward in your mind! Imagine that You are the servant. Imagine that Mary and Joseph have to lay down some blanket so they ask You to hold the little Jesus in your arms for a moment. As you take Him, You can feel that the little Jesus has no weight. But still He is in your arms very safely. Smile at Him. Feel the power as Jesus is smiling back. Touch the little hands or soles of Jesus with one of your fingers. Feel that Jesus grabs and holds it. Step even further in your mind! Close your inner eyes, too. Feel that the touch of Jesus is the call of the Father. Feel that the House of the Father is open to You to enter. Feel that the little Jesus, whom You hold in your arms and who has touched You, is the Door. STEP INSIDE! Feel how Jesus purifies You from Everything, from all the flaws and bad memories You have had, as You pass through the Door. Feel the Totality of the Father’s joy as You entered His House. Open your inner eyes. You will see a Table. Have the love supper with the Father. You do not have a word. You do not eat a bite. But still: this will be the most peaceful and most beautiful moment of your whole life. There will be wonderful lights all over. They will be the pure souls who have passed the Door earlier. There will be great rejoicing. Why? Because You have come Home. This place will be your Home from now on. You will return to your loved ones and immerse in the bustle of the world after this miracle. But You will know that the Door of the Father’s House will always be open for You. Because You can go in and out freely from now on. And You will find peace there. This is the Real Christmas. This is how Jesus has been born also within You – and not only besides You.
There are thousands and thousands of ways how Jesus can be born within us.
I have described only one of those.
Let the hope blossom in You,
that You will be given a much more wonderful gift
at this Christmas than what was written here: Life!
