The “Second Week”: Week Twelve/Session Two.

Theme: The Birth of Jesus.

Our reading for today: Luke 2: 8-20.

There were sheepherders camping in the neighborhood. They had set night watches over their sheep. Suddenly, God’s angel stood among them and God’s glory blazed around them. They were terrified. The angel said, “Don’t be afraid. I’m here to announce a great and joyful event that is meant for everybody, worldwide: A Savior has just been born in David’s town, a Savior who is Messiah and Master. This is what you’re to look for: a baby wrapped in a blanket and lying in a manger.” At once the angel was joined by a huge angelic choir singing God’s praises: “Glory to God in the heavenly heights, peace to all men and women on earth who please Him.” (Luke 2: 8-14 MsgB)

Without a doubt, God, the Creator of the Universe, has painted and sculpted some pretty impressive pieces of art, don’t you think?

I mean, consider the cosmos. Colorful photographs of distant galaxies taken from the Hubble telescope can take your breath away. And the variety of colors and shapes of the planets that orbit our sun certainly speaks of a Creator who must love diversity.

Then, there’s the handiwork of the Divine on display right here at home on planet Earth. The endless blue oceans, lakes and rivers. The soaring purple mountains capped with white snow. The endless shades of yellow, red, orange and brown found in fall foliage. The rich deep greens of the lush rain forests.

Zooming in a bit closer, there are His individual masterpieces like Mt. Everest, Niagara Falls, Yosemite or Yellowstone National Parks, and of course, one of God’s very best works, the Grand Canyon.

But without a doubt, while all of these large monuments to God’s creativity are worthy of praise, indeed, the most impressive masterpiece ever assembled by the Creator was, and still is, the Christ-event. Or as the angel sent to speak to the lowly shepherds called it…

“a great and joyful event that is meant for everybody, worldwide”.

You see, when God’s intricate hand sovereignly knit together in the virgin’s womb, the little child that His earthy parents were instructed to name ‘Jesus,’ He was creating not just a baby, but a world-wide event that would become a game-changer for all people for all time. This Christ-event, which we now call Christmas, is so earth-shattering, even the world’s calendars are designed in such a way to help us measure the amount of years that have passed since that unique day and time when the Christ-child was born!

Just think about it.

Every time we mail a letter, send an email, or post an entry on-line, there is a little mark on that activity that records a date of when that event happened. And in that dateline lies a little code that was designed centuries ago to remind all of us how many years have passed since those lowly shepherds first heard the good news about “a great and joyful event that is meant for everybody, worldwide!”

Hmm.

Guess those angels knew what they were singing about, huh? Here we are two thousand years later and our entire civilization is still tracking our daily existence in relationship to God’s most ‘great and joyful’ event.

Joy to the world, everyone. A Son has been given for us. The Christ-child is born.

My prayer: Thank You, Creative God, for displaying Your jaw-dropping handiwork in everything I see in creation. Yet, without a doubt, You certainly saved Your very best work for the One we call Jesus of Nazareth. It is this one amazing event that has changed everything for me and for all of us world-wide. For Your name’s sake. Amen.

My questions to ponder: So how have I under-estimated or over-looked the world-changing ramifications that emanate from the Christ-event? How has my life been radically transformed through this one God-created masterpiece? How might I better point to this one event as I encourage others to see the glory of God’s work on planet earth?

So what is God speaking to you today as we ponder together The Ignatian Adventure?

Over an eight month period, you and I will be working our way through the Spiritual Exercises of Saint Ignatius. For more information on our journey and how to begin…click here!

To go onto the next journal entry…click here.

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