+ Jesus was
perhaps the first to use the familiar phrase “The proof is in the pudding” although
he put it in other terms: But wisdom is
vindicated by her works. There can be crafty and well-intentioned arguments
on both sides of any issue, but the proof is in the reality behind the arguing,
the crafting, even the conniving (or as we say in our day today “colluding”) – the proof is in the degree of resemblance
any situation or person has to the love which is God.
In the
first reading today from the Prophet Isaiah, God tells his people to resemble
his love by acting and speaking out of true love for other persons, so that
prosperity can abound for them – for this is God’s command: not a harsh or
unreasonable command, but one emanating from his love and his peace which he
wants everyone to experience!
But
the people over and over again, down to our own day, first agree, but then
disagree and disobey with this commandment (this request of love); and God was
forced to use his last resort card: his only Son, his Word, sent to enflesh and
demonstrate this attitude, this commandment, this love in person, the person
who was named Jesus. And the Word became
flesh and was born on Christmas Day.
May we
reflect in our lives today the fact that we need not be obsessively demanding
people – arguing incessantly over the theology and philosophy of religion (or
anything else, politics, in particular) – but may we simply enjoy our status as
God’s loved, favored, chosen sons and daughters who belong to an incredible
worldwide and heavenly family of grace and peace!
The Lord (our Brother) will come; let us
go out to meet him! He is the prince of peace.
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