2024-01-01 02:45:09
There are people who know how to see beyond what is in front of them. They have sharp eyesight and discover things that others do not see. I remember a day out for a walk with a fellow painting enthusiast. The sky was gray and heavy. My friend made me look up and in the gray of the clouds, which for me was a continuous gray, he made me see, distinguish, practically all the colors of the rainbow. Soft and dull but there they were. His gaze helped me distinguish them. I understand that something like this happened to the shepherds. The angel who had guided them to approach the manger had also helped them to see beyond appearances. Because the appearances were what they were: a couple of poor refugees in a manger-cave where she had just given birth to a child in a smelly place like those places are (we forget to put this thing regarding the smell in the beautiful nativity scenes that we make). in our homes but it is a fundamental element of the birth of Jesus).
The shepherds saw beyond appearances and gave glory and praise to God. They saw that the hope of Israel and all humanity was present in that child. They felt that they were at the dawn of a new world. That is why his deep joy, his joy and his thanksgiving.
Mary, the Gospel also says, kept all these things in her heart. Another who also had sharp eyesight and knew how to go beyond appearances. That child coming from her womb was the mysterious fruit of God’s action. She didn’t know what her future was going to be like, she didn’t know the details, but she was ready to open her eyes and let herself be amazed by that child, her son, who was going to take her away from the routines of any Jewish woman of her time and would make her to walk along new and unknown paths: the paths of the Kingdom but also of passion and death. And, yes, also of the resurrection.
We are still celebrating Christmas. It is time to give glory to God. But it is also time to sharpen our eyes and know that the force of God that is transforming our world is present in our midst. Athough it does not seems. Although this world sometimes seems like a smelly manger to us. We, who believe in Jesus, see beyond appearances and know that God is present and alive in our world.
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#Gospel #Reflection #Homily #Monday #January