The narratives of the birth of Jesus recorded in the Scriptures are told through the adoration of the baby by ordinary individuals like the shepherds, the magi, and Simeon and Anna. They all recognized the baby as the Messiah, the Savior of the World. They worshiped Him acknowledging that He was the one present at creation, foretold by the prophets, the long awaited Lamb of God who would take away the sins of the world. He was God come down from heaven where He was worshiped and adored by angels for eternity – to be a man. He would walk the earth, give himself up to die, and provide the grace to save the whole world. He would rise from the dead; ascend back to heaven from whence He came to be eternally adored by the angels and the saints of all time.
My grandfather and I sat on his front porch one mild December afternoon. My Grandfather was a man of simple but great faith. I asked him what his favorite Christmas carol was. He rubbed his chin, as was his habit and said, “Oh, that’s easy. I love the one that tells us to come and adore Him.”
My grandfather with his beautiful tenor voice and I sang “O, Come All Ye Faithful” together that afternoon. It is one of my most treasured memories of him.
During Advent, the faithful Church is invited back to Bethlehem to revisit Christ’s first coming to the world. We are invited to listen to the choir of angels that sang to the shepherds. We are invited to travel with the Magi and follow the star. We are invited into the stable to behold the King of Angels and simply adore Him.
Needless to say, my favorite Christmas carol is “O, Come All Ye Faithful.” I love to think of my grandfather in heaven adoring Christ face to face and singing with the voices of all of heaven’s hosts in that beautiful hymn of praise. And every year during the Christmas season, I still sing it with him as surely as I did that day on the porch.
Reflection – Spend some time in simple adoration of Christ.
Monica Boudreaux
Related articles
- Oh Come, All Ye Faithful (simplequietmodern.wordpress.com)
