“This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” Luke 2:12
“Jesus Christ is priest, prophet, and king. It is in this way, the He is the Christ, and it is in the same manner that we are Christians. For, by the generous outpouring of His anointing, we are made kings and we are able to sacrifice, “a royal priesthood,” as Peter says (1 Peter 2:9). And as John says in the book of Revelation: “Jesus Christ has made us kings and the priests of God His Father” (Revelation 1:6). We must then have a truly royal courage, not allowing ourselves to be subjected in any way to our passions. We must have only the loftiest of thoughts, not allowing ourselves to be enslaved by earthly ones.
As kings, let us be magnanimous and tremendously generous. Let us aspire to the noblest deeds, but let us aspire to them as priests who offer spiritual sacrifices to the Most Holy. Christians, we are no longer [people] of the world; we are those to whom it has been said, “You shall be holy, for I am holy” (1 Peter 1:16). In what way are we prophets? Let us act by a heavenly instinct. Let us leave the walls of this present world, and let us be filled with the things that are to come. We should breathe only eternity. But you are making a home for yourself upon the earth. You wish to rise in stature here. Dream instead of a land in which you shall be king: “Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom” (Luke 12:32).
One of the principal effects of the Christian faith and of the holy anointing of the children of God is gentleness. “Learn from me,” said Jesus Himself, “for I am gentle and lowly in heart” (Matthew 11:29). Isaiah predicted His gentleness in these words that Matthew later applied to Christ: “Behold my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen, in whom my soul delights; I have put my Spirit upon Him, He will bring forth justice to the nations.” Here is a most extraordinary servant, who “will not cry or lift up His voice,” as the contentious and disputatious do. How gentle He is and how humble (Isaiah 42:1-2; Matthew 12:18-19)!”
Jacques-Bénigne Bossuet (1627-1704) in Meditations for Advent is a translation of Élévations à Dieu sur tous les mystères de la religion chrétienne from Oeuvres complètes de Bossuet, edited by Abbé Guillaume in Lyon, France, in 1879 (Sophia Institute Press, 2012) 69-71.
Happy Christmas to all from our townhouse in Littleton, Colorado (pictured above with fresh snow yesterday). Certainly you have plans for this festive day, such as special time with family and friends. Before the day gets away from you, take a few minutes to reflect on the significance of the birth of Christ. It’s another “sign” of God’s providence in the Scriptures.
As Bossuet eloquently states, Jesus Christ, whose birth we celebrate, is priest, prophet, and king, and so as Christians, He has made us priests, prophets, and kings. We have a courageous calling to live differently from the world: to give magnanimously and generously, to live holy and godly lives, and to serve with humility and gentleness.
How is this possible? Follow the “heavenly instinct,” the leading of Holy Spirit to live, give, serve, and love like the Christ of Christmas. When we do this, we serve as signs that point people to God. How will you serve as a sign today (and every day) to point people to God through your generosity, godliness, and gentleness?