The GREATEST Miracle of All

A few Years ago, I was privileged to watch a musical play with the theme of “Why can’t we all see miracles?” In all probability many of us will also conclude that that the era of miracles is over. We do not see miracles anymore.

What is a miracle? According to Wikipedia, it is an event not explicable by natural or scientific laws. It is an extraordinary event without a physical or a natural explanation. If you follow that definition, you will also discover that when the sun rises in the morning and sets in the evening that can also be a miracle. There is no explanation for it. Science may say something about it but questions will continue to rise. Questions like, why it never stops rising in the morning and setting in the evening. We do not consider it as a miracle because we have become used to it.

On the other hand, if the sun does not rise in the morning and does not set in the evening, it might not be considered a miracle. Science would call it a phenomenon or an abnormality, even if it is an event not explicable by natural or scientific laws. Actually, the truth of the matter is, and the real miracle is that the sun still rises and sets; the real miracle is that a baby is born; the real miracle is that you are still alive. These are real miracles because there is no explanation for these things.

Many scientists and doctors can give us explanations of how these things happen; but the real ultimate explanation can only be traced to the Supreme Being who is God. He is responsible for making everything possible.

The point that I am trying to emphasize is that the era of miracles is not over. We still have miracles. The fact is that the miracles have become so ordinary that we do not consider them miracles anymore. Let us continue to see with eyes of faith the marvels and miracles that continue to unfold before us. Let us be sensitive to the wonders of God, telling us that we are special to Him. Let us be grateful that despite our unfaithfulness, He remains faithful. Despite our sinfulness, He continues to bless us and never fails to show us His unconditional love in the beauty of creation. God, loving us is the greatest miracle of all.

Seriously Celebrating

Advent, by its nature, is a season of anticipation.  This makes it a more solemn season in the course of the Church year.  The word solemn need not mean “sad” or “somber,” especially in the context of Advent, during which we are preparing for the joyous event of Christmas and Jesus’ birth.  Indeed, in this context, it means “serious.”  We have feast days during the Church year that are celebrated as Solemnities.  For instance, for our parish, the feast of St. Ambrose on December 7^th may be celebrated as a Solemnity because he is our patron saint.  This means we get to celebrate a little more than usual.  We can take the day more seriously.

During this season of anticipation, we have one Sunday during which we celebrate a little more:  Gaudete Sunday, which is the Third Sunday of Advent.  We celebrate because we are halfway (or a little more than halfway) to the celebration of Christmas.  We light the rose-colored candle.  We allow ourselves to be a little more joyful.

The word gaudete is Latin for rejoice.  It is a command to us.  The reason we call the Third Sunday of Advent Gaudete Sunday is because the entrance antiphon in the Roman Missal for this Sunday is taken from St. Paul’s letter to the Phillipians, in which he tells the new Christian community to “Rejoice in the Lord always” (Philipians 4:4).  We are to rejoice because the Lord is coming.  Indeed, He is near.

As Christmas approaches, and with it, our commemoration of the first coming of Jesus, the anticipation grows as well.  Yesterday, I overheard one of the little ones in EDP asking, “Mommy, is it Christmas?”  The mom responded, “Not yet, soon.”  The excitement was evident in the child’s voice.

As we get older, we tend to become more serious, somber, and solemn.  We lose our childlike joy as we become jaded by life experience.  Starting today, try to indulge your inner child.  Try to find the joy you may have felt growing up when the first signs of Christmas appeared in your surroundings.  Rediscover the awe and wonder of one of the best things that has happened to you, because Christmas is just that:  one of the best things that has ever happened for humankind.

How will you rediscover your childlike joy this Advent and Christmas season?