Do You Worship The Child?

Infant of Prague

If not, why?

It is not too difficult for me to travel back in the not-so-distant-past and remember. Remember when I did not worship The Child. Many do not worship Him. I am ready to admit that it is not some deep theological insight that keeps so many Christ-lovers from loving Him as The Child. They simply do not. Don't search for a significant reason. It is liking asking why a man in Madrid does not eat apple pie. He does not eat it because it is not of the local fare.

So as we enter this season of Advent, I stop and pause to consider why I spent most of my life not worshiping The Child. Even three pagans, the three sages we all sing about this time of year, understood the basic premise that compels one to bend one's knee:

Jesus is God. 

That's me up there

For it is this most fundmental tenant of our faith that gives us impetus to worship the The Child. Yet despite my belief in Christ as God, I still resisted. I still held back my affection for The Babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger -- no room in my inn. Somehow I managed to even pass by Christmas and hold back my love. He was cute, cuddly, even worth a glowing smile, but somehow not of the domain of worship.

Crazy.

Yet this is how traditions of men work. They rob our plate of what is natural to it. Which explains it. It explains how a Christ-lover could hold back his affection for The Child -- The Creator-come-down and made helpless for us. As we are warned in Sacred Scripture, traditions of men make the Word of God of no effect. And during this season, as you travel around the cornucopia of Christians traditions, you will notice that such traditions have made The Child glaringly absent. He is in the manger, but no one cares. No one worships. There is no effect.

And no one cares enough to worship, because the local fare simply does not offer Him on the spiritual plate. God is with us is great consolation, but seeing Him in The Child requires that faith to exercise its muscle. Rising from the tomb, even some of the scoffers were willing to admit there must be something to this Fellow, but it is in the manger that we are required to truly believe.

But even more, will we act like Elizabeth in the presence of The Mother of Her Lord and proclaim "Emmanuel!"? Will we? Will we worship Life itself in utero.

In the mind of God before all ages, prophesied about in the beginning, Mary was perfectly, immaculately, set apart to carry within Her none other than God. The Holy of Holies would become a womb -- and God was better than the Israelites in preparing a place for Himself. And at the words of an angel, all of creation cried out in exultation that their Savior was close. Yes, the words of Emmanuel ring true on the day of His birth, but they ring true, all the same, the day He was conceived. For if you have ever been party to the intimate news of conception, you will know that there is a similar joy like the delivery room that sweeps over the heart upon hearing the words, "I'm pregnant."

It is an understatement to say Mary was pregnant. In her moment, the entire universe conceived, and Mary was the Womb. The universe was pregnant with the potentiality that all things would become new, that the stage wouldn't just pass away, that some Actor cared. It was true. The Creator-come-down and made helpless for us was made as helpless as a few cells attached to the wall of le chambre d'amour.

For it was for love that He came down. So amidst this news, caught up in the mystery of it all, nine months pass so quickly. And He is born. And what do we do? What do you do? Do you pause? Are you confused? If so, why? Why, in the presence of or thought of the King of the Universe qua child do you hold back your worship? Even as you hesitate, the three wise men -- maybe only wise because of their appropriate response -- pause on that eternal evening and worship The Child.

"Come, Lord Jesus. If only as The Child that I might love and worship you. Amen."

Reason #9745 Why I'm Catholic

tradition

with a small "t"

Image Credit: NTM

“Wherever the Catholic sun doth shine, 

There’s always laughter and good red wine. 

At least I’ve always found it so. 

Benedicamus Domino!” 

-Hilaire Belloc

Put simply, any religion worth its weight will develop a culture around it. It is what we do as human beings to preserve something that is good. A culture is a way of living, and the way in which that "way" is passed on is tradition (not a scary word). In the Old Testament, we notice an elaborate culture that emerges among the Jewish people, a culture that is on display even to this day.

Ah, you see, the Catholic religion is no different. How much more the New Covenant--that God came to earth--should create a real and genuine way of being! Yet, Catholic culture and identity was at times more apparent in society. The last 50 years have been tough, but I notice a resurgence in Catholic identity taking place. This starts first in our liturgical celebration: for worship is truly what we have received from Christ. In worship we grow in love for our Lord, most especially in and by the gift of the Holy Eucharist. This happens in a rythme, a cycle, called the Liturgical Year, and as you probably know, we are beginning to commence a new one. What does this have to do with my reasons for being Catholic? Good question.

I am Catholic because when I look at what the religion has produced as far as culture goes, I notice two things. First, Catholicism is wholly Christocentric. Everything we do as Catholics points to Christ. We feast and fete the entire life of Christ, the life of his mother, and the life of his holy ones who have lived among us. Well, mostly we feast and fete. Historically, Catholic Christianity has also produced a general mood of penance. Meatless Fridays. Lent. Holy Week. "Offering it up". All of these make sense of the new old words: "through my fault, through my fault, through my most grievous fault.”

Second, I also notice the most evil and direct affront to Her tradition. Satan seems to desire, above all else, to quash this culture--the tradition of the Catholic Church lived in the lives of the people--because it is Her culture that keeps alive the intense memory of his Great Foe. In politics and theatre, men are quick to both remove the effects of Her tradition from the public view while simultaneously in the public view making a direct mockery of them. Sadly, the devil roars about in the Church seeking whom he may devour. Bishops, priests, and lay are targets all the same. And the goal, you ask? 

The destruction of Catholic culture. Why? Repeat:

Because it is Her culture that keeps alive the intense memory of satan's Great Foe.

With the introduction of the new missal, begin this Advent not in rebellion to Mother Church. Rather, embrace Her, embrace the change as a way to be consonant with the Tradition (big "T"), which will help us--the people of God--to develop a more integrated tradition (little "t") that will truly "proclaim His death until He comes in glory".


Let's drink to that!

Benedicamus Domino!