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86.1
First Point
Today
Jesus Christ is born poor in a stable. The Most Blessed Virgin brings him
into the world in a place where she finds no comfort nor any human help, and
where there is no other bed to put this newborn Child except a manger.[i]
Behold the palace and the bed for presenting Jesus our Savior on his entry
into the world! This is how he is lodged in the middle of the night in a
very rigorous season, and despite his pressing needs nobody goes to any
trouble to help him.
The poverty which Jesus practices so eminently at his birth should
commit us to have great love for this virtue, for it is to make us love it
that he is born in this condition. Let us not be surprised, then, when we
lack something, even necessities, since at his birth Jesus was lacking
everything. This is how we must be born in the spiritual life,
dispossessed and deprived of everything. And as the Son of God willed that
the humanity he took upon himself was in this condition, he also wants us
to share this disposition, so that he may take entire possession of our
hearts.
86.2
Second Point
It
is not enough for Jesus to be born poor. He likewise chose lowliness as
his lot[ii]
in this world, according to the words of the Royal Prophet. He wished to
make his entry into the world in a place where he was unknown, and where
no attention would be paid either to him or to his holy Mother, a place
where he would be abandoned by everybody. It is true that he is visited
at his birth, but it is only by poor shepherds[iii]
who can honor him only by their good wishes; even so, it is necessary for
an angel sent by God to notify them that this Child about to be born in
Bethlehem is their Savior, whose birth would be for all the people a
subject of great joy.[iv]
Except for these poor shepherds nobody even thought of Jesus when
he was born. It even seems that God does not want the rich and the great
to find their way to him, since the angel who announces his coming gives
the shepherds no other sign to recognize him than the poor and lowly
circumstances where they would find him, which could only turn away those
who love only what is renowned.
In choosing our state we should have resolved to be as lowly as the
Son of God when he became man, for this is what is most noticeable in our
profession and our work. We are poor Brothers, forgotten and little
appreciated by the people of the world. It is only the poor who come
looking for us; they have nothing to offer us but their hearts, ready to
accept our instructions. Let us love what is most humiliating in our
profession in order to share in some way in the lowliness of Jesus Christ
at his birth.
86.3
Third Point
The
shepherds, says the Gospel of this day, made haste to
go over to Bethlehem, where they found Mary and Joseph, and the Infant
lying in a manger. On seeing him they recognized what had been told them,
and then went back glorifying the Lord for all that they had seen and
heard.[v]
Nothing draws souls to God more strongly than the poor and humble
condition of those who wish to lead them to him. Why did the shepherds
praise and bless God? Because they had seen a poor Infant lying in a
manger, and because on seeing him they had recognized, thanks to an
interior light with which God enlightened them, that this Infant was truly
their Savior and that it was to him they should have recourse to escape
the misery of their sins.
Be convinced that so long as you remain bound in your heart to
poverty and to everything that can humble you, you will do good for souls.
The angels of God will make you known and will inspire fathers and mothers
to send you their children to be instructed, and by your instructions you
will touch the hearts of these poor children, and most of them will become
true Christians. But if you do not resemble the newborn Jesus by these two
outstanding qualities, you will be little known and little employed, nor
will you be loved or appreciated by the poor, and you will never have for
them the role of savior, as is proper for you in your work, for you will
draw them to God only insofar as you resemble them and Jesus at his birth.
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Just
as the previous meditation reflects the basic Christological orientation
of De La Salle's spirituality, so this meditation for Christmas stresses
the ascetical response to this Christology, namely the acceptance of
poverty and lowliness in imitation of the kenosis of Christ.
However, De La Salle is careful to show the Brothers how this spirit is
wholly relevant to their educational work.
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