Several days ago, I received a Christmas card with a photo of my grandniece’s baby. I find myself gazing at this beautiful, wonderful, perfect infant. I am reminded that she and all of us are born under the gaze of God. It occurred to me that it might be one of the significant reasons we are attracted to the nativity scene. Isn’t it because of the simplicity, the humbleness and the divine reminder that we are made in the image and likeness of God? The crib scene invites a warm reflective Christmas meditation on God’s unconditional love for each person. The miracle of Christmas invites us to recognize and appreciate that each and every person is born from the gaze of God. God’s love creates us and God’s love transforms us as St. John reminds us of our special relationship with God. “Beloved, we are God’s children now,” 1 John 3:2. Richard Rohr comments that “All we have to do is receive God’s gaze and then return what we have received. We simply complete the divine circuit, love returning love.”
Perhaps you’ll find some quiet time during the Christmas season to gaze at a nativity scene and experience the love that God has for you in sending Jesus, God among us.
Wishing everyone a joy-filled and lovely Christmas and New Year!
