88 99 ON BLESSING THE SHRINE OF THE SACRED HEART Sermons and Addresses THE MEANING OF CHRISTMAS WHEN from the silence of the earth, man, animated by the breath of God, stood forth a reality in the universe, upon his being was stamped indelibly the seal of God's power, and reflected on his soul, fresh fashioned by Omnipotence, shone out in splendid radiance, God's image and likeness. Man was made like unto God. It would seem that even Omnipotence could do no more. But who can sound the depths, who reach, even in wildest fancy, the heights of the Divine bounty and power? Who is the counselor of Him who created wisdom? Who shall restrain the arm of Him who holds heaven and earth in the hollow of His hand? When, therefore, it pleased His infinite Will not only to make man like God, but to go even farther and make God like man, when in the fullness of time, at the appointed hour Omnipotence Itself lay a helpless babe in Mary's arms, Wisdom became a mute infant, the King of Kings took for his robe of state coarse swaddling clothes, and He at whose bidding the sun sent forth its heat and light, lay shivering from the midnight cold, who shall question the designs of God? What is man to do as he hears the awful mystery, "the Word was made flesh," but prostrate his nothingness before the Infinite and cry, "Lord, I believe"? The story of Christ's Birth is old yet ever new. As children we learned it at our mother's knee and gazed with delight half mingled with awe at the crib that represented to our childish fancy this first scene in the life of the Redeemer. But as Christmas succeeds Christmas, and each one brings us nearer to the end of the time allotted us to live, and each succeeding year imprints new lessons on our hearts, of all that we ought to be, but are not, of all that we would do, but cannot, of our own weakness and God's strength, we seem to see with clearer vision the fuller meaning of Christ's Incarnation, the fuller significance of the words, "the Word was made flesh." The world had gone astray. God had implanted in the breast of every man a still small voice to guide him in his actions, but the tumult of passion, and the din of selfish cares drowned the cry of that voice, and it was heard seldom or never. It was necessary that above this confusion of internal strife and exterior disorder a trumpet sound should still rend the discordant noise of both and cry Peace. For that "the Word was made flesh." Man had received the crowning gift of reason, that by its clear light his course should be guided; but sin came like a black impenetrable mist and overcast imperial reason, and impulse and whim and fancy were left to guide the footsteps of humanity whose eyes dimmed by ignorance could no longer behold the true goal toward which it should tend. It staggered groping over hill and dale, moor and quicksand, until it fell exhausted and spiritless, unable or unwilling to rise. Then came "the Light that shineth in darkness"! Over the plains of Bethlehem a star appears. It was the light of Redemption. "The Word is made flesh." God had framed a law unchangeable, according to which men were to lead their mortal life. Unbridled li |