A Gift For Which We Did Not Ask

Source  

Isaac of Nineveh is one of my favorite early church mystics. His prayers and thoughts come across as pure poetry. Every Christmas, I take out his sermon and try to meditate on it. The Nativity for the early Christians was an invitation to a change in posture and heart in response to to the "Divine Gift." It turns Christmas from merely a celebration to an invitation to a more Christlike way of living. 

Isaac writes,
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​"This Christmas night bestowed peace on the whole world;
So let no one threaten;
This is the night of the Most Gentle One –
Let no one be cruel;
This is the night of the Humble One –
Let no one be proud.
Now is the day of joy –
Let us not revenge;
Now is the day of Good Will –
Let us not be mean.
In this Day of Peace –
Let us not be conquered by anger.
Today the Bountiful impoverished Himself for our sake;
So, rich one, invite the poor to your table.
Today we receive a Gift for which we did not ask;
So let us give alms to those who implore and beg us.
This present Day cast open the heavenly doors to our prayers;
Let us open our door to those who ask our forgiveness.
Today the Divine Being took upon Himself the seal of our humanity,
In order for humanity to be decorated by the Seal of Divinity." (source)

I hope during this holiday season, you're seeing that Christmas invites us to live lives of rich compassion and conviction. 

As my favorite pastor liked to remind me, Jesus is with us more than we'll ever know. Let us rejoice in that and be the example that Christ gave to us.

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