Where do you look for God?
Where do you feel most connected or closest to Him? In what place? Doing what?
There was once a very wealthy king in the Middle East who had a vast, powerful kingdom. He always looked for opportunities to increase his wealth, but he also had great desire to grow closer to God in the spiritual life, but he didn’t seem to be very successful at it.
One night, the king woke up and heard stomping on the roof of his palace, right over his bedroom. Since there were no guards with him, he went quickly to the window and shouted, “who’s there?” He heard a familiar voice reply, “your friend Ali.” “And what are you doing up there, Ali?” “I’m looking for my camel.” The king, very surprised by the answer said, “Ali, you fool, why are you looking for a camel on the roof?” Ali answered, “no, you are the fool, looking for God is silk clothing and lying on a golden bed! You won’t find him there.”
Sometimes, we don’t find what we’re looking for, because we are looking in the wrong place. Or we are looking in a place where we won’t find what we are seeking in its entirety.
The night that Jesus was born, it was the simple people who found him lying on a manger, the shepherds and villagers – those too poor to afford to have a roof over their heads.
The three wise men found him in Bethlehem, but mighty Herod with hundreds of soldiers under his command, was unable to find him.
The celebration of Christmas reminds us of a profound truth: that our God, all powerful and mighty, creator of heaven and earth, king of king and Lord of Lords, chose to become one of us, one of his creatures, by being born in a cave, and being placed on a manger which was used to feed animals. God revealed himself in a simple, unpretentious, simple way.
This Christmas, Jesus asks us an important question, “where are you looking for me?”
For those of us who are here, at the celebration of the Eucharist to celebrate Christmas, we are already on the right path to answer this question.
We come not only today, but Sunday after Sunday, looking for Jesus in the readings of the Holy Scriptures, where He speaks to us by encouraging us, directing us, and also correcting us. We seek Him here on this altar where He makes himself present body, soul and divinity. We gather to recognize our need for Him, because so often we sin and loose our way.
Just as Jesus was placed in a manger centuries ago, a manger where animals ate, Jesus reveals himself on this altar where we are fed. The altar becomes a manger, and we become Mary and Joseph, the shepherds, and the animals, coming to see the newborn baby. At this manger we do not find a vulnerable, helpless, newborn baby, but rather, we find simple gifts of bread and wine, transformed into the body and blood of Jesus, also vulnerable and helpless, offered for our sake. We come to the manger to be fed and strengthened.
In life, it can be easy to chase after many things, thinking these will bring us the greatest fulfillment possible. Many promise much, but never seem to quite deliver.
So often we expect too much from others – expecting that we will find absolute fulfillment in relationships, in work, in sports, in financial gain, etc. These things are good, but they will never fully satisfy. Many chase after one thing and another – thinking that the next accomplishment will be what finally gives absolute happiness. We always want more and more, but we remain hungry and thirsty for more. Some fall into vice, sin, or addiction, seeking and never being satisfied.
God alone satisfies, and placing Him at the center of our lives is what gives our life purpose and vision.
Saint Paul teaches us that Jesus is the “image of the invisible God,” and here at the manger of the nativity, and at the manger of the altar, we see the face of God. A face that remained hidden for generations is now revealed, and we can behold the face of God. We can gaze upon His eyes, and He into ours. The transforming power of Christmas night where the human and divine intersect is manifested right here in the consecrated host.
The newborn Jesus invites us to approach the manger of the altar to be fed by Him, that He alone may fulfill all our desires. We don’t need to be in Bethlehem, because He is right here. May we seek Jesus in the right place, and may we find comfort and peace this Christmas. Merry Christmas to you and yours.
Picture from Altar of the Manger in Bethlehem, 2015.
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