NGUYEN: Born for greatness

Around the world, across countries, among churches and neighborhoods, and within many homes, the spirit of Christmas is once again alive. What a beautiful reminder! Although Christmas has become increasingly linked with consumerism, we need to pause and focus on the hidden treasure that surpasses most materialistic aspects of the season.

While meditating on the Gospel of Christ the King Sunday a few weeks ago, this particular verse, “… For this I was born and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth” (Jn 18:37) visually spoke to me. All at once, the incarnation of Christ and its connection to His Paschal Mystery became more transparent to me than in previous years.

Obviously, Jesus’ birth foreshadowed His death. According to Jewish traditions, myrrh was for embalming, and swaddling clothes was for wrapping a corpse.

At that point during my meditation, my heart sank as I felt both grief and gratitude: grief, for all those years I only focused on the joyful aspect of Christmas; gratitude, for God now unfolding the true meaning of Christmas — Jesus’ gift of self to humankind.

The first Christmas was the event that changed the course of human history. God became man in the person of Jesus to dwell among us, to accompany us in our everyday situations, to comfort us, and ultimately to die for our sins. What an unconditional and sacrificial love!

This sentiment powerfully resonates in Michael W. Smith’s song, Above All, originally written by Lenny LeBlanc and Paul Baloche.

Some lyrics of the song, reprinted here with permission, include:

Above all powers
Above all kings
Above all nature and all created things
Above all wisdom and all the ways of man
You were here before the world began
Crucified
Laid behind the stone
You lived to die
Rejected and alone
Like a rose trampled on the ground
You took the fall
And thought of me
Above all

Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger, who later became Pope Benedict XVI, affirmed the greatness of Jesus’ life was to testify to the truth, which cost Him His life. Indeed, Jesus is a total gift of self to the world. The Divine took the initiative to come into the world and embrace it. Even though Jesus’ life was full of adversaries from the moment of His conception to His last breath, He did not lose heart, for He knew the purpose of His birth/life.

Similarly, God has a purpose for each of our lives. “For I know well the plans I have in mind for you — oracle of the Lord — plans for your welfare and not for woe, so as to give you a future of hope” (Jer 29:11).

As you view the nativity scene this Christmas, be cognizant of your purpose in life. You were born for mission; for greatness. Take some quiet time to meditate and pray that you renew a sense of hope and love for God, yourself and others. By doing so, you will live in a world of greater serenity and trust and as Pilgrims of Hope in the spirit of our upcoming Jubilee Year 2025. 

Sister Maria Goretti Nguyen, OP, is an associate director with the Office of Evangelization and Catechesis.