Mary's Dream
“I had a dream, Joseph.
I don’t
understand it, but I think it was about a birthday celebration for our son.
The
people in my dream had been preparing for about six weeks.
They had decorated
the house and bought new clothes.
They’d gone shopping many times and bought
many elaborate gifts.
It was peculiar, though, because the Presents weren’t for
our son.
They wrapped them in beautiful paper and stacked them under a tree.
Yes, a tree, Joseph, right inside their homes! They’d decorated the tree with
sparkling ornaments.
There was a figure like an angel on the top of the tree.
Everyone was laughing and happy.
They gave the gifts to each other Joseph, not
to our son.
I don’t think they even knew him. They never mentioned his
name.
I had the strangest feeling that, if our Jesus had gone to this
celebration, he would have been intruding.
How sad for someone not to be wanted
at his own birthday party!
I’m glad it was only a dream. How terrible, Joseph,
if it had been real!"
(Author Unknown)
What gift could you give to Jesus? How about give the gift of spending
some quiet time with Jesus.
Meditate on the Nativity: Imagine
that you’re Simeon. He had been in the temple waiting and praying for the
Messiah to come. When Mary and Joseph brought the infant Jesus into the
Temple he was ready! He took the Christ child into his arms, smiled
warmly, held him close, and gave praise to God (Luke 2:28). In prayer,
see yourself in Simeon’s place.
Spend five minutes in quiet
solitude and pray the words of Mary who received the Messiah into her womb by
praying: “Let it be to me according to your Word” (Luke 1:38).
Then as you go about your day repeat this prayer quietly to yourself as often
as you can remember.
Imagine yourself as one of the wise men
who set out on the long journey across the desert for months in order to bring
their gifts to the Christ child. Imagine you are one of them and use some
of your travel to talk to Jesus. Imagine he’s sitting next to you and
have a conversation with him.
How about spending a few hours to be quietly alone with
Jesus? What a wonderful gift this would be for Jesus and you. This
special time is for you and Jesus simply to enjoy being together. Talk
with Jesus and listen to him. Tell him you love him. Thank him for
his goodness. If you find it helpful, use a journal to help you pray.
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