Called to Obey Love
Kierkegaard has a fable of a king who fell in love with a maid. When asked, "How shall I declare my love?" his counselors answered, "Your majesty has only to appear in all the glory of your royal glory before the maid's humble dwelling and she will instantly fall at your feet and be yours."
But it was precisely that which troubled the king. He wanted her glorification, not his. In return for his love, he wanted hers, freely given. Finally, the king realized love's truth, that freedom for the beloved demanded equality with the beloved. So late one night, after all the counselors of the palace had retired, he slipped out a side door and appeared before the maid's cottage dressed as a servant.
Clearly, the fable is a Christmas story. We are called to obey not God's power, but God's love. God wants not submission to his power, but in return for his love, our own.
God moved in. He pitches his fleshly tent in silence on straw, in a stable, under a star. The cry from that infant's throat pierced the silence of centuries. God's voice could actually be heard coming from human vocal cords. That's the joy of it. God has come to be with us! [James T. Garrett, God’s Gift, CSS Publishing Company]
Father Gerhard Lohfink in his book, Prayer Takes Us Home writes, “To whom are were you praying?”, Fr. Lohfink answers his own question, “… Christians … pray either to God the Father or to Jesus Christ or to the Holy Spirit, … [while] they believe in one God.” [p.1]
St. Aloysius Gonzaga said, "It is better to be a child of God than king of the whole world!" A child of one God, Who is Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Take some time today to pray to God the Father, to God the Son [Jesus Christ] and to God the Holy Spirit, you can do that by simply making the sign of the cross.
Saint Joseph, pray for us.
May God Be Praised!
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