Tuesday, December 27 : Saint Teresa Benedicta of the Cross [Edith Stein]

The Child in the manger extends its little hands and its smile seems to be saying what would come forth later from the lips of the man: “Come to me all you who are weary and heavy burdened” (Mt 11,28)… “Follow me!” say the little hands, words which later would come from the lips of the Man. Thus they spoke to the disciple whom the Lord loved and who is now also part of the group at the manger. St John, the young man with the pure, youthful heart followed without asking, where to? why? He left his father’s boat (Mt 4,22) and went with the Lord along all his ways, even to Golgotha (Jn 19,26). “Follow me!” – young Stephen understood this also. He followed the Lord in the struggle against the powers of darkness, the blindness of obstinate unbelief; he bore witness to him with his word and his blood; he followed him in his Spirit, the Spirit of love, which resists sin but loves the sinner, and even in death intercedes with God on behalf of the murderer. These are the figures of light who kneel around the manger: the gentle, Innocent children, the faithful shepherds, the humble kings, Stephen, the enthusiastic youth and beloved apostle, John – all who followed the call of the Lord. In contrast to them, there is the night of incomprehensible callousness and blindness: the scribes who have information as to the time and place where the Savior of the world was to be born (Mt 2,5), but who nonetheless did not go to Bethlehem, and King Herod who wants to kill the Lord of life. In the presence of the Child in the manger, minds are divided. He is the King of kings and Lord of life and death. He utters his “Follow me” and whoever is not for him is against him (Mt 12,30). He also speaks for us and invites us to choose between light and darkness.
maronite readings – rosary,team