Host the Messiah at Christmas

When we are on a long journey we sometimes take a detour in order to see an important person whose home is located away from the direct route to our destination. When we do this, we might find that the detour gives us the opportunity to encounter someone who is going to tell us all we need to know about our final destination.

In a similar way, this column takes a break from matters that deal with the history of the Church so that we can spend time reflecting on how to receive Jesus at Christmas.

Our reflection this Christmas is based on the reflections of the Home Cell Groups (or Small Christian Communities) of St John Fisher parish and the church of the Beatitudes in Pretoria East.

This is the third year in which the Home Cell Groups Task Team has developed special materials to help parishioners put Christ back into Christmas.

In 2009 the Home Cell Groups were involved in “Constructing the Highway to Christmas”. Last year the theme was “Following the Star to Bethlehem”. For 2011 the general theme is “The Messiah Is Coming!”

Over four weeks each Home Cell Group meets weekly to discuss and reflect on the sub theme of the particular week. For each session there is an opening prayer, a narrative that gives the background to the theme of the week, scripture readings, an activity, a discussion based on the scripture readings, an inspiring commentary and a closing prayer.

The theme of the first week was “Inviting Jesus into Our Lives”. For the activity, the members were asked to write a Curriculum Vitae of Jesus. To aid them in doing this, they went through a model CV written by Jesus himself. In this CV Jesus gives a brief account of his qualifications, educational background, work experience, major accomplishments and so on, with relevant scripture passages as evidence.

He explains the purpose of this CV as follows: “I’ve sent you my CV because I’m seeking the top management position in your heart”. Jesus is in fact sending this CV to all of us, for he wants to direct our hearts, be the most important person in our lives, and lead us into eternal life.

The theme of the second week was “Welcoming Jesus”. Here the participants thought of all the things they normally do to welcome an important guest, such us cleaning the house, removing all the weeds and shrubs, arranging the décor and so on. The readings were based on how Mary received the message of the Angel Gabriel; how her cousin Elizabeth received her when she visited, and how Mary, Martha’s sister, used a very expensive perfume on Jesus.

For the activity, each member was asked to prepare and say brief words of welcome to Jesus. In the brief speech each member was promising Jesus what he or she would do to make the Saviour feel really welcome.

The following are examples of what the participants and all of us are invited to do to make Jesus really welcome at Christmas: cleaning our inner house by going to confession; finding ways of mending our relationships with others; striving to overcome our ego so that Jesus can grow bigger and bigger in us and be the Chief Executive Officer of our hearts.

The theme of the third week is “Receiving Jesus Christ in Our Lives”. For the activity each participant is required to prepare a door hanger and write a message on it such as “Jesus, Be the Master of My Heart”; or “Jesus, Come and Be my Best Friend”. We are all invited to prepare a similar door hanger so that every time we open or close the door, we see the message and are reminded of the need to truly and sincerely receive Jesus at Christmas.

The last week ends with a celebratory dinner with Jesus as the guest of honour. As they feast, the participants have an empty chair at the head of the table and are  conversing with Jesus who is imagined to be sitting in that chair.

As we celebrate Christmas this year, we are all urged to invite Jesus to be with us so that we can truly feel his presence among us as God made human!