Is Jesus' life within you?

I was always fascinated by stories of missionaries from far distant lands. One of those I never forgot. It was a story of two tribes who were long-term enemies, over the years they had lost in fighting a lot of people both sides. The missionaries kept learning new things about the local culture that would could provide an opportunity to share the Good News of Salvation in Jesus Christ. I grew up in Rwanda and Camels are no where to be found there. I learned them in books and got to see them only when I got here in the United States. There are cultures that have never seen a sheep. It's an incredible task for missionaries to explain the Gospel because if they don't know the sheep, there is no way they would understand the lamb of God. Missionaries have to find things that are in their culture that can have the same value so that they can understand the Gospel. It turns out in this particular story that, in order to make peace with other tribes, it was required that both tribes bring their most recent new-born baby to be exchanged, so each baby would grow up in the other camp. This assured that no future attacks would happen since none would want to harm their own blood. The missionaries were overjoyed at this, because it is the very picture of the God of heaven and earth who sent his own Son to make peace with an aggravated humanity. Today’s Gospel narrates the divine transfer or entry of this baby into our world. Imagine the local peoples’ eyes wide open and eager to listen to the story of a heavenly baby born into a human family. Imagine the questions they would have asked: Did we, humans also send our baby to God in exchange for his Son? That’s where analogies get murky, humans didn’t have to send their baby to heaven, they would all live in this heavenly Kingdom. The deal gets much better. Matthew tells us that this baby was indeed Israel’s awaited Messiah, the Savior of all humanity, fully God and fully human to make peace in all the world. I imagine the tribes were puzzled. They needed more explanation. The cultural obstacles that Mary and Joseph had to navigate were extremely difficult: Per law an unwed mother could easily be killed. it took a lot of patience, obedience, trust, on their part. When God’s mission is on the way, His presence and protection are at work. Do we get to notice when God is at work? We need to take a step back and watch God at work. Most times when we are on the edge of a raging storm, in survival mode, seldom we calm our minds to see clearly God actively working. Joseph was in the middle of that storm. A sudden wrong reaction could have meant the end of Mary. Patience and obedience! God is at work! Look at the bigger picture! All ingredients were there: The predicted virgin mother, and faithful Joseph, who is a son of David, both of whom fulfil the Messiah’s prophecy. The God of Israel is the God of the impossible, the unexpected. God’s ways are unparalleled. Paul teaches that this baby Jesus is the “last Adam” who came to fix the problems caused by Adam’s sin. See, some of our storms are a direct result of human sin. The only way to effectively deal with human sin once for all, was only the divine Jesus who could undertake such role of sacrifice. Here He was in Mary’s womb, picturing exactly what a life of a Christian believer will look like with Jesus the Son of God within you! It’s a powerful win for humanity. Believers have Jesus’ heart beating within them, drawing them towards the spirit of holiness. Actually, mothers can understand better that picture! Obedience becomes one feature that Mary shares with all of us believers, unlike Eve who opted for disobedience, at least that’s how many Early Church Fathers taught, saying that Mary spiritually became the mother of new humanity; a new redeemed humanity living in total surrender and obedience to God. You and I have been baptized, sealed by the Holy Spirit and marked as Christ’s own forever. God’s love for you is without limit, even so storms and challenges will still be in our path. This was also the case for Mary and Joseph. They had no idea that in the 9th month of pregnancy they would be traveling 90 miles long cold road to Bethlehem, to homelessness, and a stinking stable in a cave. They were not destitute but it was a humble and modest path that God chose. A life of stormy hardships and uncertainty and yet, full of joy and deep peace because the God of the Universe is within you! When we hit rock bottom, He understands because He’s been there! This God of glory came down from heaven to heal and reconnect the relationship between us and our creator, to wean us off our idols, the things we love that are not good for us, that we think we cannot live without. For this to happen, God burst into our world, and became one of us, so that we, in turn can become one with him. No matter what obstacles or challenges you may be facing ahead of you, trust in God, have faith, his eternal love for you will carry you through everything! Remember to keep Jesus in your center! Amen!