"Desist! And confess that I am God." This line from Psalm 46 does not speak directly about our Christmas experience, but perhaps it could. Christmas time is for most of us the busiest time of the year. We find ourselves caught up in the hustle and bustle of the season—shopping for the perfect gifts, decorating our homes and churches, and preparing food for guests. However, in the midst of all this activity, God calls us to stop and be still.

Jesus comes to us in the hustle and bustle, but it is in the stillness that we can most clearly hear his voice. In the quiet of our hearts, Jesus whispers his message of the incarnate love of the God who made us and fashioned us into God’s own image. Jesus, the Word of God, tells us again that he is the Messiah we are in search of and that he has come into our midst.

Where will Jesus be born this year? Perhaps he will be born in the streets of our inner cities, amid the drug dealers and the homeless, or in families suffering the death of a loved one, or those rejoicing in the birth of a new baby. Wherever Jesus is born, it will always be in the hearts of those who have prepared to welcome him in the stillness of their lives.

Family Activity

	Legend has it that bees hummed Psalm 100 to Jesus on the night of his birth. In the Middle Ages it was thought that bees hummed wonderful songs to the newborn King, but only those people who were very holy could hear the songs. Bees are also thought to be in a big hurry, but on that special night they slowed down to communicate with Jesus.

	•		Explain that we need to follow the example of the bees and slow down and listen for Jesus’ voice. We need to be quiet for God’s message of love and peace to reach our ears and hearts.
	•		Turn to Psalm 100 in the Bible, and as a family, read it aloud. Discuss why this psalm would be fitting for bees to hum to the baby Jesus.

See the Liturgical Calendar on this site for additional information.
See also Catechist—Lent or Teacher—Lent for Liturgy.