THE WORD BECAME FLESH AND DWELT AMONG US

In the season of Advent, the world seems to transform in many ways. Before Christmas, businesses prepare to increase their sales, lights and decorations change the atmosphere. People say that the Christmas spirit has arrived and express their high spirits by singing. For thousands, Christmas is a time of joy, festivities and family gatherings that fill hearts with love and happiness. Statistics, however, show that many become depressed and suicide rates reach their peak during the holidays. The Christmas season has two extreme sides, for some, Christmas is a time of nostalgia, as they sadly remember a loved one who is no longer with them and has left a great void, a time of loss; for others it is a time for exuberance.

The truth is that millions do not care or understand the reason for this celebration: the birth of Baby Jesus and the time leading up to His birth, Advent. Who is this Child? Where does He come from and why has He arrived? It is sad that, many people who have the opportunity to receive the Love of God the Father through His Son do not and lose sight of the real reason to celebrate, the birth of the Savior of the world; this is what we should focus on, regardless of our own ordeals. If we focus on the Love of God, Christmas becomes a time of healing and thanksgiving for what God has done for us, for our own and all mankind’s Salvation.

As a child, I was very attracted to the nativity scene where the Baby Jesus lies in a manger surrounded by His parents, shepherds and animals; this moved me. Today, I invite those who have children at home to set up a manger, as it is an excellent opportunity to catechize and teach them the real reason why we celebrate Christmas. If we read the beginning of St. John’s Gospel, a mystery full of Love and Mercy is revealed.

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through Him all things were made; without Him nothing was made that has been made. In Him was Life, and that Life was the Light of all mankind. The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. There was a man sent from God whose name was John. He came as a witness to testify concerning that Light, so that through him all might believe. He himself was not the Light; he came only as a witness to the Light. The true Light that gives Light to everyone was coming into the world.  He was in the world, and though the world was made through Him, the world did not recognize Him. He came to that which was His own, but His own did not receive Him. Yet to all who did receive Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become Children of God; Children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God. The Word became Flesh and made His dwelling among us. We have seen His Glory, the Glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of Grace and Truth.”(John 1:1-14)

Through the Apostle John we are shown God’s Love. He chose to come down from Heaven to be with us, human beings. He became Flesh and dwelt among us, but only to those who accepted Him, understood who He was and why He came. In the Gospel, He is clearly called the Word and the Light, which means that He is God made man, as the prophet announced, “Emmanuel” God with us (Isaiah 7:14). He came to be with us, but not everyone recognized and accepted Him. However, those who recognized and accepted Him let the Light enter their lives and began the journey to Eternal Life as children of God.

WHAT IS THE BEST WAY TO CELEBRATE CHRISTMAS?

For those who believe in the story of the Incarnate Child, the celebration is about recognizing God’s great Love and thanking Him for coming to save us and give us abundant Life. For those who only celebrate it as a holiday, it is like attending a birthday party, eating, drinking and hanging out, but forgetting the birthday boy. They don’t congratulate him, let alone bring him a gift. What happens is that everything is celebrated except the person who should be celebrated, honored and recognized. That person is left aside, that person sadly is often Jesus.

Yet, thank God, we can still find people who have recognized the Word and the Light and have had a conversion or an encounter with Jesus, the Christ, the Savior of the world. People who experience the true spirit of Christmas and appreciate the characters called by God to be part of this encounter in the manger, the Virgin Mary, St. Joseph, the little shepherds, the three wise men and you. Each playing an important role in helping remembering why baby Jesus (the Messiah) was born, why He is the one that should be celebrated, for He surrendered everything for you. He deserves the gift that pleases Him most, your life, a life lived in the service to those who need God’s Love the most. You are not just a celebrant but a participant in Salvation history.

I thank each of you who diligently participate in El Sembrador’s Mission, that none should perish but all shall be saved and now with the Project “I am the 73rd” I invite you to formally consecrate your life to Jesus. With God’s favor, at the beginning of 2025, we will launch a great digital tool that will facilitate the processes of registration, consecration, and ongoing development of the “I Am the 73rd” Yo Soy El 73 community and those who begin their journey as the Consecrated to Jesus, you.

Your financial support is a sign of your compassion for those who do not yet know the Lord, and that is why we are here, serving and bringing the Good News by all possible means; TV, Radio, Streaming, Social Media. Now, through an App, we are making available to you a very effective formula to follow Jesus Christ more closely as His own through consecration as His 73rd disciple. One day, Jesus asked “who do people say that I am? Today it is the same, and we must have the zeal to stand with the greatest treasure of Life, which is Jesus. I invite all readers of this newsletter to register and become the 73rd disciple of Jesus. Thanks again to the tens of thousands who are already Consecrated to Jesus for being recognized followers and servants of the Lord; here I am Lord, send me. Should you want to join us, please contact us at (818) 912-5842 or write to info@iam73.net. One of our brothers will assist you in your registration and life as a disciple 73.

I pray for you and wish you the best this Christmas season. May the Lord grant you the desires of your heart in harmony with the Will of the Father in the New Year 2025. I also pray for all the sick and those deprived of their freedom so that they keep their faith in Jesus Christ and receive an answer to their needs.

Congratulations and hope from this, your ESNE family, from Sara and I to you and your families. I ask the Blessed Virgin Mary, whom we will also be celebrating as of December 11 in the Mañanitas to Our Blessed Mother of Guadalupe, to cover you with her mantle of love. May the Lord be the strength and power of each one of you called to live united to Him.

Your servant