Christ: Missed

Amid the rejoicing of the Christmas season, Ellen Mongan contemplates how we can learn to know God's majesty even through suffering.

My heart leaps for joy; it is the Christmas season. I break into song: “Joy to the world, the Lord has come, let earth receive her King.” I want to ask everyone I encounter, “Do you see what I see? Do you hear what I hear? Do you know what I know?” I want to tell the world about my Savior, Jesus Christ. People are blind to the suffering in this world; few hear His voice amidst the noise and busyness, and others do not take the time to encounter the living God. Treasure the gift of your Catholic faith, a journey of grace in which the Holy Spirit leads you, guides you, teaches you, and changes you.

Take a moment to ask yourself: where did I miss Christ this year? I wonder if the disciples took a moment after the Crucifixion to do the same. Our “Yes” to Christ sometimes means standing at the foot of a cross with a friend. Death has knocked on the doors of our friends way too many times. The loss and sadness have been much, mixed sometimes with, "Why, God?” However, at each funeral we attended, grace was abundant. We heard God’s voice, felt His presence, and our faith was stirred. Thankfully, we attended, or we would have missed Christ!

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Joseph traveled on a donkey with Mary, great with the Child as they went looking for a place to birth the Savior of the world. I wonder how they felt each time there was no room at the inn. My mom lived with my sister Julie for five years. She had hoped to live in an assisted living facility once her home was sold. By the time it sold, she was ninety-seven, too old to go, so we became the “assisted living facility.” It made sense; my doctor husband had the gifts needed to care for her and had rescued her from possible death twice already.

At first, we were reluctant! Our plate is full of seven adult children, six spouses, and fifteen grandchildren. I often have to say, “Mom, take a number.“ God slowly changed my heart, so now my husband and I call Mom "God’s means of our sanctification." Mom is spry, humorous, and often sarcastic. I could have missed Christ by saying, “Mom, there is no room at the inn!”

Mary said to St. Bernadette Soubirous, "I cannot promise you happiness in this world, only in the next." This year, I had four falls in one month that were painful and sometimes unbearable. At one point, I could not bless myself with my right hand, I got a concussion, and a third injury found me unable to walk without pain for months. I was bruised, downhearted, and bored. Resting and relaxing is not “my thing.” My husband, in the form of a superhero with an invisible cape, came to my aid. He dressed me, cared for me, supported me, and encouraged me. What did I say to him? “I got it!” He patiently insisted on serving me until I was able to walk, sleep, and think clearly.

Pride goes before disaster, and a haughty spirit before a fall. (Proverbs 16:18)

I could have missed Christ if I had not accepted my husband's loving help. Mother Teresa said, “Knowledge of God gives love, and knowledge of self gives humility.” We can know and understand God’s majesty through our suffering.

Two of my prayer partner’s grandbabies found themselves in the hospital. What did I do? I prayed through the night. My prayer partners would do the same for me. Our grandson found himself in the same boat with a hospital stay of a week. I prayed fervently all week long. These unexpected trials in life are full of grace! Disappointments can be God's appointments. Do not miss Christ by worrying or complaining. Seek His face. He has a God appointment scheduled just for you.

Do not let the suffering of this world blind you from seeing Christ. God knows that you need someone to shoulder the cross with you. Let them! Even Jesus needed a Simon. Do not miss the moment because of pride, but open the door wide to welcome Christ's love.

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Do not let the suffering of this world blind you from seeing Christ. #CatholicMom

If you've made it to the end of this article, you may be wondering why I chose this topic to write for December. The Holy Spirit led me. This has been a tough year: the world is suffering, the Church is suffering, and families are suffering. Open your eyes to see God in all your encounters, and listen for His “still small voice,” so you get to know the living God and not miss the Christ-filled moments in your life.

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