1/12/2015 A child is born to us, a son is given us. Upon his shoulder dominion rests. They name him Wonder-Counselour, God-Hero, Father-Forever, Prince of Peace. (Isaiah 9:6)

This is a challenging text for me, because it forces me to ask myself if I really want the blessings of God. Do I even look upon the blessings of God as "good news." The expectation of the birth of a child is a joyous thing, and the news that a man has had a son is a matter of great joy, because, historically speaking, the birth of a son was a portent of the future, the coming of an heir. Yet, the birth of a child also portends sacrifice, and it is an ill wind for a mind that is fixed on pleasure. The birth of a child, particularly the birth of the son and heir, has to destroy in us our fixation on pleasure and draw us toward the ways of sacrifice. The true father has to learn to live for the child rather than for himself, for the child is his own future. Analogously, this Child is our future. We have to depart from our pleasure-seeking ways and live for Him, and this is a very hard thing, for the call of our passions and appetites is constant in us. We always think of God nurturing us, caring for us, and indeed He does, but we, in turn, nurture and care for Him in our hearts. This is the wonder of the incarnation. It is just as St. Ambrose of Milan says: "The soul of every believer conceives and brings forth the Word of God and recognizes His works. Let Mary's soul be in each of you to glorify the Lord. Let her spirit be in each of you to rejoice in the Lord. Christ has only one Mother in the flesh, but we all bring forth Christ by faith. Every soul free from contamination of sin and inviolate in its purity can receive the Word of God."