Guest Post from Dr. Dennis Ortman: Christmas Story


photo by Stacey Gentry: Sula, parish cat at Old Mission/MSI Press "author" in the creche

Shared by Dr. Dennis Ortman, author of a number of award-winning books - 

CHRISTMAS STORY

And the Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us,

and we saw his glory.

--John 1: 14

 

Even as a child, I knew that Christmas was about more than Santa Claus coming and getting gifts. The baby Jesus was born. In addition to the Christmas tree and outdoor lights, we set up a Nativity scene in our home. Our parents told us the story and introduced the characters. At school, we re-enacted the Christmas story. We all vied to play Mary or Joseph, but I ended up being a sheep. The nuns explained that the story was about the birth of Jesus, the Son of God, who came to save us from our sins. I wasnt sure what that meant, but I knew it was a very happy occasion. We sang joyous Christmas carols at church and in the neighborhood. At home the family gathered to share a meal and exchange gifts.

As I advanced in age and wisdom, my appreciation of the mystery of the Christmas story enlarged. It was, indeed, about gift-giving, but more about the wondrous gift we receive--the gift of love. God so loves the world that He gives Himself in His Son Jesus. We receive this grace as unworthy beggars, as sinners in need of salvation. This is the perfect gift that redeems us from the misery of our sins. This love further inspires us to share ourselves with others.

Through the years as I pray about the Christmas story, I realize it is not about a past event. It is about the present moment. Gods gift of himself keeps on giving, always and everywhere. Christmas is every moment. The Light enters the world and our hearts. Christ is born within us. We put on his mind and heart, so we can see everything in a new light. In faith, I experience Gods presence everywhere. In love, I embrace others as another Christ,without exceptions. In hope, I look forward to the everlasting extension of the joy of living in Gods love.

The Christmas story also impacts my work as a psychologist. I invite my patients to enter more deeply into the mystery of who they are. At the deepest level, I believe, we all share in divine life. The Word became flesh to reveal the divine in the human. Faith and self-awareness work in tandem. Knowing God, we know our true selves. Knowing ourselves, we come to believe in God. At Christmas, we believe, as the Eastern Church fathers taught, that God became human so that we might become divine. Unfortunately, we do not always realize our dignity and act against our true nature. We let our false self rule.

Through the process of therapy, my patients seek to heal and grow. They want to know who they really are beyond all their egotistical strivings. Here the goals of authentic religion and therapy overlap. Both are about personal transformation. We seek to become our best selves who love ourselves and others freely and whole-heartedly.

The main characters of the Christmas story are models in the process of our personal transformation. Of course, as people of faith, the source and goal of our journey is Jesus Christ. We seek to let him be born in our hearts to transform our lives. We desire a Christ consciousness,to see and live life as he did.

There is a three step process toward both deepening faith and leading a wholesome life: wake up, clean up, and show up. Coincidentally, these steps correspond with the traditional religious practices of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving, which are common to all the major religions.

WAKE UP WITH MARY

Mary models open-hearted faith. She was not asleep, but alert and watchful. Presumably, she was praying when the angel Gabriel suddenly appeared and said, Hail, full of grace! The Lord is with you.Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. Behold, you will conceive and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus.(Luke 2: 28, 30) Mary was obviously confused by this unexpected visit and news. The angel was announcing the impossible. Yet Mary sensed the sublime truth of the moment. She surrendered and said, Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.(Luke 2: 38) Her trusting faith enabled the Son of God to take flesh through her in our world.

During Advent, we spend time in prayer and reflection, like Mary. We pray to be awake and watchful for Christs coming at any moment in our lives. He may come in unexpected ways, in distressing times and in annoying people. We hope to be able to see as Mary sees and be full of grace. We aspire to be a gracious host to welcome God who wants to make a home in us. Christ constantly seeks to be born in us, if we just open our minds and hearts.

In therapy, the only advice I give my patients is, Pay full attention to yourself and to whatever arises within you.That is what prayer really is: paying full attention in the moment. Many of us avoid spending time quiet and alone with ourselves. We keep busy and distracted. Perhaps we fear what will emerge from the depths, expecting something terrible. Or we are too lazy to make the effort. I assure my patients that if they take the risk to look within, they will discover the wonder of their being. They will begin to sense their innate goodness, wisdom, and strength. It is such a miracle that we are alive. Furthermore, if we look deeply enough, we realize we are made in Gods image. He dwells within us.

CLEAN UP WITH JOHN THE BAPTIST

John the Baptist exemplifies personal reform. John had a mission to prepare the way of the Lord. His message anticipated that of Jesus who proclaimed, Reform your lives and believe the good news.” Marks Gospel begins with Johns story: The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ the Son of God. As it is written in Isaiah the prophet: Behold, I am sending a messenger ahead of you; he will prepare you way. A voice on one crying out in the desert: Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths.John the Baptist appeared in the desert proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.(Mark 1: 1-4) John said we had to clean house to make room for our guest, Gods Son. He also demonstrated by his simple life what we needed to do: give up our sinful attachments.

During Advent, we undertake the process of putting our house in order. We take time examining our consciences and perhaps celebrating the Sacrament of Reconciliation. We make a fearless and searching moral inventory of what keeps us from welcoming the gift of Gods love in our hearts. We may discover that we treasure things that will never bring lasting satisfaction, such as possessions, power, praise, prestige, and so forth. The coming of the Lord into our heart calls for an open, uncluttered space and promises joy beyond our imagining. The clean up requires a fasting, a dying to ourselves, a letting go of attachments.

In therapy, I remind my patients that happiness is our natural state. Most come to me in distress and question my optimism. Nevertheless, we together explore what keeps them from being happy. We uncover their negative and distorted views of themselves and life. We acknowledge the conditioning from childhood and society that prevents them from being their natural selves. Much of our work is unlearning the past and letting go of preconceptions. I encourage my patients, Just be yourself. That is the only way to freedom and contentment.When they appreciate their innate goodness and wisdom, they willingly give up self-defeating behaviors. They tell themselves, Im better than that behavior.If they come to recognize the Divine within them, they are further motivated to act accordingly.

SHOW UP WITH THE MAGI

The Magi (wise men) model gracious living. They lived with a sense of wonder and awe, like Mary. Their curiosity led them to look upwards and follow a star to the humble stable where Jesus was born. They came to Jerusalem and asked King Herod, Where is the newborn King of the Jews? We saw his star at its rising and have come to do him homage.They were overjoyed at seeing the star, and on entering the house they saw the child with Mary his mother. They prostrated themselves and did him homage. They then opened their treasures and offered him gift of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.(Matthew 2: 2, 10-11)These enlightened men recognized Gods presence there and offered their gifts. Their joyful gratitude overflowed in generosity.

During the Christmas season, we celebrate an Epiphany, Gods light shining in the darkness of our world. We are enlightened and see more clearly. Like the Magi, we recognize Gods presence not only in ourselves, but in everyone, no exceptions. Our practice of Christmas gift-giving originated with the Magi. Our joy-filled gratitude for Christs coming into our lives inspires us to share our gifts. After all, what do we have that we have not received? All is grace. We see others as another Christ.So we share our time, talents, and treasures, not only with our families, but especially with those most in need. This is almsgiving.

In therapy, I encourage my patients to develop a healthy self-love. Most come harshly critical of themselves, thinking they are not good enough. I explain the importance of loving themselves in the right way and how it affects all their relationships. We see and treat others as we see and treat ourselves. We cannot be any more intimate or loving with another than we are with ourselves. And in caring for others, we care for ourselves. If we come to appreciate our inner abundance and beauty, we will spontaneously share it with others. We will not demand them to fill up our emptiness. If we appreciate Gods life within us, we will naturally honor the Divine in others, treating them as another Christ.We will let our true nature shine through.

CELBRATE JOYFULLY WITH THE SHEPHERDS

The shepherds show us the way to live joyfully. They were busy doing their jobs in the field, when suddenly an angel visited them, like Mary. The angel announced, Do not be afraid; for behold, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all people. For today in the city of David a savior has been born for you who is Christ the Lord.Then a whole host of angels appeared praising God saying, Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.(Luke 2: 10-11, 14) Caught up in the joy, the poor shepherds gathered at the stable with the rich Magi to honor Jesus.

During Christmas and at every Eucharist, we celebrate the joy of Gods presence among us. Christ comes into the world to feed us with his presence, word, and body and blood. We experience a taste of the heavenly banquet. The Book of Revelations describes this banquet as a gathering of the multitude to praise God: I had a vision of a great multitude, which no one could count, from every nation, race, people, and tongue.They prostrated themselves before the throne, worshiped God, and exclaimed: Amen. Blessing and glory, wisdom and thanksgiving, honor, power, and might be to our God forever and ever. Amen.’” (Revelations 7: 9-14) Joy is the infallible sign of Gods presence.

In therapy, I invite my patients to celebrate their lives. Most come having little to celebrate. They are trapped in painful moods, missing joy. Through waking, cleaning, and showing up, they seek to live a more abundant life. I encourage them to embrace all of their experiences, especially the painful ones. I tell them, Just sit with the pain and see what you can learn.Angels of strength, courage and wisdom often unexpectedly appear. Joy surprises them in their work toward healing and growth.

The Christmas story is not merely about a past event. It occurs every moment and guides us to wholesome and joyful living. Light has shined in the darkness of our ignorance. The Word became flesh to reveal the Divine in the human. God is born in us now, giving us a taste of heaven, if we open our hearts and minds in faith. If we honor the Divine in us, we will honor it in others, creating a community united in love. Then, peace will reign in our hearts and the world.

For more posts about and by Dennis Ortman and his books, click HERE.

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