The best things come in small packages

My doctor asked if anyone in my family suffered from mental illness. I said, “No, we all seem to enjoy it.”

So it is, and was, and perhaps always will be with most people in the world — they seem to enjoy their mental problems! Micah, in our first reading, refers to Bethlehem as “too small to be among the clans of Judah,” pointing out its insignificance next to Judah and the other eleven tribes of Israel.

He really wanted to say, “Don’t really worry about anything good coming from Bethlehem.” Bethlehem means “house of bread” and it was home to Jesse, father of 8 sons, seven of whom were invited to a banquet by Samuel. The youngest, David, was overlooked by his own father, and later became king of Israel.

It was to this small town that God and Caesar sent Joseph and Mary for the census and the birthplace of eternal bread, Jesus. No one of much significance believed anything good could come from Bethlehem. About the age of 12, when he was listening and teaching the learned in the temple; these were the first to acknowledge him as a person. The simple cousin of Mary, Elizabeth, as the baby in her womb, leapt for joy when Mary with a few week-old fetus, comes to visit. This, too, seems so mentally insignificant.

God tends to choose the small, insignificant and maybe even the mentally ill to notice His greatness. God said to Samuel in the Old Testament,

“Not as man sees does God see, because man sees the appearance, but God looks into the heart.”

Take some time this week to pray and reflect on the O Antiphons special thoughts during the final days before Christmas. Each begins with an “O” to praise God for giving us this time to both prepare our hearts and direct our minds to thank the Father for sending us Jesus. There are seven to reflect on to ask that we might put a small prayer and practice into action.

For example, O wisdom, word of God, lead us. O God of the burning bush, help us to follow your commandments. O flower of Jesse, come and dwell in us and with us. O key of David, open our hearts to the small but significant light of real love.

Thus, may we truly open ourselves to the love, mercy, and gentle words of Jesus. Make these days of Advent a time of Joy and don’t overburden yourself! Get and keep your heart ready for the real reason for the season the gift of God’s love — Jesus Christ!

Two stories help us to see and remember the importance of small packages. The simple new bright star in the sky that the shepherds and the magi saw; they rose and came to worship Jesus.

Two brothers were out hunting, and suddenly one reached out and touched his brother on the shoulder and pointed out three deer running ahead — a mom, dad and baby.

The white-tailed doe and baby leaped breathlessly across into the woods. No gun was raised, but the joy of a small family on the move, their minds and hearts by nature’s power and beauty embodied a small package of family love.