Advent with St. John Henry Newman
Reflections by Fr. Jason Smith, LC
Christmas Eve invites us to come to the crib. If we could stand there with Mary and Joseph, we’d see simplicity—straw, swaddling clothes, a child. True God, true baby. God closer to me than I am to myself.
St. John Henry Newman writes: “There is but one right way; it is the way in which God looks at the world. Aim at seeing things as God sees them… Aim at ‘seeing the King in His beauty.’ … It is not an easy thing to learn that new language which Christ has brought us… He has brought us a religion which sheds a new light on all that happens. Try to learn this language.”
The Almighty becomes small so we can hold and understand him. Tonight, we find: reverence for the ordinary, tenderness for the weak, joy that is peace.
Let us pray: “Come, Lord Jesus.”
Reflect: Where in your life is God calling you to greater intimacy? How can you approach him this Christmas like Mary and Joseph, with simplicity, tenderness, and trust?
In this Advent series, Fr. Jason Smith draws from his personal experiences and St. John Henry Newman’s own Advent sermons, connecting themes like reverence, awe, and intimately encountering Christ in the simplicity and stillness of ordinary life. Pray with us on The Regnum Christi App, sign up to have each day’s reflection delivered to your inbox every morning, or follow the RC Spirituality Center on Instagram and Facebook.
Ordained in 2006, Fr. Jason has served as a Legionary priest throughout the US, primarily in New York and Michigan. His newest role has called him south, as the superior of the Houston community of the Legionaries of Christ.
