This small section of Luke’s Gospel has what would be called a “very high theology” which emphasizes the divinity of Jesus
In the story of his birth, the angel Gabriel said to Mary: “The Holy Spirit will come upon you…..Therefore the child to be born will be called holy, the Son of God.”
Make no mistake about it. The child born in Bethlehem is not simply a great prophet…..not simply a miracle-worker…..not simply someone specially chosen by God. The child born in Bethlehem is the Son of God.
In our relationship with Jesus, we always have to balance intimacy and reverence. Jesus did not come for us simply to look at him in distant adoration. He came so that we could join intimately with him and share in his own relationship with the Father.
On the other hand, we need to be reverent. We need to be aware of who it is we are relating to so closely…..whom we are joining with in the Eucharistic prayer…..whom we are receiving when we take the Bread and the Cup.
·Intimacy and reverence. I could work on both right now as I spend some time with the Lord.
Miracles
First of all, what is a miracle? A miracle is an event that is real (not imagined)…can be seen…is beyond what any human being or natural power can accomplish…and is the result of a special act of God.
That’s why the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist is not a miracle. It fits all except one of the above criteria – it can’t be seen.
Miracles are sometimes spoken of as having been done by a particular person. God may do a miracle in response to the prayer or action of a human being (living or dead), but it is God and only God who can perform a miracle.
Second, what is the purpose of miracles?
Miracles are not arbitrary exhibitions of divine power. They are signs that summon believers to a deeper understanding of the faith. In his healings, for example, Jesus wasn’t saying, "Watch me prove to you that I am the Son of God.” Jesus was teaching that he had come to heal all creation and bring about the Kingdom of God. A miracle is a vehicle of teaching.
Jesus cautioned against focusing on the spectacular. When the crowd sought him out after the feeding of the multitude, he said: “you are looking for me not because you saw signs, but because you ate the loaves and were filled.” (Jn 6:26)