THE CHRISTMAS AWAKENING OF THEO HENRY

Theo Henry, a kind but non-believing man, stayed home on Christmas Eve while his family went to midnight mass, because he did not believe the incarnation story. He just couldn’t swallow the Jesus Story, about God coming to Earth as a man to save people. Shortly after they left, a snowstorm began, and he was startled by the sound of birds crashing against his window. He saw a flock huddling miserably, trapped and freezing in the snow.

Determined to save them, Theo opened the barn where his children kept their pony, turning on a light for warmth and shelter. He tried coaxing them with bread crumbs and waving his arms, but the frightened birds scattered, ignoring the safe haven. He realized they saw him as a terrifying monster, and his attempts to help only drove them further away into the cold.

"If only I could be a bird," he thought desperately, "and speak their language, they would trust me and follow me to the warm barn. I would have to be one of them so they could understand."

As the church bells began to ring out the Christmas carol "O come all ye faithful," Theo sank to his knees in the snow, finally understanding the profound meaning of God coming to Earth as a man.

The moral of Theo Henry's story powerfully mirrors the Christian doctrine of the Incarnation. Just as Theo realized he had to become a bird to connect with and save the frightened flock, God became human in Jesus Christ because distance breeds fear, not faith.

God touched Theo's heart by using the plight of the birds to illustrate His own mission. Through his desperate desire to save the lost flock by becoming one of them, Theo finally understood the Incarnation. His encounter with the truth of the phrase "came to save and to seek the lost" proved that God's coming to earth was a personal, loving rescue mission.

Jesus's birth was God's way of bridging the gap between a perfect, distant God and flawed humanity. By becoming a man, the "Word became flesh" (John 1:14), showing immense humility to make Himself accessible. This removed our fear, allowing us to truly understand and trust Him. Ultimately, He took the form of a servant (Philippians 2:7) to offer us the gift of salvation.

Jesus became fully human precisely so he could experience and understand our problems personally, thereby fulfilling the role of a truly empathetic Saviour. The proper response to this immense love is an open Invitation to bring Him into our lives through genuine repentance for our sins. This act of turning away from sin grants us the most precious Gift imaginable: the gift of salvation. Therefore, our ultimate Preparation for the Christmas celebration is not merely external but spiritual, ensuring we place Jesus Christ securely in the centre of our hearts.

JESUS  AWAKEN  OUR  HEART AND  SOUL  THIS  CHRISTMAS