It's customary after a baby is born for family and friends to come and visit to see the new baby. I had my third baby in October and although everyone in our family was very respectful, they were also very eager to behold the new addition to our family as soon as we were home from the hospital. Over the course of a few days, family trickled by to see our tiny daughter with delight and joy. Everyone at Mass the following Sunday was eager to peek on her face and compare her to the other two girls and see who she looks like most. There is something so exciting about gazing upon a newborn baby for the first time. Each person is a gift, a blessing, but also a mystery. Who is this child? Who will they become? It is exciting and thought provoking all at once. 

The excitement and mystery of the birth of a baby reached its peak with the birth of Our Lord. There were mysterious signs and wonders: angels singing in a field to shepherds, a blazing star above the stable, a baby quietly born in the midst of the animals. This baby bore the name Jesus, coming from Joshua, meaning God saves. There was also another interesting note that we often skip over in our reading of the Christmas story: the swaddling clothes. We might be tempted to think these are simple baby clothes, but mystic and Servant of God Cora Evans shows there may be more that we're missing. According to the mystical visions recorded by Cora Evans and collected in The Advent Story, these swaddling clothes were actually indicative of Jesus' kingship. The reflection for the first week of Advent dwells on the swaddling clothes at length, but another passage from section 6 of The Advent Story points out some other interesting details surrounding the swaddling clothes, 

[Michael said], "Tomorrow the shepherds will come to this cave as though it were a church. They will admire the swaddling clothes and yet not realize the God-Man's personal, invisible blessing while they are near Him. . . There will be over fifteen hundred people here, Joseph, thier curiosity aroused by the shepherds having seen the vision of angels. Hurry them in and out in small groups to keep Mary from being questioned. The majority will be here only to catch a glimpse of the swaddling linens anyway...." 

Here St. Michael the Archangel (who according to Cora helped deliver Baby Jesus) is preparing Joseph and Mary for the swarm of visitors they can expect to receive. He emphasizes that the shepherds and the other people who will come to behold the baby will be particuarly interested in the swaddling clothes because these are the swaddling clothes prepared and put aside for the Messiah to wear when He comes. These people have been longing for the Messiah to come, and now their hopes are being realized. Is this baby, this Jesus, the Messiah? He is wearing the swaddling clothes put aside for the Messiah. Angels are apparently heralding his arrival. A star blazes in the night sky. The people coming to visit the Holy Family desire to catch a glimpse of the clothes that will confirm or deny their hopes. The Messiah! God has not forgotten His people. There is hope. 

May we likewise desire to catch a glimpse of the face of Jesus this Christmas season. May we attempt to catch a glimpse of His face in the midst of the celebrations. Let us be inspired by the shepherds and the others who came to behold the Christ Child in His Messianic swaddling clothes and seek His face. In these final days of Advent let us prepare our hearts to behold Him at the manger on Christmas morning. 

Holy Family, pray for us! St. Michael, pray for us!