Dear Parishioners:
Christmas Day will soon be upon us. And so we anticipate with great joy the celebration of the birth of our Savior. We gather with family and friends, we exchange gifts, eat delicious and luscious foods, and we make merry! Yes, we rejoice on Christmas like no other day during the year. “For a child is born to us, a son is given to us; upon his shoulder dominion rests. They name him Wonder-Counselor, God-Hero, Father-Forever, and Prince of Peace.”
Everyone of us, young and old alike—has a favorite image or memory of Christmas. Perhaps its is a Christmas song or movie. For some, favorite Christmas memories have more to do with religious and family celebrations. I often think of how as a child we waited to place the figure of the Christ Child in the manger until Christmas night.
The Nativity Story is often a comforting one for us as believers. There are times when we can be comforted by the romanticized picture of the first Christmas with which we are so familiar: the crib, the animals, the shepherds, Mary, Joseph and the Christ Child. We are comforted by this familiar story as it evokes memories of the Christmas rituals of our family and own childhood.
However, there are also times when we can see behind the story to the coming of God into the harsh realities of human life. The death of a beloved, the sickness and addiction of a friend, or the loss of job are everyday occurrences that can often become a harsh reality at Christmas for many. Let us remember them in our prayers, knowing that Christ's birth is especially meaningful for those who suffer and who long for His coming.
We know that the birth of the Christ child is not simply a feel-good story, but it is rather a significant and life-changing story for us and for our world. Whenever we face some personal difficulty, or feel down about the state of the world, or are burdened with worries, we can be certain that God is in the middle of it all: the Word has become flesh, and really lives in our midst.
I’ve often heard it said that “Christmas is for children.” And if Christmas were only Jesus’ “birthday,” then I think that could be true. When we really enter into the mysteries of Christmas, we quickly realize that Christmas is more than just a birthday party. Our Catholic tradition celebrates that Christ, the Divine Messiah and Savior of the World comes to us at Christmas.
We celebrate the Incarnation—Christ coming among us in history—when we recall the world-changing event of the birth of Jesus. In Jesus, God became a human being, born of Mary, to fulfill promises made through the prophets. At Christmas, we also celebrate how Christ mysteriously comes to us today—in the sacraments most especially the Eucharist, in the words of Scripture, and in our encounters with one another. The Incarnation wasn’t a one-time event.
Christmas also reminds us that what happened that night in Bethlehem was only a beginning. Our faith tells us that, while Christ is always with us, a time will come when we will be fully united with God. So, as we praise God for the gift of Emmanuel at Christmas, we also look to the day when Christ will come again. Life and death have been transformed by what began in Bethlehem. Christmas is ultimately a celebration of what is possible.
The wise still seek Christ at Christmas. It is a time of promise: the light of the star that guided those travelers to Christ is a symbol of how God’s grace still guides seekers today. On Christmas, we pray for the gift of faith for those who might have lost their way from Christ and His Church and for those who do not know God’s love.
For us as a people of faith, Christmas is truly a rich season that deserves to be celebrated as fully as possible. The truths that are at the heart of this holy time are fundamental to our lives as Catholic disciples. Celebrate the many ways Christ is present among us and is still being born in each of us today. May each of us, like Mary, the Mother of God, take the presence of Christ to all the world.
On behalf of Fr. Barrow, Fr. Connors, and our good Sisters, I wish you a truly Happy and Holy Christmas. May the Christ Child bring you the joy, peace and love of that first Christmas now and forever. Christmas blessings to all!