As we celebrate, yet one more time, the humble birth of Jesus Christ, may you know the depth of God’s love and the serenity of His peace.

    As we ready ourselves to celebrate the birth of Jesus in the town of Bethlehem (Beth = House; lehem = bread; literally House of Bread) the Church gives us readings for entering more deeply into the mystery of God—the creator of all that is--- who chooses to become one of us!  It’s as if the Church can neither contain her joy nor find the right words; so, she provides four different Masses: Vigil, Night, Dawn, and Day.  The readings, for each, draw our attention to a different dimension of his birth.

    The gospel for the Vigil Mass doesn’t take us to Bethlehem; instead, it gives a long list of unfamiliar and difficult-to-pronounce names. These are the ancestors of Jesus beginning with Abraham.  One thing this genealogy makes quite clear is Jesus is truly human and a child of the Covenant!  The gospel for the Mass During the Day isn’t set in Bethlehem either.  Rather, it’s the prologue to John’s gospel with its radical claims---the promise of a new birth, a birth that is of God for those who believe that Jesus is God. It affirms that Jesus was in the beginning with God, is and was the agent of the creation of all and is the source of life and light to all.  It declares further that this Jesus came in the flesh and lived among us.  The more familiar scenes of Jesus birth, in Luke and Matthew, proclaimed During the Night and at Dawn are bookended by our belief that this Jesus is truly God and truly human!

    What are we to do with this awesome mystery--God chose to become one of us? The Incarnation?   In the days leading up to Christmas, we have been learning of God’s hopes and desires—justice for the poor and oppressed, peace, fulfillment for all.  Where we see this happening, our hearts can be filled with joy and gratitude.  But there are other places in ourselves, our family, community, world where God’s desires are frustrated.  This ought not lead to discouragement because frustration and evil do not have the final word!  Christmas calls us to recognize our human dignity and turning to God we ask for his help and guidance as to what we might do.  Let us always remember that Jesus is our EmmanuelàGod-with-us