At Christmas, we celebrate more than just the birth of a child in a manger. We mark the unbreakable bond God forms with humanity—a bond born of love, compassion, and a profound desire to be near us. In the quiet, holy moment of Christ’s birth, God reaches down to us, offering us the dignity of being His children, inviting us into a relationship of mutual love and understanding. This is the true meaning of Christmas: God’s infinite love, made manifest in the most unexpected of places—a humble stable in Bethlehem.
But this love, which God so generously extends, calls us to something deeper. It calls us to empty ourselves—of our pride, our distractions, our false securities—so that we can truly embrace the gift of Christ. It’s in this emptying that we make room for the fullness of God's presence in our lives. Only by surrendering our own will can we experience the profound mystery of Christmas in its fullness.
The German priest and theologian Alfred Delp, who lived through the hardships of Nazi Germany, reminds us that even in the darkest times, the Christmas message calls us to hope. In the face of despair, we are invited to live differently—not in resignation, but in anticipation of God’s transformative work in the world. “We will go on waiting, watching, and praying until the star rises,” he wrote. This Christmas, we too are called to wait, to watch, and to pray with the certainty that God’s light will pierce through even the darkest moments of our lives.
Delp’s words echo an important truth: without embracing our humanity—our dignity as created and beloved children of God—we are not truly capable of connecting with God. We are not capable of understanding the fullness of His love or the richness of His grace. Yet, even when we fall short, God's grace is already at work, prompting us, healing us, and making us ready to receive His love more deeply.
Christmas invites us to open our hearts to this grace, allowing God’s Spirit to work in us. In the midst of the chaos and hardship of life, we are called to trust that this very moment—the one we are living in right now—is the place and the time where God can bring about a new birth in us. Even when we feel battered by life's storms, even when the world seems dark and heavy, we are assured that the light of Christ shines through. The gift of Christmas is not just a one-time event; it is the ongoing invitation to let Christ be born anew in our hearts.
This Christmas, may we remember that our dignity as children of God is inseparable from His love and grace. Let us empty ourselves of all that distracts us, that we may make room for the hope, peace, and joy that Christmas offers. And in the midst of uncertainty, let us trust that the star will rise, guiding us to a new birth, a new beginning, and a renewed hope for all humanity.
Merry Christmas, and may the peace of Christ fill your hearts and homes this season and always.
In Christ,
Fr. Jim Pastor
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