Gospel of John, chapter 1:14

From the majesty, power and glory of an Eternal Heaven, the Son of God came down to earth to be our brother. Theologians call this event the Incarnation, God wrapping Himself in human flesh with all the possibilities and limitations that implies. He who was eternal became bound by time. He who was power itself became a little child. He who was truth itself had to learn to speak and articulate the wisdom of his own Jewish people. He knew human joy and friendship, sickness and pain, and all that it means to be human, with the exception of sin. Yes, His feelings were like our own and he was even subject to temptation. He was, as St. Paul said, like us in all things except sin. This is what we celebrate today.

Christmas is a wonderful time of year. It is the most human of our religious holidays; it is a time of year when people reach out to each other, when families and friends gather together, when we remember each other with gifts, with prayers, with simple acts of human kindness. Christmas reminds us to put God back in our lives, to see Christ in each other. The Son of God became a human person at Christmas and transformed our way of thinking and behaving towards each other. We see this more clearly and feel it more deeply at Christmastime. Let us take hold of the good news of Christmas and live it all the time; every day; in every circumstance; and with whomever we meet along the way.

Merry Christmas!

Fr. Hugh Duffy