The Birth of Christ

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It is pretty amazing as Catholics to celebrate Christmas. We remember that the Wonderful Counselor, the Mighty God, the King of Kings, the everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace came down from heaven and became a human child.  “The time came…” the Gospel says, for the long expected king of the world to take on human flesh. So often we forget that our faith is rooted in that little child born in a manger over 2000 years ago and not based merely on some philosophical idea. We have a faith rooted in a historical event in which salvation took on flesh.

Today, as we remember Christ being born in that manger, we must recall too that in doing so, he experienced  the full human experience. He was born, dependent on others, crying and hungry. In his life he experienced pain and happiness, friendship and betrayal, loneliness and inclusion.  He shared our journey; he experienced the joys and the darkness that is in the world. But he came to dispel that darkness, that sin and despair which was and is rampant throughout the world. Through taking on our human form, he became a personal God, who experienced all we experienced. He is the gift of our salvation wrapped in swaddling clothes, struggling to survive, struggling to bring about a new kingdom, a new order, a redemption for all people.

Through his birth on earth, Christ came to transform the world from the inside out. He has called us to become Children of the light, and he offers us the gift of salvation.  Christ, the long expected king of old, comes today, to take on our human experience and to call us to something more, to live for something greater, to experience true happiness, and to fulfill the true potential that each of us possesses.  He calls us to a new way of life, a way of life that is centered on him, our  eternal reward. This Christmas, may we listen to the Prince of peace, and follow in his earthly example, living for others, growing in holiness and guiding others and our world closer to our personal, loving and merciful God. 

 Merry Christmas! 


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