The Nativity of the Lord Christmas

We gather this morning in silence and prayer to contemplate the center event of God’s creation. This is the Christ event. All creation leads to Jesus Christ. All creation takes its meaning from Jesus Christ, and the Christ event begins with the Nativity of the Lord, Christmas, and concludes with His sharing His Spirit and the Spirit of the Father on Pentecost.

My brother, my sister, Jesus Christ enters into our world to draw us into His Presence. Shepherds and Kings, pagans and Jews are drawn into the Presence, the Presence in Bethlehem. And, we, whether we be rich or poor by the world’s standards, whether we be weak or powerful by the world’s standards, we are drawn into His Presence. This is simply wonderful.

Today, Christmas day, we are separated from the emptiness of a world that rejects God. We are called away. We are called to holiness; for to be holy is to be separate for the Lord.

Yes, you and I can be holy. We can be His People. The Divine Presence that gives meaning to our lives also gives us the power, the courage, the strength to live for others. When we choose to put others before ourselves, we choose lives that reflect the Presence of Love Incarnate, the Presence of Jesus Christ.

Whether there are angels calling shepherds or a star appearing to Kings, or reports of people in dire need a continent away or in the house next door, or in our own homes, we are called to step away from our comforts and selfishness and step into the Presence of the Lord I mean Christ identifies with those who are suffering: I was hungry, or thirsty, a stranger, or naked, sick or imprisoned… We are called to him. We are called to holiness.

Who is it in our families who need special care? Is it an elderly relative, sick, impatient, helpless? Is it a husband or wife, brother or sister who is unsettled with life? Is it a teen with difficult challenges or a child with special needs? They are there. Every family has members calling out to the rest for help, calling others into holiness.

Who is it in our parish who draw us to sacrifice and to service? Is it the poor who come to our office, the community who calls us to share our talents in music ministry and other liturgical ministries? There are many who are calling us to be stewards of the treasures of our parish, calling us into holiness.

St. Francis of Assisi understood the message of the manger clearer than most. The world had little compassion for a young girl in labor. She was offered a spot in a stable, with… the animals. There was no semblance of royalty about the scene. And, you know, the King of Kings was born into poverty to draw us away from the riches of the world and into His Presence. St. Francis saw this birth as a call to holiness, a call away from the world’s riches and a call to the wealth of the Lord. It was, of course, St. Francis who constructed the first nativity scene.

This morning we greet one another by saying “Merry Christmas.”, and its ok, be merry, celebrate the birth of the Lord. Be joyful, BUT not just because a baby was born 2,000 years ago, but because God has entered into our world to draw us into His Presence.

Dear brothers and sisters, today the Word became flesh; he came to dwell among us; he is Emmanuel, the God who became close to us. Together let us contemplate this great mystery of love; let our hearts be filled with the light which shines in the stable of Bethlehem!

To everyone, a Merry Christmas!■