Merry

CHRISTMAS

Dear friends,

Today we celebrate the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ!

Today’s Gospel, Luke 2:1-14, from the Christmas Mass at Midnight, clearly situates the birth of Jesus within a historical epoch, namely, that of the Roman rule of Israel in the first century. The proclamation of Jesus’s birth situates Jesus within the affairs of human life and experience, with the joys, cares and struggles that people have experienced from the beginning of time.

Today, the ordinary becomes transparent and reveals the extraordinary. The innocent baby born is both a fully human infant, and fully God at the same time. The Christ child possesses great potential, as all newborn children do. However, with this child light comes into the world and breaks forth at the midnight hour to illumine the world and our individual hearts. What does that mean for us personally?

With the birth of Jesus, the age of God’s fulfillment has arrived. The world is filled with the possibility of grace, goodwill and hope for the future. These same possibilities exist for us as well during this time as we recognize that God is with us, not only at the time of his actual historical birth, but today as well.

Will we make the most of this great gift? Christmas calls us to remember the Heavenly celebration that takes place with the birth of Christ the Savior. Will our actions this Christmas Day and throughout the Christmas Season reflect that Heavenly celebration? Will we hold that celebration within our hearts, or will we somehow fall back into old habits. It is easy to forget the salvific work that the Christ child will undertake in his time here on this earth. Will we be forever thankful that the goodness of God the Father, along with cooperation from Mary and Joseph, have given us a Savior that answers all our prayers? Christ is the ultimate gift for us and for those around us!

Let us share our Christmas joy with all those we encounter this Christmas Season! May you all have a Blessed Christmas!

Rev. John Kurgan
Pastor

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