“Et Verbum caro factum est! - And the Word was made flesh!” There are no more astounding words that can ever be spoken or written than these! The very God of Gods - almighty, all-powerful, all-just, all-merciful, all-loving took on our human nature - lowered himself from the heavens - came down and became a piece of clay - for us and for our salvation! And that piece of clay was fashioned in the womb of the Virgin Mary into a tiny baby boy - whose cry filled this very night, so long ago and far away!
All the earth had been longing for, and expecting the arrival of this tiny visitor for eons. Ever since the sin of Adam and Eve, hoping against hope - men and women have been searching for a way to bridge the gap between themselves and God that was created by their own lack of trust and disobedience. They concluded over and over again that nothing they could do could ever successfully make the leap, and reach the skies!
It would take the absolute trust and obedience of a God-Man - Jesus, whose birth anniversary we anticipate in just hours - to repair the damage and to establish a bridge between God and his people - the one’s he loved so much that he gave his Son to accomplish the reconciliation!
Yes, tonight we recall the eternally significant meaning of “giving.” This is a night of “giving.” We give presents on this night, in imitation of the greatest present of all, that was given by the greatest giver of all: God the Father, giving us Jesus, the only qualified means of our salvation!
God the Father gave Jesus to us! Jesus gave himself for us! We are called in imitation of the giving of the Father and the Son to give love to others: especially the poor! Jesus was born poor, housed in a stable, with no one except his parents and some faithful shepherds to welcome him! When we give to the poor, we give to Jesus! And the Christmas story is complete!
Let our gift giving and merry-making this holiday time reflect the priceless gift of the Father and the Son to us - all given life and motivation by the inpouring of the Holy Spirit - who is the love shared by the Father and the Son - and the true heart of this Christmas Season!
All the ends of the earth will see the saving power of God - if we carry the message of the Christ-Child to them - a message of freedom, of hope, of peace, of joy! How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings glad tidings, announcing peace, bearing good news, announcing salvation and saying: “Your God is King!”
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