As I gaze at the manger and the new Crucifix. I think of you and all who will be coming to encounter Jesus at Mass this Christmas. I found myself asking these questions: Why do we really celebrate Christmas? Why do we give gifts at Christmas? Who was the first person to give a gift at Christmas?
The most famous line in the Bible came to my heart:
For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believes in Him may not perish but may have eternal life.
(John 3:16)
For me, this indeed is the reason why we gather for Christmas Mass; this is the meaning of Christmas.
‘God gave.’ God initiated this ‘gift giving. And He gave us not something but someone – His Son, Jesus. And He did this because He loves you, He loves me. This is the true meaning of Christmas.
St. Paul in his letter to the Ephesians writes:
May you be able to feel and understand how long, how wide, how deep and how high God’s love really is and experience this love for yourself.
(Ephesians 3:18-19)
As I continue to gaze on the manger, my heart is filled with a prayer for you: that you may know how LONG, how WIDE, how DEEP and how HIGH God’s love really is ….. for YOU!
I often see this caption during Christmas: ‘Jesus is the reason for the season.’ This is true, but You are also the reason for the season.
You matter to God. That is why He came. St. Augustine said that if you are the only one that ever lived on earth, Jesus would still have come to die for you.
Just a week ago, I was speaking with a parishioner who is from the Philippines. She told me that the recent typhoon in the Philippines has destroyed the properties and the livelihood of her family members. What can I do? Her sob would not allow her to say anything anymore. The pain is so deep.
Maybe this Christmas, you have your own pain, challenge and burden? Don’t we all experience that pain now especially in a time of COVID that has refused to end. Christmas comes to give us hope.
His love for you and me is long enough to last beyond this pandemic and forever. It is deep enough to handle anything. No matter what pain or hurt or problem you are going through, his love is deeper. Betsy who died in the concentration camp penned these words: “There is no pit so deep that God’s love is not deeper.” No matter the mistake you’ve made, God’s love is high enough to overlook it, to forgive and help you start over. Maybe you feel alone this Christmas because you’ve lost a loved one or you just feel lonely, may God’s love, which is so wide reach you today and may God’s Word comfort you: “I’ll always be with you.” (Matthew 28:20)
His love has offered us everything: salvation, forgiveness, past forgiven, purpose for living and home in heaven.
Let us go to the manger, let us adore Him, Christ the Lord!
Thank you for allowing me to journey alongside you in our parish this year. I look forward to continuing this journey of love and service with you in the New Year.
From all of us here: Melinda, Frs. Harry and Marian, Deacons Dale Webster & Peter d’Aoust and I, we wish you a Merry Christmas and a blessed New Year!
Your brother, Fr. Obi