Today, brothers and sisters in Christ, we have completed our Advent season of waiting in joyful anticipation—a season in which the world begins to make sense. Our confusion and search for truth find their answer in the Word made flesh, Jesus Christ (cf. Jn 1). No longer do sin and death hold victory over us, for in this miraculous revelation God takes on human flesh and becomes one of us. Jesus shows us the way to the Father and to His Kingdom by revealing the greatest love of all: the total gift of Himself, culminating in His sacrifice on the cross.
We may at times lose sight of this miraculous gift, as we reflect not only on the first coming of Christ but also on His promised second coming (cf. Mt 24 25; Rev 19 22). The Holy Spirit bestows upon us grace, along with signs and wonders, to guide us on our journey if only we have the fortitude and patience to lift our eyes and seek Jesus in our lives. Just as the wise men followed the light of a star to find the King of Kings, so too is our journey of faith. Will we make room for the Word made flesh to dwell in our hearts?
As we gather today, let us reflect upon the Scripture readings that reveal how God becomes one of us as a humble baby, dependent upon His chosen parents, Joseph and Mary. That same dependence is a sign for us to place our trust in God’s great love this Christmas Day. Let us cast aside our troubles, worries, and shortcomings, laying them before the manger in exchange for the light and truth found in God’s Son, who has taken on human flesh. Truly, God became man so that we might become like God (St. Athanasius), created in His holy image (Gen 1).
May the light of Christ born this Christmas dwell in our hearts and lead us ever closer to the Father.
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