This Christmas we look with wonder upon a truly beautiful mystery: The sight of the Christ-child born in a simple manger stall. The sight of the Virgin Mary whose eyes are lit with love for her holy Child. The sight of Saint Joseph embracing his newborn son who is in truth, the Lord of Joseph and the God of us all. The sight of shepherds hurrying over hillsides to tell this Child how much they love him. The sight of a brand-new star – a star that brought three kings through the night and onto their knees before Jesus.

We witness this day our beloved world once again made beautiful after a long night of darkness. This is why the Son of God was born as a child – to end our darkness. Ever since the first sin of Adam and Eve, death and darkness had been a part of the human experience. Sin had ruined God’s plan of love. From Adam on, humanity had been born in sin, lived in sin and died from sin. The entire Old Testament is a story of waiting, centuries of waiting with the endless refrain upon the lips of the prophets: “He will come, our God will come to save us”.

Why is Jesus born on Christmas? Jesus is born to lead us back to God. In Jesus Christ, God has pressed upon the sin-scarred, tear stained face of humanity a kiss of peace. In Bethlehem forgiveness is born, sin is defeated and eternal death is banished – our sin and our death! Our Lord Jesus desires but one thing of us this Christmas: To be born in our hearts where He can remove our sin and dwell always as our Lord and Savior. The final verse of O Little Town of Bethlehem expresses this perfectly: “O, Holy Child of Bethlehem descend to us we pray, cast out our sin and enter in, be born in us today”.

Our prayer for you is that our good Lord make you joyful in His holy Incarnation on earth; today and every day of our lives.

God Bless You and Merry Christmas!
Fr. John Hilton & Fr. Carlos Bello