Daily Gospel Reflection
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December 25, 2020
This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about.
When his mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph,
but before they lived together,
she was found with child through the Holy Spirit.
Joseph her husband, since he was a righteous man,
yet unwilling to expose her to shame,
decided to divorce her quietly.
Such was his intention when, behold,
the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said,
“Joseph, son of David,
do not be afraid to take Mary your wife into your home.
For it is through the Holy Spirit
that this child has been conceived in her.
She will bear a son and you are to name him Jesus,
because he will save his people from their sins.”
All this took place to fulfill
what the Lord had said through the prophet:
Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son,
and they shall name him Emmanuel,
which means “God is with us.”
When Joseph awoke,
he did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him
and took his wife into his home.
He had no relations with her until she bore a son,
and he named him Jesus.
Christmas is a season of great celebration. For many, it represents a time of considerable happiness. It is a wonderful holiday for family, friends, and fellowship. Christmas is an opportunity for giving love and receiving joy.
During this season of giving and receiving, I reflect on the divine gifts which Jesus has given us, particularly his gifts of peace and salvation. Jesus says, “My peace I give you.” The peace Jesus gives is the perfect peace between him, The Father, and the Holy Spirit. I pray daily for Jesus’ perfect peace to fill my mind, body, and soul. I pray for his peace to be my constant companion. With many families at odds, I ask for the Lord’s peace to divinely protect and remain with mine.
I also reflect on Jesus’ divine gift of salvation. God the Son was born to save us from death- not physical but spiritual death, which is eternal separation from God’s presence. Jesus left eternity to be with us, so that through His gift of salvation, we may enter eternity to be with Him. What an amazing demonstration of God’s love.
For some, this Christmas may not be so joyful. They have lost a loved one, are unemployed, or are struggling with health. Remember that we have hope in Jesus. His birth reminds us that this is a season of new beginnings. Just as Mary trusted that “the power of The Most High” would overshadow her and conceive Jesus, we can trust that God’s power can overshadow any difficulty and work it for good. We can have faith that our heavenly Father uses our struggle to “birth” something new and holy in our life. Jesus is Emmanuel. He is “God with us”. If Jesus is with us, can anything be against us?
Prayer
As we draw closer and closer to the celebration of the birth of Mary’s child, we listen to the Gospel narration of the divine announcement of Mary’s pregnancy and naming of her first-born Son, Jesus, yet to be born. Hearing this angelic message, we are reminded that each baptized Christian, each member of Christ’s Church, is a brother or sister of Jesus. We pray that we may be worthy of such a holy relationship. Amen.
Saint of the Day
Today is the feast of Christmas, when we recall the birth of Jesus Christ, who saves us all from death and brings us into the divine life of the Trinity. In Jesus, light has come into the world, and captive humanity, slave to sin, has been set free.
Nativity scenes abound on campus at this time of year. Today's featured image is of a stained glass window from the Basilica, which shows the birth of Jesus. Relics of the nativity, including pieces from Jesus' manger, rest in the reliquary chapel there. A life-sized nativity scene stands in the Grotto.
The Church understands four reasons why Jesus was born and became a man:
1. Jesus’ birth saves us by reconciling us to God. Human nature is fallen, and Jesus came to heal it and give us goodness and life. We are captive by sin, we live in darkness. Jesus sets us free and gives light to our lives.
2. Jesus’ birth reveals to us God’s love. God, the transcendent spirit and creator of the world, wanted to be united with us and joined our human condition in Jesus.
3. Jesus’ birth and life among us give us a model of holiness. Jesus lived a life of self-emptying love of God and neighbor, which shows us how to die to ourselves and live new lives of love for God and each other.
4. Jesus’ birth allows us to participate in God’s divine life. We are unable to attain a life of divine holiness on our own. In communion with Jesus, who is also human, we can become sons and daughters of God.
This feast is much more than a simple birthday party for Jesus. While we recall the birth of Jesus today, that one-time event that happened more than 2,000 years ago in a distant land is the best example of how God works in our lives every day. Jesus is the extension of God’s invitation to join our lives. Jesus is the proof of God’s love for each of us—God’s interest in participating in every aspect of our lives.
On today's Nativity, let us respond to God's love by welcoming Jesus into our lives and living as sons and daughters of God.