Daily Gospel Reflection
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December 25, 2024
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.
Reflection
Just imagine how challenging it must have been for Joseph to honor the directions of the angel of the Lord in his dream when to society, he must have appeared like an unrighteous man. Initially, he wanted to separate himself from the situation, but he chose obedience. His example is an incredible reminder for us on this holy day of what obedience to God’s direction can bring into this world.
Obedience changed my life, too. As an undergraduate at the University of Southern California (USC), I prepared for medical school. Every aspect felt like an uphill battle. I even worked a corporate job to earn extra money to afford to visit medical schools. While in that role, my executive leader pulled me aside and recommended that I seriously consider graduate business school.
I was initially uninterested because of all the hard work and time I had spent and my public commitments to everyone, but I prayed. The Holy Spirit nudged me to investigate my executive’s recommendation.
From that moment on, everything began to flow with ease. I could not believe it! I joined a preparatory course, took my exam, and received invitations from different business schools to apply. One of those invitations came from the University of Notre Dame. I visited, fell in love, and became a Notre Dame Ford Scholar.
As I celebrate 25 years at next reunion, I reflect on all the years since “Becoming Irish”— the dedicattion to supporting the university’s efforts, the friendships created in the Notre Dame family, and the wonderful memories made. I am ever grateful for the journey! Our Almighty Father God blessed me beyond measure, greater than anything I could have imagined for myself, when I chose to be obedient to his nudge.
God is faithful, and in his omnipotence and omniscience, his will be done in our lives will always lead to divine magnificence beyond our wildest dreams. Let Joseph’s example on this glorious Christmas Day remind us to remain faithful and obedient to God’s nudges and guidance in our lives without fear. Trust God. Merry Christmas!
Prayer
As we celebrate the birth of Mary’s child, we listen to the gospel narration of the divine announcement of Mary’s pregnancy and the naming of her firstborn Son, Jesus. 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.