Dear brothers and sisters,
PAX!
Merry Christmas!
Each year, we relive the mystery of the incarnation of the Son of God, Emmanuel, God with us. It is mind-boggling that God would love us so much that He would become one of us, even though He has no sin. The holy stooping down to be with the unholy, not to become one of us in sin, but to exalt, redeem, and raise up our human nature. As St. Athanasius so famously said, “God became man so that man could become God.” This concept means that humans, through grace and union with God in Christ, can become partakers in the divine nature, sharing in God’s holiness and life, not becoming God by essence, but by participation.
It is appropriate for us to culminate the 1700th year of the Nicene-Constantinopolitan creed, which fought the Arian heresy that denied the Divinity of Christ, with the celebration of God made man, Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.
It is always with mixed emotions that we celebrate the joy of Christmas. We live in a world marked by violence. Christians are still being persecuted, tortured, and killed around the world, especially in Nigeria. We see wars among nations, kidnapping, drug trafficking, human trafficking, death, and many infirmities, with cancer rising to epidemic levels. It is easy to become cynical, sarcastic, or even depressed. Yet, we are called to rise above these maladies and embrace and preach a message of hope, peace, and love to a broken world. Christ has come to redeem us. Christ has come to forgive us. Christ has come to unite us. Christ has come to heal us. Christ has come to save us. And it all started that first Christmas morning.
I want to leave you with a song. It was written by Veronica Sanfilippo about four years ago. It is a beautiful song, and only recently did I realize that the lyrics are written as if the Virgin Mary were saying these things. This is what she thinks went through her mind.
When I look to heaven, I feel like I can imagine
those tender little eyes and your smile as you wake up
You will bring light, hope and joy to my home
here I wait for you I dream of You
as I prepare Your place
My child Jesus, little Immanuel
You are the promise of a God who is faithful
My child Jesus, who will soon come
To heal hearts and bring Peace to the world.
I want to tell You a thousand stories,
walk hand in hand with You
Although I don’t have much
I want to give it all to You.
Your love will soften hurts.
Your light will dissipate evil.
Your voice will proclaim greatness.
Your name will bring us to God.
My child Jesus…
Immanuel – God with us
Immanuel – don’t delay, I want to see Your face.
Immanuel – the promise that becomes life.
Immanuel – You will reign, You will heal all our wounds.
Immanuel – forever God with us.
Immanuel – don’t delay, I want to see Your face.
Immanuel – the promise that becomes life.
Immanuel – You will reign, You will heal all our wounds.
My child Jesus…
You will bring Peace, You will come and heal
Immanuel
This is the Good News of Christmas, which we need to proclaim from the mountaintops and in the valleys, and in our homes and in the streets, everywhere. Immanuel – God is with us.
Merry Christmas, and God bless you all.
Yours in Christ,
+J. Alberto Morales, OSB
Quincy 9