December 18, 2016

We all know that children sometimes see the world differently. A kindergarten teacher told the story of the first Christmas from a children’s book. At the end, she asked a number of questions to see how well they listened. One was this: “Who was the first to know about the birth of Jesus?” She was looking for “The Shepherds.” Instead, one of the children shot up her hand and answered, “Mary.” In this day and age, we use cards and the internet to make birth announcements. On this Fourth Sunday of Advent we hear the birth announcement of Jesus. Today’s gospel teaches us four things about Christmas.

  • First, Christmas is the story of a couple — Mary and Joseph — who experience the miraculous in their lives. It was a funny story, but the child’s ingenious answer is so true! We tend to associate God with the phenomenal and the spectacular, such as the host of angels or the guiding star, so much so that we fail to notice God’s presence in the ordinary and normal things of life, such as in pregnancy and birth. Know and believe that you and I can experience the presence of God in our lives.
  • Second, Christmas reminds us that God is true to God’s Word. Speaking through the prophet Isaiah, God foretold the birth of Emmuanel — a name which means “God is with us.” In the birth of Jesus, God became human and in the death and resurrection of Jesus promised to be with us always. Know and believe that God is true to God’s promises made to you and me.
  • Third, Christmas is a story of love and trust. As we just heard in today’s gospel, Joseph knew full well he was not the father of Jesus. God communicated with Joseph in a dream. He loved and trusted God and Mary enough to believe. Know and believe that if we love and trust God something wonderful will happen to you and me.
  • Finally, Christmas is a story of God’s entrance into human experience. Because God became human in Jesus we know absolutely beyond a doubt that God knows what it is like to be tempted, to suffer, to love, and to die. Know and believe that God wants to enter into your life and mine. No matter how much we love and are close to God, we can always come to know and love more and more.When Joseph received Mary into his home he also welcomed Jesus. Advent and Christmas remind us to welcome Jesus as well into our hearts, lives, family, and parish.