Merry Christmas!
Today we celebrate the birth of the Savior of this world. This season of Christmas serves as a pilgrimage to the manger. We are told of the presence of angels who sing “Glory to God in the highest.” We are told of shepherds who came to adore and kings who traveled from afar to do Him homage.
The lives of those shepherds and kings came to be transformed in the Lord’s presence. They came with to Him in their sinfulness and with their fears and the Lord brought them His mercy and consolation. When they left His presence they were left changed for an encounter with Christ always changes us. There is none who encounter Christ who are left unchanged.
We too must open our heart wide to accept transformation into our life. This celebration of Christmas is far greater then a holiday which comes and goes. This celebration is a proclamation of our salvation for without His birth we would never be set free from sin and death as He laid down His life for us out of love upon the cross.
Just like those who came to abandon their life for Christ we must we be willing to lay down our life for His. We each need to undergo this pilgrimage which leads towards Him. On this pilgrimage we strip away everything that keeps us from receiving Him with joy. Through the sacramental life of the Church we are given the assistance which is necessary to walk this path which leads us towards Him.
Our world is busy and there is always something more for us to do. This most solemn of days reminds us to slow down and to dwell with the Lord. To be present at the manger with Him is to allow our heart to dwell with Him in prayer. Through prayer we enter into a relationship with Him and come to know Him and to allow Him to be the source of our faith.
Transformation of life springs forth from this relationship with Him in prayer which can never be sacrificed. On that Christmas morning He brought peace to a world touched by sin and death and by entering into relationship with Him such peace and tranquility is ushered into our life. We are in need of this peace.
May this season of Christmas be a blessing for each of us as we continue to encounter Christ at His coming among us. Today we will encounter Him in the Most Holy Eucharist. Let our life be surrendered here with Him in order that He may lift us out of sin, strengthen us against the temptations of this life, and bring us aid in all that we need.
Let us continue to rejoice at the birth of the Savior of this world.
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