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December 25, 2023"And the angels said unto them, fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.” (Luke 2:10)
“The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.” (Luke 2:20)
On this Holy Day, let us rejoice at the birth of the baby Jesus, our King. Through the centuries, the chosen people of God have waited for the coming of the Christ as foretold by the Prophets. On this Holy Day, the wait is over, and we receive with open hearts the gift of His birth. His birth did not happen in a palace, and he was not surrounded by riches. Our Savior was born in a poor and humble manger in Bethlehem of Judea. In a poor manger, he was surrounded by His mother Mary and Joseph his father as well as barn animals. He was welcomed by the shepherds and the Magi. All gentiles who were chosen by God our Father to be the first recipients of the good news of His birth. They came to pay homage to the newborn King and to be witnesses of the Light and Mercy of God. The baby Jesus lies on the straw and in our hearts, replacing our longing and emptiness with hope and light.
Jesus came into the world to embrace everyone with love and gentleness. He came into the world to unite us as one family! He came into the world to love the saint and the sinner alike. That is the reason why we celebrate His birth with profound gratitude, hope, and Joy. Jesus through the centuries has been called Redeemer, Beloved Son, Prince of Peace, Alpha and the Omega, Immanuel, Lamb of God, Rabbi, The Word of God, the Light of God, Shepherd, the Holy One of God, Emmanuel, Teacher, King, and the list could go on and on. No matter what title we use to express our love for Him let us always remember that this Holy season belongs to Him.
We must always remember that no material possession or gift can ever compare to the Joy of receiving Jesus. The world must remember that our hope is Jesus Christ our King. Jesus comes into our lives with every prayer we breathe. When this Holy season is over, we will put all of our decorations away and we will go back to our normal lives. However, the light and joy of the season of Jesus will remain with us forever. Brothers and Sisters may the light of Jesus shine within us and illuminate our families, loved ones, and the world. May our world be blessed with much-needed peace that only He can bring. May all of us experience happiness, joy, and love. May you be the recipients of His goodness and peace. May the light, mercy, hope, and joy of Christmas remain with you and our world always. Merry Christmas!
