The Nativity of the Lord

My Dear Parishioners,
 
“ The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.” Jn 1:14 . This week we celebrate the Nativity of the Lord – Jesus the Christ coming into the world to brighten our lives. Christmas is the invitation not to be hesitant and to let him – whose love is greater than our own hearts and minds can comprehend – be our companion.
 
God came to us because he wanted to join us on the journey, to listen to our story, and help us realize we are not walking in a circle but moving with God toward his wisdom and understanding.
 
Before Jesus came on Christmas, people were lost in darkness.  By his birth, Jesus changed all that.  He rescued us from darkness and showed us the way to the Father.  As Jesus is a light for us, so we are to be a light for others.  We’re to show them the way out of darkness, as Jesus did for us. Christmas is all about celebrating the victory of light over darkness.  It celebrates the fact that Jesus came as a light into the darkness of our world, rescued us, and showed us the way to the Father.  It celebrates the fact that Jesus has called us to be a light in our world, just as he was a light in his world.
 
Our custom of gift-giving at Christmas follows the example of God the Father, who gave the first Christmas gift, his only begotten Son.  And yet his Son is not his first gift since something is needed for us to embrace Jesus with understanding, love, and gratitude.  That something is the gift of faith, which puts Jesus back in the crib and which puts meaning, purpose, and hope into our lives.
 
May God bless you and your family with a very Merry Christmas and a New Year filled with good health, happiness, and holiness! Glory to God in the highest!
 
Fr. Pawel