Oblate News

A Reflection for Christmas Day

December 25th. – For unto us a child is born

The shopping is done and finished. The presents are bought and wrapped. All the waiting in long queues in the shops is over. The house has been cleaned and the tree with all its lights and decorations are shining brightly. So what has all this hectic buying, spending and shopping been all about?

My nephew Daniel was twenty-five last week. With his birthday being so close to Christmas, we always made an extra effort to celebrate it with him. So when have birthdays in our own families what do we do? We gather around the person and do two things; we remember and we celebrate.

We remember the time and date that the person was born. We look back and remember the day they came into our family. We might look at photographs of them when they were younger. We might remember their first steps and their first day at school. Then we celebrate with them. We give thanks for and celebrate the difference they have made and still make in our families.

This is exactly what we do at Christmas; we remember and we celebrate. We recall and tell that story of how, where and when Jesus was born. We tell the story of Mary and Joseph going back to Bethlehem. We recall that they were turned away because there no space for them. We remember that the shepherds and the kings came when Jesus was born. Then we joyfully celebrate the difference and impact that Jesus has made and is making to our world and to each of us personally.

We are asked to remember that Christmas is not something that happened in the past. The birth of Jesus echoes and ripples through the century’s right down to us today. Through the birth of Jesus God enters our world, our time and our lives. Jesus is Emmanuel, God-is-with us. In and through the person of Jesus, God reaches out to embrace each of us. Through the birth of Jesus God comes to live amongst us and deeply within us. Christmas is not just about remembering the birth of Jesus, it is about the celebrating the presence of Jesus in our hearts and in our lives today.

When he was pope, John Paul II, wrote that, the mystery of Jesus that took place over 2000 years ago must be lived today and every day. The word of God who found a dwelling place in and through Mary comes to knock on our hearts this Christmas and every Christmas, this day and every day.

May Christ the light and the light of Christ fill all our homes, hearts, families and the whole world this Christmas and always.

• Michael Moore