Christmas Reflection

Readings for the Christmas Reflection:

Isaiah 52: 7–10

Hebrews 1: 1–6

John 1: 1–18

Here we are, Christmas Day. How wondrous. Nothing compares!

We have been waiting and preparing for the birth of the Christ Child, and His arrival changes us and changes our world, if we let it.

During this Advent season we have had some time to pray and reflect. In the early days, we were called to quiet our lives and ready our hearts to be in the presence of God’s love. In the first Advent Reflection, we met the Lynch family who lived Advent through their extraordinary love and devotion, even after losing their two daughters, Alexandra and Sheila, who went home to God just 14 months apart. Their story reminded us that angels do exist, and Advent helps us find them.

Guided by grace, the readings for the second week of Advent shared the prophetic faith that John the Baptist embodied. In the second Advent Reflection we were reminded that our faith is contagious. We met Harold Eckman, a Jewish-American World War II Army veteran, whose willingness to feed the souls of some displaced refugees in post-war Czechoslovakia mirrored the gospel. Like John the Baptist and Harold, we can all be messengers, pointing others to God.

During the third week of Advent, we rejoiced in the hope and promise that the Christ Child was coming soon. In the third Advent Reflection we were anointed by the comforting words of William B. Neenan, SJ, who helped us see God on a busy Paris street and realize that God is walking with us, always.

In this past Sunday’s gospel, we witnessed the astonishing faith of a young, Jewish peasant girl named Mary, who would become the mother of the Messiah. In the fourth Advent Reflection, we admired Mary’s courage to say “yes” to God and trust Him with a full heart. This great faith story reminded us of others we know who have said “yes” to God during times of uncertainty, and the world benefitted as a result. We looked to the leadership of J. Donald Monan, SJ, and William P. Leahy, SJ, offering them abundant blessings for their fortitude and dedication in growing our Catholic faith and Boston College.

In today’s powerful gospel, John the Baptist goes back to the beginning, and we are reminded of God’s plan for salvation for all of us: (John 1:1–18)

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God,

and the Word was God.” … “And the Word became Flesh.”  

God came to share His message. God came to dwell among us. God came to save us. God came to love us. God came to show us the truth and His light in darkness.

The world needs His message.

I was recently reminded how badly the world needs His message. I was standing in the produce section of the grocery store, of all places, reaching for a pepper shaker, when I overheard two school children talking. One said to the other, “My mom said you shouldn’t talk about God at school because it makes people feel uncomfortable.” I dropped my jaw, and the pepper too. I thought for a moment, is that what the world has come to? But we know the answer is “No.” Because today and every day we have the chance to live our promise to Our Savior that we will talk about Him anywhere and everywhere, and we will inspire others to do the same. We will share the good news, and our lives will reflect the loving God who “became flesh.” We owe that to ourselves. We owe that to each other. We owe that to our world. We owe that to God. That realization is the true gift of Christmas.

Today our Savior, the Christ Child, is with us, and we share the gift of God’s eternal life through Jesus Christ. We have everything we need to live Christmas. Let us go out into the world and share His message of love and mercy with others.

To you and yours, may His true light forever shine. Merry Christmas!