Dear Parishioners,
 
The most important phrase in the Gospel concerns the name given to the Son of Mary and Joseph, “Emmanuel, God is with us”. 
 
The incarnation is complete and the love of Almighty God is revealed in and through Jesus the Christ.  One has to wonder at how many Christians around the world, who will celebrate Christmas this year, actually understand this fundamental part of God’s plan and how many are willing to live it out each day.  All the historical celebrations of events that have gone by always point to the present and to the future and those who occupy that space and time.
 
As I mentioned in my homily remarks some weeks ago, for us every day is Christmas and Easter, as well as every feast we celebrate, because our faith is a lived experience of the past revelation of God’s love for us.  We are called upon not only to remember, but to vigorously re-imagine ourselves as true children of God.  Faith must be alive, tangible and an everyday experience of living out God’s love for us in the way we love and honor each other.

Christmas gifts are purchased—given—received—and eventually, disappear.  Our relationship with Almighty God, exemplified in the glory of the incarnation, is from everlasting to everlasting… a gift to be lived and celebrated each day.