December 25, 2009 Christmas Is. 52:2-10; Heb. 1:1-6; Jn. 1:1-18 _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________   Readings:  http://www.usccb.org/nab/122509b.shtml   ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________   He came to live in our midst The Word, which is God, becomes flesh and comes to take up his dwelling in the midst of people like you and me. In the most profound way, we can say, "God has moved into our neighbourhood!"   Our God has truly entered the human condition. No longer can we say that our God could not understand what it's like to struggle against the cold, to have to flee to another country, to be betrayed by a friend, to grieve the loss of a loved one, to fear suffering and or death, to experience a seeming absence of Abba. No, our God has truly walked our walk; God's Word of Love has truly taken flesh.   God's gift to us may not be the right size or colour, but the present may not be returned, and we must each decide what to do with it. Christmas everyday, as we gift one another, not necessarily with another tie or sweater, perfume or computer game. No, in gratitude for the Incarnation, we now try to gift others with God's saving love tangibly expressed. I believe that we saw this in Mother Theresa of Calcutta, who said: "...we believe God loves the world through us. Just as he sent Jesus to be his love, his presence in the world, so today he is sending us." And her words were made flesh.   We may not be called to embody such love for the poor and dying in the streets of Calcutta, but perhaps we are called to embody God's love in our concern for the poor, the homeless, those without jobs or health insurance; in our visits to the elderly widower; in our visit to a grieving friend, bringing the gift of presence; in bringing some food to a sick mother with many starving children; or in extending forgiveness to one another...   Thus, Christmas every day, so that a year from now we can say: The words were made flesh; and the love of Emmanuel, God-with-us, was made tangible for God's people day after day in our little corner of the God's world. Oh, come, let us adore him.   <<   Previous: Fourth Sunday of Advent  |   Next: Holy Family >>   Go Back to SERMONS (Year C)