CHRISTMAS MASS OF
THE DAY 2018
YEAR OF THE YOUTH
DECEMBER 25, 2018
JESUS, I trust in you!
Christmas mornings for me are times of awe and wonder. My
fondest childhood memories are those of Christmas mornings. I woke up with
great expectation because I knew that I would find gifts beneath the tree and
gifts from Santa who paid a visit the night before. I continue to wake up on
Christmas morning with that same childlike wonder. I do hope that you would do
the same.
Oftentimes, we say that Christmas
is for children…and I believe it still to be so. It is because only by
remaining like a child can we truly appreciate the great mystery that happened
today. Of course, we may be overwhelmed by the “adult” concerns like the
expenses that we must put up with in order to celebrate Christmas. But such
should not deprive us of the joy that Christmas should give us. If I were
asked, “What do you associate Christmas mornings with?” I would immediately
answer: “The gifts.” And it is true: we associate Christmas mornings with
gifts. It is the time when families open their gifts to each other. But we must
not forget to open the best gift of Christmas…and that would be the gift of
God’s only begotten Son born to us this day.
“In the beginning was the Word.
And the Word was with God. And the Word was God…” This is the child we find in
the manger. He is the Son “whom God made heir of all things and through whom he
created the world.” This is the Son who is “the refulgence of his glory, the
very imprint of his being, and who sustains all things by his mighty word.” He
comes wrapped in swaddling clothes and lain on a manger. Do not be deceived by
the wrappings. The world underestimates him because he seems too small, too
powerless. What can a child do? How much can he give? “He was in the world…but
the world did not know him. He came to what was his own, but his own people did
not accept him.”
Do not underestimate him because
of his humble appearance. Accept this gift of the Father because “to those who
accept him, he gave the power to become children of God, to those who believe
in his name, who were born not by natural generation, nor by human choice, nor
by a man’s decision, but by God.” He transforms us and makes us like himself.
He makes us children of God. This is the gift which no one but Christ could
ever afford to give us: Divine Filiation. This is the richest gift because
through it, we become heirs of God, co-heirs with Christ, and heirs of heaven.
Nothing can be more precious. Nothing can be more valuable than this. “From his
fullness we have all received, a grace in place of grace…grace and truth comes
through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God. The only Son, God, who is at
the Father’s side, has revealed him.”
Today, we see that Son who is at
the Father’s side. Today he comes to us and dwells among us. He reveals to us
the Father whom we do not see. He gives to us the inheritance we do not have.
He made himself poor…and because of this, we are rich. What a gift on Christmas
morning! He is the gift that only God can give.
Merry Christmas!
O Mary conceived
without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee!
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