The first Christmas gift was a newborn baby. Our heavenly Father
is full of surprises! You might have expected, as the Jewish people did, that
God would come to earth as a king and a conqueror. Who could have expected the
Messiah would arrive as a poor and helpless little child?
Destined to save the world, our Savior was born to a poor
family. By entrusting Himself to the care of Mary and Joseph, the Lord lifted
up the family and made it holy. He showed us that each child has infinite value,
even those born in hardship and poverty. It’s a beautiful truth that is often
forgotten in our times, when children may be viewed as a burden. But most
parents will attest that the arrival of a newborn child changes everything.
Life might not get easier, but it gets richer. Our children inspire us to new
heights of selflessness. We would give our lives to protect them – and our
hearts are no longer our own.
God knows our fears and our desires. Lean on Him and depend
on His providence. If you are afraid to begin a family, concerned about
finances or your ability as a parent, trust Jesus to provide all you truly need.
Trust in Him, and believe. He is with us always.
St. John Paul II, Christmas Homily 2003
“O Child, who willed to have for your crib a manger; O Creator of the
universe, who stripped yourself of divine glory; O Redeemer, who offered your
vulnerable body in sacrifice for the salvation of humanity!
May the radiance of your birth light up the night of the world. May the
power of your message of love thwart the proud snares of the evil one. May the
gift of your life make us understand ever more clearly the worth of the life of
each human being…
O Holy Night, so long awaited, which has united God and man forever!
You rekindle our hope. You fill us with ecstatic wonder. You assure us of the
triumph of love over hatred, of life over death. For this reason we remain
absorbed in prayer.
In the luminous silence of your Nativity, you, Emmanuel, continue to
speak to us. And we are ready to listen to you.
Amen!”
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