Today I invite you to gaze into the crib and see the newly born baby, Jesus. At the darkest time of the night and the year, Jesus is born into poverty, because there was no room at the inn. Mary and Jospeh have travelled the Bethlehem in the land of Judah, the city of David, for the census. In doing so they fulfil the prophesy that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem. As we look into the crib, in the words of the Letter to the Hebrews we have heard, ‘Jesus is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature.’ From the Christ Child the radiance of God shines out. This glory is seen in the star which shines over the stable and is a sign of hope for the world for stars light up the night sky and always invoke wonder.

This morning we kneel in wonder before the crib scene and thank God for the gift of Jesus Christ. He is the greatest gift we could receive. Across the world, from the rising of the sun to its setting, families, children and others kneel and say a prayer to Jesus. Those who are distant from the Church often make a special visit. The hope of Christ stirs in their hearts, stirs in your hearts. Thank you for coming this morning. The child Jesus invites you here to worship and adore him. He is the light in the darkness, the hope of all peoples, who forgives sin and heals lives.

Earlier this week, Cardinal Pizzaballa visited the small Catholic community in Gaza City. It is called the Holy Family because Mary, Joseph and the baby Jesus stopped there on their way to Egypt to escape the murderous intent of King Herod. It was a place of refuge then and again now. The compound has been a place of refuge during the war, though two parishioners were killed by sniper fire. It has been a place for refuge for the priests, people, the Missionaries of Charity Sisters who care for those with learning disabilities, and seems to have survived the destruction of so many buildings around it. It was very moving and brought tears to my eyes to see children dressed up as shepherds, kings, Mary, and Joseph to celebrate the Christmas story with the Cardinal who came to be among them at this moment of joy. The people lifted up their voices and sang of the Good News given to them. In the wasteland created by conflict and war, people broke into song because a child is born for them who gives them hope and renews love. The Cardinal said that he could see signs of hope around him in children, families, the baptism of a newly born baby, and that only love could rebuild the community.

Christmas is about building love again and renewing our love for one another. God became man and took on human flesh. As St John tells us, ‘The Word became flesh and dwelt among us.’ Literally this means he pitched his tent among us and shared in our lot. He showed us how to be human by the commandment of love and washing one another’s feet. He renews our understanding of being human and the dignity we each have. Pope Leo the Great writes in a Christmas homily, ‘O Christian, be aware of your nobility – it is God’s own nature that you share: do not then, by an ignoble life, fall back into your former baseness. Think of the Head (Christ), think of the Body of which you are a member. Recall that you have been rescued from the power of darkness, and have been transferred to the light of God, the kingdom of God.’ This dignity of every person invites us to renew our efforts to build a culture of life from its very beginning to its natural end. A culture of life recognises the dignity of every woman and man, not as a stranger but as a neighbour. This is our new life given by Christ because of the Christ-Child born for us in Bethlehem over 2000 years ago. His birth points us to his death and resurrection and our new life with God in heaven, by baptism, and now sacramentally and eternally beyond the grave. We renew our desire to build love between people, overcome conflict and build peace instead of war. May the song of the angels inspire us and lead us forward.

I wish you all a very happy Christmas.

+John

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