C H R I S T M A S

Archdiocese of Chicago 

In the manger with the Holy Family

Gospel Reading for Dec. 24

When the angels went away from them to heaven, the shepherds said to one another,
“Let us go, then, to Bethlehem to see this thing that has taken place,
which the Lord has made known to us.”
So they went in haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the infant lying in the manger.
When they saw this, they made known the message that had been told them about this child.
All who heard it were amazed by what had been told them by the shepherds.
And Mary kept all these things, reflecting on them in her heart.
Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God
for all they had heard and seen, just as it had been told to them.

Christmas Season Reflection:
What to say about Christmas? What can I possibly add that hasn’t already been said two hundred times over?


What can we say about God coming to us as . . .



A Baby?

—Adorable, vulnerable, precious, dependent, helpless, needy. —These are not our usual descriptions of God. —But then, perhaps, that is exactly the point, —God defies our decriptions, categorizations, and expectations. —We would do well to remember that God’s ways are not our ways.

A Person?

—One of us. —Emmanuel, means God is with us, —but Jesus being human further shapes this understanding, —God is with us as one of us. —God is tangible and familiar, able to know and be known by us. —Instead of some aloof faraway foreign concept, —God is immediatly, proximatly, intimatly in relationship with each of us.

A Gift?

—One that we can receive or reject, —but not choose, select, edit, or purchase. —In our culture of buying and selling, —of list making and gift reciepts, —we seem to have lost something. —The art of giving and receiving should be more —about the thought and the relationship —than it is about the loot.

A Child?

—Perhaps the greatest gift of all, a child is truly ours, —in many ways undeniably so, —but ultimately a person all their own, —over whom we hope to have influence —but can never really own or control. —We can love God and allow that love to shape our lives, —Our priorities, our decisions, and how we use our resources. —Yet the ultimate expression of that love is —the realization that we are not in control.

Questions for your prayerful reflection and response:
What did this past week’s Christmas season mean to you?



Tell us your favorite story about giving and receiving.