The Nativity of our Lord (Christmas Day)

Today's Mass Readings

Puer natus est nobis et filius datus est nobis. A child is born for us, and a son is given to us. These words of the Introit for the Mass of Christmas Day have announced this feast and mystery for centuries.

A child is born for us; a son is given to us. These two statements reveal the mystery of our salvation that is the heart of this feast of Christmas. This feast is the anniversary of the birth of a child into the world. And this child’s birth is for us.

Every day, many children are born into the world. The birth of this child, Jesus Christ, has special meaning. God was born as a human child in Bethlehem over 2000 years ago. Jesus Christ is the Son of Mary from his Incarnation but also the Son of God from all eternity. God entered our world as a human being. And that event, which we celebrate today, changed history and humanity.

God changed history by entering the universe he created as a part of that creation. God became a unique human being on a particular day in a certain place to a specific mother, Mary of Nazareth. That moment now marks the center point of all history.

Everything that occurred before that moment was preparation and anticipation; everything that has happened since derives meaning from that event. Time before that event could only repeat itself in cycles of endless expectation, disappointment, and hope. Since then, time has been the opportunity for forgiveness, redemption, and eternal life through the Son of God who entered time.

God also changed humanity by becoming human. The humanity we all share that God created as good was prevented from being united to God because of the sin of our first parents and our sins. But because God took on our humanity, now we can share in His divinity. Now, we can be united with God here on earth and for all eternity.

God entered our time and took on our humanity because of His love for us. He did it so that we might overcome the futility of a world without Christ and the sinfulness of humanity without Christ. Today, we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ and our birth. We are now born into life with God, which was impossible for us before Christ was born.

So what are we to do? First, treasure and use the time given to us to know God and follow his Son. Use that time to love God with all your heart, soul, and strength. Love your neighbor as yourself. Our lives are no longer doomed to futility but full of the grace to seek and find God through faith in His Son.

Secondly, treasure and use well the humanity God now shares with us. Be the temple of the Holy Spirit, the Body of Christ, the person God loves and fills with His grace. Your humanity is no longer an obstacle to union with God, but the very means Jesus has made to possess God’s grace, strength, and love. God saves you in your humanity, with all your strengths, weaknesses, beauty, and flaws.

God has given you the time and human potential to be eternally happy with him. Seize that time and your potential to let God save you.

“For God so loved the world that He gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but have eternal life.”

On behalf of all the monks, I wish you and your family a Blessed Christmas.

Reflection by Abbot Benedict Neenan, OSB