CHRISTMAS
TODAY IS BORN OUR SAVIOR
By our Pastor, Fr. Carmelo Jiménez
We have reached a very beautiful moment within the liturgical year. We could not say the most important, because where would Easter be? But we can’t understand Easter without Christmas. That is, without Christmas there would have been no Easter. In these past three weeks, Saint John the Baptist invited us to change our hearts and be prepared. The readings of the prophets have questioned our way of living, and they have given us hope with the announcement of the Eternal King’s arrival. Well, this is the time, tonight it’s a night of peace, hope and joy.
“The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; upon those who dwelt in the land of gloom a light has shone.” (Is 9: 2) What is night? Night is a symbol: of darkness, of shadows, of threats, of the unknown, of invisible forces, of evil. The night includes in itself all the fears, all the fears of man. Now is that night, a time of salvation because in the midst of darkness there is a great light: Jesus. If the night is proclaimed a time of salvation, the night becomes a time of hope: the night is not the end of anything, it only gives way to the light of day. This is our Salvation.
“Do not be afraid; for behold, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For today in the city of David a savior has been born for you who is Christ and Lord.” (Lk 2: 10-11) We could say that with the birth of Jesus, it is God himself touching the world. What a sublime experience and the most beautiful, because Jesus is the same light that allows us to see and discover the greatness of Creation, of which human beings are the pinnacle, but also He is creator and He recreates. Pope Francis reflected before the cardinals and the Roman Curia: “Christmas is the feast of faith in the Son of God who became man in order to restore us to our filial dignity, lost through sin and disobedience.” (Pope Francis, Apostolic Palace 12-21-2017)
“And this will be a sign for you: you will find an infant wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger.” (Lk 2: 12) The mystery of the Humanity of God is the mystery of man, mystery revealed in the night turned into light, at Christmas. Mystery proclaimed in the midst of night, a mystery that becomes a song of praise “Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.” (Lk 2: 14) Mary keeps all those things in her heart, the words of the angel, the words of the shepherds, the events that occurred and tries to pull them together to understand: who is this son that God has given her, what will be His mission and what part does He have in all this? Mary is a contemplative woman who had her eyes and ears open because she wouldn’t want to miss anything. After listening, she kept and meditated on it all in the silence of her heart.
“The grace of God has appeared, saving all.” (Tt 2: 11) Christmas is a time of joy, because the darkness has been dissipated and the light and grace of God fills our lives. May we live this time with great joy, love and hope. Helping and sharing with our most needy brothers and sisters. Grateful to God for such a great gift that he has given us: his Son.