Fourth Sunday of Advent, December 22, 2024
We celebrate Christmas this week. Jesus was born among the poor in a cave near Bethlehem where animals were kept. The first witnesses to the holy birth were shepherds. While the Jewish and Roman leaders slept in their homes, the shepherds, who lived outdoors to watch their sheep, heard and saw angels. God chose these lowly ones to hear the good news first. That is the way of God.
In 2024, Bethlehem is not at peace. Over the past year, there has been a lot of death and violence in the Holy Land. It seems these days an “unholy” land. We humans do not deserve God’s mercy. Despite God’s teaching that He loves all his children, no exceptions, we humans hate and sometimes kill people. Even within families, there is hatred and exclusion.
Jesus came to save us from our sins and we need to be saved from sin. Jesus taught us what God wants from us: to love God and love our neighbor. This Christmas, do something to welcome Jesus. First show your love for God by attending Mass and taking time for prayer. Love your neighbor by making a donation to the Catholic Charities Appeal or Saint John’s Hospice; visit a lonely person; make peace with someone who is at odds with you. You can show love of God and neighbor by making a donation to Saint John’s Church so that we can continue our mission of telling people the Good News of God’s love.
Have a holy and spiritual Christmas. Sure, buy gifts for your loved ones, but reach out to others beyond your family and friends as well. You and I can’t end the war in the Holy Land, but we can do something good for someone in honor of the birth of Jesus.
