Merry Christmas 2023

 

  

 

Merry Christmas!

I know that this world can be one filled with darkness and pain.  But today we celebrate the fact that our Lord entered into this world with His healing light.

There was a great struggle for the Holy Family to make it down to Bethlehem from Nazareth.  And even after the great Birth, they had to flee for their lives from the wicked king.  Jesus was born into tumult and violence.  But he arrived this way to show us that even in the midst of all of that, God is victorious.  Love conquers all.

 So, as Linus reminded us, these are the words that bring us hope this day:

Now there were shepherds in that region living in the fields and keeping the night watch over their flock. 

  
The angel of the Lord appeared to them and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were struck with great fear.

The angel said to them, “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 Messiah and Lord.

And this will be a sign for you: you will find an infant wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger.”

And suddenly there was a multitude of the heavenly host with the angel, praising God and saying:


“Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”