Ah, one of the great feasts of the Church.
The one thing that always stands out for me about this feast is the idea that God became Flesh here on Earth. Think about that: God, who created the Heavens and the Earth and rules over them--came to Earth, into Creation, and became a human. That's pretty mind-boggling. And that's what makes this such a great celebration. In a world so in tune with darkness, evil, and fear, God entered in, bringing light, joy, and peace, through the birth of a child. That's why the angels praised God, and so many soon joined them, including the shepherds.
When I went to Mass on Christmas Eve at St. Cornelius Parish with my family, the presider, Father Dan, invited the children to gather around him up at the altar. Then he asked them questions about angels, asking them what angels can do that humans can't. The responses included flying, and seeing God Himself. Then Father Dan changed the question around a bit, asking what angels can't do that humans can. His very insightful response was that humans can make God present on Earth. Even the angels, who are in God's very presence in Heaven, can't make Him present.
That insight speaks to what this occasion of the Nativity is all about: God came from outside His Creation and made Himself present in it, taking on human flesh. And God remains in His Creation, inside each person who professes faith in Him, through the Holy Spirit. With God inside of us, we now make Him present here on Earth to others, even those who don't yet acknowledge His presence.
God present within us, as we make Him present in the world, just as was foretold in the prophecies: Immanuel, God with us, right here in our world.
Come, let us adore Him!
And may God rest you merry!
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