Receiving Christ as the Greatest Gift
At Christmas, Father Joseph invited our parish to pause—not simply to hear the familiar Gospel, but to enter its meaning more deeply and personally.
Proclaiming the opening of St. John’s Gospel, he reminded us that Christ is the Word made flesh, the true light who enters the darkness of our world—a light the darkness has not overcome. From the very beginning, God chose not to remain distant. He chose to come near.
Why Did God Become Human?
Father Joseph acknowledged the traditional answers we know well: God became human to save us, to redeem us, and to bring us back to Himself. All of this is true. But on Christmas, he invited us to look at the mystery in a more personal way.
When we receive truly good news, our first instinct is to share it. God did the same on Christmas Day. He did not merely send blessings or gifts—He gave Himself. The most complete way God could share Himself with us was to become one of us.
This, Father Joseph explained, is the heart of our Christian faith:
God became human so that we might share in His divine life.
He beautifully connected this truth to the prayer prayed quietly at every Mass:
“By the mystery of this water and wine, may we come to share in the divinity of Christ, who humbled Himself to share in our humanity.”
God became small so that we might grow. He became vulnerable so that we might become strong in Him.
Seeing One Another as Gifts
Turning to the realities of our world, Father Joseph spoke plainly. We live amid violence, division, and conflict—in families, communities, nations, and even within the Church. He named two root causes:
- God is no longer present in many hearts.
- We have stopped seeing one another as gifts.
When we fail to see others as gifts, we begin to see them as obstacles, burdens, or enemies. That is where division takes root.
With both sincerity and gentle humor, Father Joseph asked us to examine ourselves:
- Children—do you see your parents as gifts or as conveniences?
- Parents—do you see your children as gifts or as burdens?
- Parishioners—do you see your priest as a gift?
- Do we see the poor, the sick, and the vulnerable as gifts—or as problems?
Christmas proclaims a different truth: God sees each of us as a gift. And if God sees us that way, we must learn to see one another the same way.
Jesus: The Greatest Gift
Drawing from an encounter with our Faith Formation students, Father Joseph shared a simple yet profound moment. When asked about the greatest Christmas gift, one young child answered without hesitation: “The Baby Jesus.” Wise beyond his years, he captured the heart of the feast.
Jesus is not simply a gift among many—He is the gift. When we accept Him, something extraordinary happens. We begin to take on His likeness. We begin to share in His divine life. This is the purpose for which we were created, and it is offered to everyone—without exception.
An Empty-Handed Shepherd
Father Joseph concluded with a powerful story. On the night of Christ’s birth, shepherds came bearing gifts. One shepherd, however, had nothing. Ashamed, he stood apart. But Mary noticed. She placed the Child Jesus into his empty hands. That shepherd, with nothing to give, became the throne of the Savior.
The message was unmistakable: empty hands are not a barrier to God—only closed hearts are.
As Father Joseph revealed the “gift” promised at the beginning of the homily—an empty box containing a letter—he shared God the Father’s message to His children:
“If your hands feel empty today… this day is for you. Accept my Son as your gift, and I will make you shine like stars. You are my greatest gifts, and I delight in you.”
A Christmas Invitation
This Christmas, Father Joseph reminded us that faith begins not with what we give, but with what we receive. Christ comes to us as a gift—meant to be welcomed, cherished, and shared.
May we receive Him with open hearts, see one another as gifts, and allow His light to shine through us—today and always.
Merry Christmas.
