My friends, those of you who have been part of All Are One for several years are aware that each year I tell you not once, but several times during the year that “Ordinary Time” in our Church Year, is anything but ordinary in the common understanding of that word. In fact, one year, in trying to make that point, I addressed this time which really takes up more than one-half of our Year of Grace, as “Extra-Ordinary Time” to make clear to us that the challenge is always there, “to be our best selves,” as modeled by our brother, Jesus of Nazareth. 

   In a very general way then, looking at today’s Scriptures from the prophets, Isaiah, Paul and John, we learn from Isaiah that we are to be “lights” [in our dark world], [and minister as] “servants.”  Paul tells us that we are “called to be a holy people,” and John assures us that the “Spirit will show us the way, help us to believe and trust” [in what is right]. You may wonder at me naming John and Paul, “prophets,” but I consider anyone who is willing to speak wise words of truth and challenge, a prophet.

   The other very important idea that John the Evangelist addresses, if we look deeper, in today’s gospel, is that we would strive to see Jesus in places where we might not think he would be.  Now, initially, for John the Baptist, who is recognizing Jesus for the 1^st time, it would seem, we see that he needs “the Spirit” to point him out.  That should give us some encouragement as we attempt in our own lives to recognize “Jesus” in our world, because, my friends, that is our true mission as Jesus’ followers, “to see him in others” in our world.

   Our good Pope Leo XIV has just completed an Apostolic Exhortation, begun by his predecessor, Pope Francis, entitled , Dilexi Te – On Love for the Poor.  Before I get into the fine points of this written message, perhaps an explanation of terms is in order, as I wondered myself, what is the difference between “an Apostolic Exhortation and an Encyclical, which we may be more familiar with.  Beginning with the more familiar, an encyclical is usually more important as it deals with a specific doctrine wherein that doctrine is clarified or explained in greater detail. An apostolic exhortation is a piece that is written to encourage an action on a set of recommendations. 

   Interestingly enough, I have just begun a series of classes with Sister Dawn Nothwehr, a Rochester, Minnesota Franciscan looking at Catholic social teaching from Pope Leo XIII to our present Pope Leo XIV. 

   If you recall Catholic social teaching, you will remember Leo XIII having written the encyclical, Rerum Novarum in 1891.  It is more simply known to the laity as a document for the working class, primarily, discussing the relationships and mutual duties between labor and capital, government and its citizens.  Pope Leo XIII is considered a social justice pope and Pope Leo XIV signaled the kind of papacy he would attempt to have in choosing his predecessor’s name. 

   Sister Dawn began her class this past week by giving us an overview of the chapters and basic ideas of this Apostolic Exhortation.  In a general way, she shared that the Pope is calling us to look at “poverty” in our world as a “call to conversion,” understanding that people can be “poor” in many ways, experiencing not just “physical deprivation” – not enough food and shelter, but spiritual emptiness and physical loneliness. 

   Looking deeperinto these general ideas, she lets us know of the pope’s reminder to each of us that our God, in Jesus chooses to minister to the poor because God, “hears the cry of the poor.”  You may be familiar with the term, “preferential option “ for the poor, or in simpler terms, God, in Jesus has chosen, above all, to serve the poor.  Jesus has chosen the ultimate act of humility in becoming one of us in a very poor way as we just recently reflected on throughout the Christmas season.

   Pope Leo XIV reminds us, Sister Dawn shared, that, “Love of God equals love for the poor.”  I would add, in the larger context of the chosen readings for today, that if we can’t see our brother Jesus in the humans we see and meet in our day-to-day lives, then we can’t say we love God, whom we can’t see!  Jesus always directs us back to our every day lives to find him. 

   Pope Leo XIV ups the game, as it were, in saying that “the poor are the true evangelizers” – unique individuals with unique stories – they aren’t “problems to fix,” but by “listening” to their stories, we can indeed, if we are willing, learn from them – perhaps about, “simplicity in living.”  Pope Leo reminds us that as we attempt to serve others, to make a difference, it is about “solidarity,” not superiority.”  “Standing with” others, realizing on a whole deeper level, that life’s turns could place us in physical poverty too.

   Earlier I stated my belief that Ordinary Time in our Church Year continually challenges us to be our best, and Pope Leo, in his apostolic exhortation states that, [it is],  “a constant challenge,” [if we label ourselves as Christian] and he underlines the special task for those of us who are “white,” to understand our special “privilege” in this world.  He adds that there is the “need for continuous formation, asking ourselves, “how comfortable am I?”

   Leo goes on to say that “faith requires active expression, witnessing through our lived experiences.”  And again, he stresses that this task isn’t, one time and then we are done, but that our, “trying to bring change” is a “continuous” stance – a stance really that is about being “prophetic,” perhaps saying what no one else will say.  In many ways we are all called to be prophets – speaking the truth as we come to know it. 

   Leo speaks further about “confronting  structural sin” and here he addresses wealth versus poverty in our world, commenting that the very rich in our world make 281 times the pay that regular workers do.

   And in the footsteps of his predecessor, Leo XIII, Leo XIV raises the justice issues of decent wages for work done, time off, and so on …  this is about “building inclusive communities” where the needs of each and all are addressed. 

   Now, all of this is juxtaposed with the stance, far from prophetic, in my mind, of our bishop here in the Winona/Rochester diocese, Robert Barron.  I picked up the most recent copy of our diocesan paper, The Courier this past week and read parts of a very long piece by the bishop delineating what he gleaned from the recent Synod on Synodality in Rome.  As you will recall, the Synod on Synodality was a two-year process begun and completed by Pope Francis wherein the whole Church, clergy and laity, was encouraged to listen and dialog on not just one issue, but all issues concerning our Church in order that we could become a more communal, participatory, and mission-oriented Church. 

   The bishops were then sent home to do their own Synod on Synodality within their dioceses. Now, keeping in mind what it means to be a Synodal Church, one that is communal and participatory, our bishop made this statement in part: “I didn’t want this to be an open-ended affair during which we would debate a variety of matters of controversy within the Church. [He felt such an exercise would be]“fruitless.” He thus decided on two issues [underscore he],  “as Shepherd of the Diocese” which [he] “felt were of paramount importance to the flourishing of our local Church. “Evangelization” [and these are his words] “getting more people in the pews” and “vocations – getting more priests [male, of course], at the altar.”  Now, I don’t know about you, but this makes me absolutely crazy, given all I have shared of what the Leos encouraged and are encouraging about basically tying the Scriptures to our daily lives. And that being the case, I will leave the above with you to discern on your own. 

   Coming back then to our readings for today wherein the prophets of old instructed us “to be lights” in a dark world, to be servants – a holy people, who don’t turn to the lowest common denominator, “people in the pews” and male priests at the altar,” but to inclusivity where God’s beautiful and varied people are concerned, listening to and taking advantage of all the wonderful gifts within the People of God. If our bishop is truly concerned about “people in the pews,” he might want to take a look at “his message,” because I would suggest that is more the problem with the dwindling numbers. 

   Finally, then my friends, a hope-filled message to end with. Often times we are challenged as followers of our brother Jesus to love those who are hard to love, and God knows, there are many in our present-day world. 

   Martin Luther King, Jr. struggled with this issue too in his life, and his ultimate message, come to, no doubt through prayer, for himself and “his flock,” went deeper than “an emotional type” of love.  More profoundly, he encouraged those who wanted to love as our God does, to “love what could be – should be, in all of us, and a commitment to the society we must build together.” 

   The psalmist today gives us a command, perhaps a prayer for these very trying times.  “Here I am, I come to do your will.”  Now, we may not know what that “will” is, but we must trust that the Spirit will make that clear, just as she did for John.

Amen? Amen!  

My friends, I don’t know about you, but I have always looked forward to new beginnings – a new year, a new job, a new class – whatever it might be because with each new event, there is the opportunity to “do better,” what I may have attempted before, or simply to try something new that I have never done. All these new beginnings bring hope – a virtue that we must hold onto in these very trying times!

   Today, we see our brother Jesus beginning a new phase of his life – his public ministry, and he begins by doing, in his mind, “what is right” – baptism by John.  Putting ourselves into the heart and mind of Jesus, he probably had a sense as he came to know himself, and his abilities, that on the one hand, he had “a light” to share with others, and at the same time, a realization that the strength, we might say, grace, that would come to him through his baptism by John, was something that would help him immensely in his life of service, for and with others. 

   I think my friends, it is important for each of us to remember and never forget that our brother Jesus, as one of us, was completely human, thus he needed to deal with all the human emotions, pains and joys that each of us does.  If Jesus will ever be someone that we can follow, this piece – his completely human self must not be set aside, in deference to his spiritual-divine self.  There had to be a balance between the two natures, wherein Jesus, like us, had to continually say “yes” to the good, or better, and “no” to all that was not good, not about love. 

   Prior to Jesus’ baptism account in today’s gospel, we heard of how he was tempted in the wilderness – the struggle we all face between power and control in our lives, and the good we are capable of when choosing “the right,” or likewise, the evil we are capable of, for ourselves, and others, if we do not choose wisely. 

   If we choose wisely as Jesus did consistently throughout his earthly life – his “light,”  his actions in our world, ours will probably resemble his as spoken of today by the prophet Isaiah:

• You will bring justice to the nations…
• You will not break a bruised reed or quench a wavering flame…
• You will be a light…to open the eyes of the blind – last week you will recall that we talked about “a-ha moments,” and one of you said, “that in order to have such a moment, we must listen to others.” 
• The prophet continues – you will free captives from prison…here it is good to remember that people live in captivity, not only physically, but emotionally and spiritually too.  Our ability to reach out to others in love, to listen, to try and understand another’s pain can do so much toward “freeing” others in whatever ways they may be held captive.

   And our God who sees it all will let us know that we have “ chosen wisely” by the peace we experience in our hearts. 

   So, how do we really know that our choices may not have been the best, for ourselves and for others? The lack of peace and goodwill that tends to swirl about those who choose selfishly, with no regard for others, would seem to be an indication.  And, at the end of the day, whether we choose rightly, or wrongly, we may not always be sure, but for the most part, peace should be present when our choices have been about justice, compassion, care, and love. 

   When we keep our eyes on Jesus, and his actions, I think we are more apt to see our God  as Jesus did – with awe and reverence, instead of fear.  “Fear of God” as addressed in the 2^nd reading from Acts today, I would suggest is better understood through the original Hebrew word, “yirah,” which means, wonder, honor, and a much more positive view of God than the word, “fear” gives us. Jesus, our brother gave us this more positive view of his Abba God, through his entire earthly life with us. 

   So my friends, with today’s gospel,  we get a positive view that our brother Jesus is here, as an adult, come to fruition through an earlier life of love and support given by his human parents, Mary and Joseph, as we spoke of during Advent.  Again, he probably learned of what God truly wanted from him, a bit at a time, just as we come to understand the “piece” that is ours to do, as Saint Francis of Assisi always encouraged his followers – we can only do what is ours to do.  And if we don’t do our part, shine our own particular “light,” that “piece of God,” as Sister Joan Chittister is fond of saying, will not be shown to our world!  Now, there is a responsibility…

   And if we are looking for concrete examples in both Church and State of choosing unwisely, today’s world has enough to go around.  Beginning with our own Church, so many times over the years of my life, and the lives of others, when imploring the hierarchical men “to change,” some outdated law that no longer serves, we hear, “the Church moves slowly.”  I, for one, would encourage them to get “a move on!” Such a statement given as an excuse for why they haven’t made the changes that the “sensus fidelium” – the voice of the people who have for so long been asking is an insult to the memory of Jesus of Nazareth.  The Spirit of the Living God is forever renewing the face of the earth, and she speaks to the laity as well as to the clergy. 

   Our Church needs women deacons and priests, it needs women in leadership now, it needs a compassionate and loving response to the wonders and awe in all created human life –LGBTQ’s and more, animals and plants upon our beautiful earth, and voices that aren’t afraid to speak truth to power, now!

  The state of our country is obvious to all who have eyes to see and ears to hear, and now is the time to engage our hearts as well.  Our baptisms call us to all this and more, and if we don’t know where to start, the practice of doing each thing that we do each day, inordinately well, the “light we shine” for others will be reflected and passed on.

Amen? Amen! 

My friends, with today’s feast, we officially end the 12 Days of Christmas, just short, by two days.  That is done so as to celebrate the feast today, replacing the regular Sunday feast – all neat and tidy.  Actually, it is good that the Church hierarchy put the official celebration of the Epiphany today, because if they hadn’t, I would have chosen to do so myself. 

   The word, “epiphany” comes from the Greek, meaning “manifestation.”  In present-day parlance we might say, this feast is about an “a-ha” moment. 

   Jumping right to the gospel selection from Matthew today, we hear the familiar story of  “The Three Kings” –who more than likely, were men of faith, aware of the Scriptures and perhaps too, the prophecies concerning the coming of a “Messiah.” Additionally, they may have been astrologers who studied the heavens and had an understanding that a “manifestation” in the heavens – “a star,” had a counterpart on earth – “the birth of a child.” 

   The other two scriptural selections for today have accompanying language that fits well with the appearance of a strange star.  The prophet Isaiah tells his people and people through the ages to, “arise and shine, that your light has come.”

   Scripture scholar, Diane Bergant wisely says, don’t miss the second part of Isaiah’s command to “arise,” but also to “shine.” In other words, we can’t be passive observers of this “light” come among us.  We must watch our Messiah closely, following in his footsteps – doing as he did. 

   Paul, in his letter to the Ephesians today fleshes this message out, proclaiming that, “the Gentiles are heirs” [too], that Jesus comes and is, for all.  A reminder once again that Paul’s relationship with the man, Jesus of Nazareth, was first, and only as “the Christ,” thus, he could confidently minister to “the Gentiles,” understanding that Jesus as, “the Christ” was a God big enough for everyone!  And for this reason, when addressing Jesus in this fuller capacity, I don’t say, “Jesus Christ” as if “Christ” is Jesus’ last name, but as “Jesus, the Christ,”  a God as Franciscans, Father Richard Rohr and Sister Ilia Delio jointly say, is a God, in a cosmic sense who is big enough for all people, beyond religion. 

   And in our present-day world that has become, at the top levels of the administration in Washington, so divisive, racist, and small, it is good to remember Paul’s full message that, “the Gentiles are heirs, as are we.”  In other words, as we say here at All Are One, “All are welcome!”

   So, my friends, as we consider this next week leaving the simple, beautiful, and peace-filled crib scene, let us consider for a few minutes the “a-ha” moments of manifestation that come to each and all of us in our lives as Christians, followers of our brother Jesus, and think about how we will respond going forward. 

   In this regard, let’s take one last look at the crib scene to consider an idea – that what we think we are looking for, may not be what our loving God wishes us to find.  Considering the Three Kings who went, “looking for a new king,” and in a stable in Bethlehem,” “an unlikely place,” or so they thought, found that they had to reconsider,” what “kingliness” was really all about – not the “who” (lineage of someone), but the “how” someone acted in the world. 

   The present administration in Washington looks at people in a very surface way, seeing only bad and evil in anyone of color, and for that reason, will probably not have many, if any, “a-ha” moments as they consider who might make good citizens of our once, “great country.” 

   Having an “a-ha” moment is really about, the moment, “when we finally get it!”  It is that moment when we realize that “good” in anyone of us “runs” deep – it’s about “what gets us up each day” – we call that our spiritual selves.  It is about our morals, basically, how we care for others, as well as ourselves – balance, that is.  The psalmist in number 72 today, calls it, “justice” and proclaims that everyone deserves justice in their lives. 

   One doesn’t have to look far to see that lack of justice for so many in our world today.  And it is good to remember that is why our brother Jesus came, to show us the ways to be more just in our world.  Diane Bergant called this action, “shining” our light. 

   Jesus,  the One we believe to be the Messiah was rejected in his time as he is in our time, especially by many in power, simply because they are too much into their own power and wanted/want to hold onto it.  We see this stance in Matthew’s gospel today – Herod is “greatly disturbed” Scripture says by the mention of “a new king” having been born – Herod would not come to adore, but to eliminate a rival king. 

   Unfortunately, our bishop Barron seems to not be looking for any “a-ha” moments in his tenure as bishop in the Winona/Rochester diocese as he sees himself as the holder of all the truth about how God deals with us lowly creatures, and will listen to nothing but that “power-over” script. 

   There was a bishop, for-the-people, Joseph Cardinal Bernardin of Chicago, who served from 1982 until his death in 1996 from pancreatic cancer, who apparently had an “a-ha” moment along the way.  When he was installed, his first message to his people was, “I am Joseph, your brother!”  — a statement that says that he will be a leader, like Jesus, who will use power, as a tool, not “over people,” but “with people.”  He was known throughout his time leading the people of Chicago, to speak about, “the seamless garment,” – he saw life issues stemming from life at birth, all along the continuum until death. 

   I believe, in our present-day Church, Pope Leo XIV, like his predecessor, Pope Francis, for all the good both did, and are doing, still needs an “a-ha” moment where women in our Church are concerned.  To make a statement saying that women are basically not called to be ordained either as deacons or priests is simply short-sighted, sexist, and demeaning to women.  Our God created women equal to men, and to not see that is tragically about controlling his power and that of the men in our Church, and nothing else.  Pope Paul VI, back in 1976, made a statement after a commission that he established to look at this issue, that “there was nothing in Scripture that prohibits the ordination of women,” and I would add, except the will to do so!  Women have so many gifts to give our Church…

   It is sad, when Leo, like Francis speaks about so much good to pursue in our world – equality for and with our colored sisters and brothers, those of different races and belief systems, love and gentle care for our planet, but when it comes to women, there is a “blockage in thought.”  Let us pray for an “a-ha” moment in 2026 for Pope Leo. 

   The prophet Isaiah gives us words for our journey this new year, “though the night still covers the earth and darkness, the peoples…[we must] “arise and shine!” There are those in our Church, who would have us go back to pre-Vatican II times, our own Bishop Barron among them,  to a time when much of Church life was pretty, “black and white”—do 1-2-3 and heaven would be assured.  Sister Joan Chittister, a prophet in our times, is known for proclaiming— “we need to go back further” [past the rules and regulations] “to the memory of Jesus of Nazareth.”  Now that would be a collective, “aha” moment!  Amen? Amen!

My friends, this week finds us on the last Sunday of 2025!  As one year ends and we all look forward to a new year of possibilities, it is good to review what the last year has been – both the joys and the sorrows too.  This type of review is a good thing as it helps us to be honest with ourselves about what has been good and what perhaps we could change to be better at who we are meant to be. 

   As I wrote this, I was reminded of a very good friend and mentor over the years of my priesthood, Sister Marie Regine Redig, whose friends and family fondly called her, Gina.  Until it was announced that I would be ordained in 2008, we never knew of this School Sister of Notre Dame, as Gina belonged to an extended line of the Redig family we weren’t acquainted with.

   Gina died a couple of years ago; some of you perhaps met her on Zoom masses during the 1^st outbreak of Covid in 2020.  She came into our lives almost 20 years ago, and travelled from Milwaukee to attend my ordination, celebrating with us what she herself was unable to do 70 years earlier when she chose religious life over her true calling to priesthood, a fact she only shared with us shortly before her death.  All we knew in the early years of our relationship with her was that she truly believed that women were called to ordination, and was happy to celebrate that fact with us. 

   So, over the years she read my homilies each week and was my best critique-r, let’s say, mentor and friend.  I specifically remember one time when she called me to task for, in her words, “Kathy, you shared 9 paragraphs before even mentioning the Scriptures!”  Clearly, she thought it should be the other way around.  I keep that in mind as I and the Spirit prepare weekly homilies, even though I have always felt that the homilies must be tied to the weekly readings from Scripture. 

   So, in deference to Gina, and after only 4 paragraphs, let’s look at today’s Scripture readings:  Beginning with Sirach, then Paul and Luke, each one has something to tell  us about “families.”  We always call that original family of Mary and Joseph and Jesus the “Holy Family,”  but the chosen readings for this Sunday really suggest that all families are “holy,” or have the potential to be. 

   Sirach begins in a rather general way stating that we all should, “revere and honor [our] parents.”  That is one of those “easy-peasy” sounding statements that in real-life isn’t as easy to do for some as for others.  Obviously, if one comes from a good and loving family, this command is easier to fulfill than for those who grew up in less loving homes. 

   Paul, in his letter to the Colossians instructs the people to “put on love” because that makes, “all else perfect” and binds the rest together” – all the other good virtues that he mentions, “kindness, gentleness, humility and patience.” And as followers of Jesus, Paul recommends that we “do all in the name of Jesus.”  This reminds me of a poster y held by a demonstrator last Monday on Main Street, Winona, “Who would Jesus Deport?”

   Another recommendation from Paul in today’s 2^nd reading which is an update in the Priests for Equality translation of Scripture that we use here speaks of those in committed relationships, “submitting to each other – a good update most women feel, as we remember the old version which called only for “women submitting to their husbands.” This, by the way, left out all the homosexual couples with regard to their relationships.  The old translation also said that “men,” on the other hand, were “to love their wives.”  Robert mentioned over the years that he thought that men had the harder task, “in loving,” to which I responded, “It seems that if men truly ‘loved’ their wives, they wouldn’t ask for this one-sided submission!  Balance, it seems, is best!

   This is true of his final admonition with regard to children – “Don’t nag them, lest they lose heart” – and incidentally, this is probably true with regard to committed partners as well.

   Luke’s gospel selection for today gives us a few good lessons as well for family life.  And in keeping with our focus on trying to really understand the probable lives that Mary and Joseph lived, these lessons are good, not only with regard to them, but us as well. 

   From the get-go almost, this young couple are told, not only hope-filled ideas about who their little son would become, “the rise and fall of many,” but sad ideas as well, “a sign that will be rejected.”  Understandably, as Scripture tells us, “Mary pondered all these things in her heart.” 

   And as we think about it, is not much of this the same for any of us who have the privilege of bearing and/or raising children, whether physically, emotionally, or spiritually?  We never know, at the beginning what these new, little lives will become –we do, as Mary and Joseph did, walk in faith, hoping and praying that what we try will be for the best for those entrusted to our care.  So, we have real models to follow in Mary and Joseph.

   My friends, in conclusion then, I would like to bring our focus back to our forebears, Mary and Joseph, to hopefully give us a truer picture of who these “familiar” folks may have truly been. First, it’s important to shine a bright light on their possible relationship.   

   So, to begin with, Mary and Joseph had to have been in love with each other in order to give the human Jesus what he needed to then, eventually, give back so profoundly to his world as an adult.  To quote a lovely and true line from, The Sound of Music, “nothing comes from nothing.”  Mary and Joseph showed Jesus, “the way,” through daily, “loving actions,” so that he could eventually, show the rest of us, “the way.” 

   Theologically, we sometimes, as a Church get, “lost in the weeds,” proclaiming a “sexless” relationship between Mary and Joseph, who for too long, in the person of Joseph being presented as “a caretaker” husband devoid of any physical or expressed love toward Mary, or for that matter, she for him.  Sadly, because the celibate men of our Church have for too long had a “troubled” relationship with their own sexual selves, they gave that same, “troubled” relationship to these two significant people of that first, “holy” family. 

   We need say no more, except to lift up the good that our God most likely intended by giving us sexual bodies and desires to express in a myriad of ways; as celibates, married, or in some way, committed relationships that are expressed in hetero or homosexual ways in order to give strength, support, and affection to each other, in our personal ups and downs. Having the particular type of support that each of us is called to in our lives, then opens us up for additional loving-centered acts in our greater world. 

   Perhaps a final thought on this Holy Family Sunday is to lift up to the light of day, what all the “loving” was really intended to do, in the end.  So many people, in Jesus’ time, awaiting “The Messiah,”  wanted an earthly being of strength to establish a “kingdom” that would put down their “enemies”—but the trouble with that, and why Jesus would ultimately be rejected in his own time and place, was the fact that he came to establish a “kin-dom,” as opposed to a “kingdom” which was not about “power-over,” but “power-for,” each of us.  Amen? Amen!

Dear Friends,

Robert and I wish each of you Christmas peace, love and joy! Even though this lovely season is one of joy and family times, we realize too that some of you are missing a loved one for the first time and so your joy may not be as complete as it might be but for that loss. Hold onto all the good memories and may those be in the upper part of your minds and hearts today. Many in our world are suffering also on this day of joy, especially in the war-torn countries of Ukraine, Palestine and Syria. Yet, Emmanuel, God-with-us continues to come into our time and presence and asks for us to continue the work that he began. We wish you each, and all, the peace, joy and love that Jesus, our brother and friend brings into our world. Following, find the homily from last evening–Pastor Kathy and Robert

__________________________________________________________________________________

   My friends – A merry and joy-filled Christmas to each of you!  Last Sunday, I promised more on the journey of Mary and Joseph tonight as perhaps a more realistic picture of this age-old story of Emmanuel, God-with-us.

   But first, let’s “set the stage,” as it were with tonight’s Scripture readings: Isaiah prophesies that “the people walking in darkness [will see] a brilliant light.”  He continues – [this] “child…born to us” [will be] “an heir” – quite a significant thought!  We know that Jesus – Emmanuel, meaning, “God-with-us,” not only has chosen to enter into our existence, but that, “he is our heir[!]”  — a more intimate connection, it seems to me, and one that in my nearly 18 years as a priest, I had never really considered before. 

   Isaiah continues…this child will be called many wonderful names, among them, “Champion of Peace,” and that “this peace will grow without end.”  Again, for me, the thought of Jesus being a “champion of peace” is one that I had never considered before either.  Perhaps in our present world, devoid of peace in many places, Ukraine and Palestine, Syria, the need for “peace without end” is foremost in our minds, but more so, in our hearts, thus the importance of thinking of this aspect of Jesus’ mission. 

   In the second reading from Titus, speaking of “the grace of God, [appearing], offering salvation to all,” I will simply say, we need to immediately, “go deeper” on this one, and realize that the message isn’t about “salvation from our sins,” but from our human tendency at times, to be less than we can be. 

   Then we come to tonight’s gospel and I think it leads us nicely into the continuing story of Mary and Joseph and all that was perhaps back of them, to give the world the Messiah.

   We see clearly with open eyes and hearts that this long-awaited Messiah is coming to uplift the poor, the down-trodden, those with no power in our world.  We see this immediately in “what is provided” for Mary and Joseph – there is “no room at the inn.”  When Jesus does arrive, he must be laid in a feeding trough for animals in a stable – the only place available.  And who are the first to congratulate the young parents at the birth of their son, but poor shepherds.  It might be good for us to consider during these Christmas days, why our God chose to come among us in such simplicity, such poverty.

   Additionally, the angels who brought glad tidings foretold what this Messiah would be about in his life, in their counsel to, “fear not.” Through Jesus’ public life, we are told, by the “miracle” of AI,  that he spoke about “not fearing” 21 times, and previous to AI, it was erroneously thought to be 365 times – a bit of trivia, as I’m not sure Robert has any for us tonight! (:  Luke concludes with, “And on earth peace to those on whom God’s favor rests. 

   The Jewish people, as we spoke of last Sunday, waited eons for their Messiah to appear, many thinking that this One would come as a king to rule them and put down their enemies.  But in reality, we see that as Jesus will show throughout his public life – Our ways are not God’s ways, and Jesus will continually “turn things on their heads.” 

   We really must marvel at the way that God chose to “become one-with-us [!]”  As someone said, “not in glory, but simplicity, not in splendor, but in poverty, not in power, but in weakness.”  Again, my friends, if we stay on the surface, then “kingship” is about royalty and status; but Jesus’ simple coming among the poor, signals a new meaning for “kingship” and that is about “what people do” in their lives, not about who they are, or where they came from.

   The way that God chose to be one-with-us proclaimed in many ways a message of hope, love and joy to those with so little in our world, and gave all of humanity, no matter our physical state or status in life, the promise that Jesus comes for “all of us” who are poor and weak at times, be it physically, emotionally, or spiritually. 

   So then, let us look at  the possible real-life story of Mary and Joseph, and of the little Jesus entering our world.  As the Scripture story is presented in tonight’s reading, we get the idea, as mentioned last Sunday that this event happened, rather “easy-peasy” as no details are given.  Simply put, it seems to me if “Lucy” rather than Luke had written the text, we may have gotten a clearer view of what went on.  And some might ask, why is that important?  It is important because the more we can relate to these spiritual models of old, the more their example can be meaningful and relevant to our own lives. 

   Again, Marjorie Holmes in Two from Galilee does this well.  Anyone of you who has physically gone through childbirth, or witnessed another giving birth, knows that it isn’t at all, “easy-peasy,” but that it takes all the physical strength and determination that you can muster.  And for the spouses or helpers who have stood by, watching and trying to give their wives/loved ones support through the ordeal, it takes all that they have to give as well. 

   Historically, as Holmes writes, there was a taboo that men should not see a woman in childbirth, but more than likely, Joseph had no choice, not only “to see,” but to assist his beloved at this time of great fear, pain, hope and love as no one was there but the two of them. 

   Joseph no doubt hoped that the God of this miracle would swoop in at the end to miraculously bring forth the baby Messiah, but we shouldn’t be surprised that God who chose to be one-with-us, completely, would come into the world as each one of us did.  And for Joseph , there was, “a dying to self” as Holmes puts it, “to be born again for the beloved.”

   My friends, humanly put, this is what Christmas time is really all about, forgetting self for a time, and balancing that with love and care for the other – it’s a simple message, but a profound one too! 

   You all know of my love for Benedictine Sister Joan Chittister.  In her weekly message for Christmas, she had some profound things to say, and I will end with some of them:

• She says, “the child in each of us is waiting to be born again.” For those of us with a few years under our belts, she says, “Christmas is about finding life where we did not expect life to be.”
• “Each year waxes and wanes – every good moment…becomes a memory…until Christmas comes again – then we are called on the deepest, most subconscious, least cognizant level to live again.”  Simply put, not through our heads, but our hearts. 
• “Christmas,” she continues, “brings us back to the crib of life, to start over; aware of what has gone on before, conscious that nothing can last, but full of hope that this time, finally, we can learn what it takes to live well, grow to full stature of soul and spirit, and get it right!” 
• “There is a child in each of us waiting to be born again.  Christmas is not for children. It is for those who refuse to give up and grow old, for those to whom life comes newly and with purpose each and every day…life is for the living, for those in whom Christmas is a feast without finish, a celebration of the constancy of change, a call to begin once more the journey to human joy and holy meaning.”

   And my friends, it is for this reason that I refuse to concede that, “there is no Santa Claus!” – as it is an idea bigger than the gifts under the tree!  Amen?  Amen!