“The Joy of Christmas”
Father Peter Fitzgibbons
December 24 – 25, 2018
Scripture: Luke 2: 10-11
10 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. 11 For today in the city of David a savior has been born for you who is Messiah and Lord.
When a man is discerning his vocation, he enters minor seminary and earns a degree in philosophy. After that, he begins major seminary where he will study theology which is the science of who God is. God’s nature is love…He is love Himself. God is incarnate at Christmas in the sacraments. We can sit with our Lord everyday in church…with His body, blood, and divinity.
When I perform weddings, sometimes I tell the couple that this should be the saddest day of their marriage. Why? Because love grows, deepens, and becomes richer over time. As children, Christmas was a wonderful time for us, because we were not jaded by sin. As adults, it is still a wonderful time, but that’s because it is built on a deeper love for Him and greater joy.
From the time I was a child, all of my Christmases have been wonderful, even those spent in a war zone, because it is a celebration of God. I was home, because I was where I was supposed to be, and I had the joy of all Christmases past. What a blessing! Each Christmas gets better and better, because love builds on love…it grows and deepens.
Christ is our peace and joy as long as we let Him live inside us; but, when we sin, we boot Him out of our lives, and our anxieties return. He so much wants to share His love so that we can have joy, not just at Christmas, but everyday. I know that we all have our crosses to bear, but if you are having trouble finding joy, you are blind. Look around you! Joy comes from helping people have Christ in their souls. By giving love, we get love in return.
On Christmas day, I always go to the VA hospital, because nobody wants to be there. After that, I visit nursing homes. Why? Because, it’s the right thing to do and, while there, I get to experience bits of God’s incarnate love. This is where joy and peace can be found. What a gift!
We live in a violent country. But, we can end violence by accepting His peace and letting Him live inside us. Mother Theresa never started a bar fight. She was a symbol of love and compassion. She had peace and joy in her heart. She had Christ inside her soul.
How will you apply this message to your life? Will you allow Him to live inside you and bring you peace and joy? Will you serve others by helping them find Christ?