Gospel Reflections for Christmas 2016
Advice from the Angels
I can imagine all the angels in heaven surrounding Our Lord just before He is born in Bethlehem, …and pleading with Him… “Don’t go! Earth is way too dangerous! It’s filled with …people!”
I think Our Lord’s response was simply “Nothing will stop me from coming to the people I love!”
He will come to our aid no matter what, and even to a world filled with terrorism, war, and conflict. God does not wait for conditions to get better in the Middle East, or even in our home. He will bring God’s love to you no matter what!
2,016 years ago, people in Bethlehem suffered economic crises, terrible plagues, and military occupation by the Roman Empire. They really needed a Savior!
2,016 years later, I know the kind of Savior we need now; a financial guru to grow the economy, a medical expert to provide great healthcare, a military genius to end terrorism, and a political expert who can finally bring peace to the world.
So, who actually arrived 2,016 years ago? Well, none of those! Our Savior arrives as a very small and vulnerable child. Some Savior! The God of the Universe arrives as a child with no economic, medical, military, or political degree. He will even die unless Mary and Joseph have the courage and compassion to take care of Him no matter what.
The very manner of Our Lord’s vulnerable birth activates in Mary and Joseph, the Shepherds, the Wise Men, and hopefully all of us here today those powerful virtues of courage and compassion that ensure innocent people survive and prosper. Perhaps somewhere in that experience is the answer to world peace too.
Good things happen when we take our life and use it for the good of others, our family, our friends, and anyone in need. You hear this in the central words at every Mass, “This is my Body and Blood, given for you.” This is how Christians live.
God has already placed those virtues within you so now is the time to renew them. Courageous compassion is even the root of what made human beings evolutionarily successful in the first place. It is our lack of courage and compassion that causes world problems!
Despite the advice of the Angels, Our Lord will courageously and compassionately come into your life. Welcome Him today. More than our belief in Him, we are confident of His love and belief in us, no matter what is going on in the world. Merry Christmas!
God Bless!
Fr. Dave
And a Merry Christmas to you, Father Dave! I hope your Angles are courageous and compassionate enough to attend you here on earth even though they may feel that it is a dangerous place. Today we are enjoying the presentation from King’s College in Cambridge England. Beautiful music.
Thank you for your message from King’s College! Merry Christmas to all.
A blessed reminder-message……the reason for the season, for sure!
MERRY CHRISTMAS 🎄
Merry Christmas!
Merry Christmas Fr Dave. Argyle and Barbara
Merry Christmas!
Merry Christmas father Dave,
Although our Lord and Savior Jesus
Had no medical degree He has been my doctor and healer all of this week in the hospital, specially this evening
As I write these couple of lines recovering from surgery, He gives me strength spiritually and physically
He is always there for us.
May He always bless you and keep healthy for all of us to hear and read your writings.
I hope your healing goes well, Joe. Please be assurred of my prayers.
Thank you Father Dave. The theme of our lives should always be courage and compassion. Compassion seems to be the emotion, but courage is the action. … courage to reach out to others. We all need each other.. pride and laziness seem to stop us most of the time. Thanks for the reminder.
Has St. Bruno figured out how lucky they are?
Merry Christmas!
Yes, I like your phrasing; compassion is the emotion and courage is the action. Well said. I am glad to say that the St. Bruno parishioners have been very welcoming.
Jesus is more than words can express. Christmas is the greatest gift. Its impossible to describe the greatness of one that is everything to everyone!
Merry Christmas Fr Dave!
Merry Christmas! Thank you for your message.
Dear Father Dave,
On this beautiful Christmas morning, may you be blessed with great “leap off the ground,” joy. You have devoted your life to our Savior and spread God’s word with tender compassion and zeal. Thank you.
I like your “leap off the ground” description of joy. That is the joy of Christmas for sure!
Thank You, Fr. Dave for your words of wisdom, especially this last year. I pray for a new beginning. Merry Christmas and a Blessed New Year.
Your are very welcome! More articles to come next year!
Merry Christmas season, Fr. Dave. Thank you for your inspiration all year. May God bless you.
Hope your Christmas was great. We miss you very much. Thanks for your help every week in reading the readings with new light! God is with you. Fran Calfo
I wish for you and your family a very blessed New Year!
Happy New Year!
We just returned from Argentina and Chile last week and it is great to be home. Travel has a way of making us feel small and even vulnerable in unfamiliar environs. Yet, it also brings to awareness the greatness of God in all His natural works and the epiphany that we are all participating in a venture much larger than ourselves and the realm we know. Jesus assumed a great risk when He traveled to war-torn earth to be our Savior. For Rick and I, looking at the glaciers and amazing sunsets was sublime and awe-inspiring and I experienced a deeper connection with our Lord.. We also had the pleasure of visiting the church in Buenos Aires where Pope Francis lived before he became Pope. Perhaps the best gift is our safe return home and our appreciation for all the comforts and niceties we enjoy from our bountiful Lord.
What an interesting and thoughtful message! Yes, I have always felt that travel is a great teacher of wisdom. Seeing other cultures, and even just the sheer size of our world, helps put a lot of things in perspective. How especially cool that you saw the parish church of Pope Francis too.