Christmas Message

“She wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.”

When Jesus is born he is placed in a manger – a feeding trough for animals. The one who is the bread of life, the source of lasting nourishment for all people, comes into this world in the humblest of circumstances. His parents Mary and Joseph are presented in the gospel as being among the poor of the land. Scripture scholar Luke Timothy Johnson comments on this gospel passage: “Mary and Joseph, in turn, are transients, equivalent to ‘the homeless’ of contemporary city streets, people who lack adequate shelter” (The Gospel of Luke, Sacra Pagina 3, 52).

At a time of severe economic hardship for many people in this country and across the globe, it gives us pause to remember that the one whom we name as Savior and Lord was born among the poor. Saint Paul reflected on this mystery when he wrote to the Christians at Corinth: “For you know the gracious act of our Lord Jesus Christ, that for your sake he became poor although he was rich, so that by his poverty you might become rich” (2 Cor. 8: 9). Peruvian theologian Gustavo Gutierrez, writing from the vantage point of the poor of Latin America, says this: “To the eyes of Christians the incarnation is the irruption of God into human history: an incarnation into littleness and service in the midst of the overbearing power exercised by the mighty of this world; an irruption that smells of the stable” (The God of Life, 85). Indeed, the birth of Jesus takes place in such lowly circumstances that it “smells of the stable.” Jesus knew firsthand the plight of the poor of the land, and he also knows the poverty of the human heart.

As we gather with family and friends to celebrate Christmas, we do so conscious of those suffering from material poverty throughout the world. Our Catholic tradition tells us that God has a special concern for the poor. We are summoned to adopt an attitude of solidarity with people across the globe, or across our cities, who are struggling to make ends meet. We are also invited to reflect upon our own poverty – the poverty of the human heart – and to ask Christ to fill our emptiness with his life-giving presence. Whatever our economic circumstances, each one of us has a deep need for the love of God that is poured out in Christ. We need the nourishment that only he can give – the sustenance given by the one who was placed in an animal feeding trough at his birth. We can ask for that gift with confidence, knowing that he always listens to those who call out to him from their own poverty.
At this holy time, we at Catholics on Call extend our best wishes to all of our friends – young adults and partners alike. May you have a joyous celebration of Christmas and many blessings in 2009. We are grateful for your faithful support of this important program. We ask you to continue to pray for us and for this work, and we promise you the support of our prayers.

We will break for the holidays and then travel to Florida for the Catholics on Call follow-up retreat. Our next Scripture reflection will be posted for January 11.

Fr. Robin Ryan, cp and Birgit Oberhofer