In the solemnity of Christmas, Zechariah’s thanksgiving words, spoken from a heart filled with gratitude, illuminate our hearts ever anew: “Through the tender mercy of our God, when the day shall dawn upon us from on high (Luke 1, 78). Christ’s coming into our world is the day of God’s tender mercy. It is the day in which God, through his beloved Son Jesus, made “the wolf... dwell with the lamb, and the leopard... lie down with the kid, and the calf and the lion and the fatling together, and a little child... lead them. The cow and the bear... feed; their young... lie down together; and the lion... eat[s] straw like the ox. The sucking child... play[s] over the hole of the asp, and the weaned child... put[s] his hand on the adder’s den” (Is 11, 6-8). In short, the Messiah’s arrival brought total restoration in reconciliation. In this regard Saint Paul teaches us: “For he is our peace, who has made us both one, and has broken down the dividing wall of hostility, by abolishing in his flesh the law of commandments and ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby bringing the hostility to an end” (Eph 2, 14-16).

The fully divine and human Babe in the manger is the one through whom salvation is brought to its completion. The fact that he was put in a manger has a great metaphorical significance. From his early hours of his earthly existence Jesus made himself defenseless. Even today, after two millennia, He is still crying for help. The omnipotent God who made himself so small in the manger of Bethlehem, so small as to penetrate our small hearts, is still inviting us to love him in his poor ones!

By becoming man Jesus invites us to enter into his compassionate feelings, thoughts and will, in order that we might be of service to those who feel neglected of the essential thing in life: to be loved and cared for. Jesus knows how does it feel like not to be received with love by your people. Saint John tells us in the prologue of his gospel: “He came to his own home, and his own people received him not” (Jn 1:11). How are we going to respond to his plea in the marginalised of our society? Did he not tell us that what we do to the least of his brothers and sisters we are doing it to him? So why are there people amongst us who choose not to understand, welcome and love him in the needy ones? What sort of Christmas would it be for us if we choose to be greedy by refraining from giving our time and affection to our suffering ones?

God’s visit in the Child Jesus reminds us that God’s word has become short! There are three explanations why this is so. Firstly, God has become a human being for us and our salvation. As the angels said to the shepherds: “To you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a babe wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger” (Lk 2:11-12). God became a baby to help us love, respect and protect our unborn and born brothers and sisters. Secondly, the long and complex word of Sacred Scripture is abbreviated in the one and greatest commandment of all time: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind... You shall love your neighbour as yourself” (Mt 22:37-40). Through loving God in our neighbour God has made his Word short for us. If God has become a gift for us let us not forget the authentic gift we can give all the year round, namely by giving something of ourselves, of our time to our fellow human beings and to God. Thirdly, in the manger of the animals, the Fathers of the Church saw the symbol of the altar, on which lies the consecrated bread which becomes Jesus himself. Again God shows his omnipotence by becoming so small that we can eat Him, the true food for our hearts!

Lord Jesus help us realise that you visit us every single day, both in the Eucharist and through the brothers and sisters in need. Help us to make you welcome, listen to your concerns and love you as you desire to be loved. We ask this in your precious and holy name. AMEN!

Fr Mario Attard

OFM Cap

San Gwann