‘If only you knew the gift of God’, Jesus said to the Samaritan woman at the well. He then revealed himself as that gift.
Christmas is about gifts, gift-giving and gift-receiving, and about enjoying the gifts because we know they are given, and received, in love. The greatest gift of all is the Son of God, whose significance the Christmas masses gradually reveal: the babe at Bethlehem, announced by angels and welcomed and received with joy by shepherds, is then proclaimed in John’s Prologue at the Day Mass as the eternal God now become fully human: ‘the Word became flesh and dwelt among us.’ Children easily tire of gifts; we never tire of the gift of the Child born at Bethlehem. Over a lifetime and into eternity, we immerse ourselves in his life and love, enjoy his presence and hand on his gift of salvation.
Isaiah gives names of profound significance to the Child: Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. At this time of extraordinary world turmoil, we place our hope in the Prince of Peace and pray that he heal the world with his peace, the peace only he can give.
May you all have a blessed and holy Christmas, filled with the peace and joy of the new-born Child.

Artwork: The Flight into Egypt by D. Julian Falkus
Text and image copyright Stanbrook Abbey 2024