Christmas 2024
Fr. Mark Gatto
Preached: December 25, 2024
Emnanuel. God is with us. The Mystery of Christmas.
Yet, how do I find God? How do I come to believe in God? How do I help someone else to believe in God?
God came to us in one human being, in one particular time, and one particular place. From that moment, it changed how we human beings are to find God. We do not discover God in deep intellectual thoughts, we do not find God in some special place, we do not find God in big spiritual experiences, we do not find God in well thought out ideas or concepts, we do not find God in miracles. All of these might be helpful, but they do not open us to the true God revealed in Jesus.
St. John Paul II once defined Christianity in this way, “it is an attitude of amazement at the dignity of the human being.” The foundation of our Christian faith, the mystery of the Incarnation, is the dignity of the human being.
We are only Christian to the extent that we fully respect the dignity of our fellow human beings. We will only be able to find God to the extent that we recognize the dignity of our fellow human beings. But, in our world, we see that dignity so often ignored. The children suffering and dying in the wars in our world today. The poor living in inhuman conditions. Migrants dying hoping to leave terrible conditions and to get to a new land. The person languishing in one of our prisons in an often unhealthy system. People choosing to die as they feel so alone and hopeless.
As Christians, this lack of dignity for our fellow human beings should upset us. We will only discover God to the extent that we recognize the dignity of our fellow human beings. Including in the atheist who does not believe in God. In the people we live with in our families and homes. In our colleagues at work or at school. In our enemies, who Jesus called us to love.
Also, we need to be able to discover the presence of God within our own being. Many struggle to recognize their own dignity. They have had experiences in life that makes them question their own dignity. They seem themselves as unworthy. At times someone will say to me that they are a terrible person when they are confessing their sins.
God was born in a weak little baby in an unimportant place of this planet earth. Emmanuel, God is with us. Each human being has a dignity in the eyes of God. We will find the true God only to the extent that we are able to recognize the dignity of our fellow human beings. Also, to the extent that we recognize our own dignity and worth in the eyes of God.
Emmanuel, God is with us. The mystery of Christmas. Pay attention to the presence of God all around you. Recognize the dignity of your fellow human beings, even those you feel are wrong or undeserving. Also, recognize your own dignity and discover the presence of God in the silence of your heart.