Once again, let me wish all of you a very blessed Christmas!  We gather this evening to celebrate a momentous event in human history: the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.  Although he was born more than 2,000 years ago, his birth impacts each of our lives directly today.  He is the Lamb of God, who came to take away the sins of the world on a cross.  He is Emmanuel, God with us, who draws us back to our heavenly Father.  We hear, once again in this evening’s Gospel, the story of his birth.  It is the story of Joseph and Mary putting their trust in God and cooperating in his plan of salvation for all of us.

So, let me ask you, have you finished wrapping all your gifts – or maybe you’re putting them in gift bags?  We don’t hear it in this evening’s gospel account but in Luke’s Gospel, we read that, after he was born, Mary wrapped Jesus in swaddling clothes and placed him in a manger.  We have all heard those little details our entire lives.  Have you ever wondered why St. Luke would include them in his account?  The people who read it way back in the first century would immediately understand the significance of these details.  They are important for us, too, so allow me to explain.  As you all know, Jewish temple worship centered around the offering of a sacrifice, usually an unblemished lamb, in memory of the Passover Meal that God had ordered Moses to instruct his people to eat in preparation for their escape from Egypt and passage back to the Promised Land.  So, as a Jewish family prepared to go up to Jerusalem to worship and offer sacrifice to God, they would watch carefully as their ewes gave birth.  And, they would select the most perfect of the lambs for special treatment, wrapping them in swaddling clothes, placing them in a manger to protect them from the rest of the animals to make sure that they remained unblemished as they were prepared for sacrifice at the Temple.

This is just what Mary did as she wrapped Jesus, the Lamb of God, in swaddling clothes and placed him in a manger.  This helps us to understand the full meaning of the story of Christmas.  We all know that we give presents at Christmas in imitation of the great present God gave us at that first Christmas: his Son, our Savior.  We usually receive a variety of gifts at Christmas, some are nice and some are very special and precious.  God’s gift is most special and precious.  As we hear in this evening’s second reading, Jesus is our savior – his very name means “God saves.”  As we continue to struggle through this coronavirus pandemic, we have surely become more like the people in Antioch whom Paul addressed – God-fearing – acknowledging that, in so many ways, we are powerless and dependent upon God.  And, in the turbulence of our times, we need God’s saving power. 

But, his power comes in unexpected ways.  It was certainly a surprise to everyone on that first Christmas day!  After all, his people had longingly waited for a mighty savior, much like King David.  We hear him mentioned in both our second reading and the gospel this evening.  King David had made of the ancient Israelites a great nation and protected them from their earthly enemies.  We hear that proclaimed so clearly in this evening’s first reading which foretells of a time when all kings would see their glory and they would be “a glorious crown in the hand of the Lord.”  God’s chosen people were probably looking for someone with a pedigree like Moses, who had grown up in the Pharaoh’s household.  They certainly weren’t ready for this scene that we see here before us.  We all know and accept the story today, but can you imagine what a surprise it was for the people of our Lord’s day?  Joseph and Mary were from the obscure town of Nazareth, not a great palace.  Joseph was of the house of David, but he was just a poor carpenter, and Mary’s family was even poorer.  Her family lived in a cave; that’s where the very poor lived in those days.  Just like us, when we carefully select the right gift wrap or gift bag, God very carefully selected the time and place to offer us his most precious gift: when all the world was distracted by a Roman census and in this obscure town of Bethlehem – in fact, in a stable in that little town.  And, who came to greet this newborn king?  Not the local officials or synagogue leaders but shepherds, the lowliest of society, who came in from the field at the invitation of the angels, and wise men who followed a star from the distant east.  Yes, it certainly was a surprising gift! 

Those who were able to receive the surprise were the ones who were open to listening to God and humble enough to accept God’s will in their lives – Mary and Joseph.  They were, at first – and understandably – hesitant.  After all, they had plans for their lives and God’s plan was certainly a surprise.  But, with true humility, they both submitted to God’s will for them and, in doing so, they helped to bring God’s greatest gift of himself into the world.

Christmas is a time for us to reflect on this great gift – this wondrous surprise which still is among us today, now in the form of bread and wine that will soon become our Lord’s life-giving Body and Blood.  Are we open to listening to God and humble enough to accept God’s will in our lives?    After all, Jesus came among us to be the lamb without blemish who would offer himself for our salvation and thus lead us back to the true Promised Land – heaven.  And, he has called each of us – we who believe in him – to continue to lead one another back to God.  But, we can do that only if we are ready for surprises and willing to put our plans aside, like Joseph and Mary were, and accept the great gift God gives us today – his Son, our Savior – and able to see God’s hand at work through all the trials of our lives, just as Joseph and Mary, and their son, Jesus, did.  As we celebrate this great feast, that is my prayer for all of us.  Merry Christmas!