My Dear People, 

I wish for each of you a Merry Christmas. Christmas is a special time when we come “to know” how great the Love of God is. He was willing to become a human so that He could share His abundant love; and in becoming man, we respond to Him, and we have an opportunity for Salvation. 

This season is not merely a celebration of Jesus being born; it is an act of love, a love so immense we can never fully comprehend. This is sacrificial love, whereby Jesus totally gave Himself and His earthly life up, to death on a cross, in order to save us. What drove Jesus to the cross was the immense love of the Father for Him. That also was the most painful part of His suffering, much more than the pain that the executioners inflicted on Him. Even the most dedicated saint who suffered and gave himself or herself to the Lord, will never fully understand the immense love of God. The Love of God is so immense that the angels closest to Him are called Seraphim, meaning the burned ones; which is the fire of God’s love. The angels continually sing: “Holy, Holy, Holy.” They are close to the throne of God, and they respond to this love by giving constant praise to God.   

So, this week, we concentrate on God’s love and His willingness to come among us. Jesus is the greatest gift humanity has ever received. Isaiah, the prophet, called him Immanuel, (God among us). God had the plan from the very beginning to send His Son to become human. 

We are built in the image and likeness of God. We can choose between good and evil.  Other creations (animals) can’t. We have reason and will. Jesus showed us when we will what God wants, we will be blessed by His love. Our life on earth is a great opportunity to grow in God’s love. Every time we choose good over evil, and every time we are tempted, the grace of God helps us overcome these challenges. It is then that we grow.   

Each time we choose to follow God, we are open to His love. This comes with a sacrificial love on our part. Whenever we sacrifice ourselves for the sake of God, we are growing in His Love. This is a process that we will never fully understand until we are united with Jesus.  

We are walking by faith, and it takes faith to overcome the temptation that we face in our daily lives. Overcoming temptations will make a great difference in our lives as it made a great difference in the lives of the saints. This is what enabled saints to have greater Zeal for the Lord. They were more united to His love. Without sacrifice, making the right decision, and giving of ourselves to the Lord, our zeal will not grow, nor will the love of God grow in our hearts.  Christmas is a time for each and everyone to grow in His love and be open to His inspiration to fervently share His love with one another. This is what God wants us to do. 

St. Francis of Assisi captured this, par excellence. He elected to become poor for the sake of the love of Christ, and he shared this with all the people he met. That was his ministry, and his mission. This inspired many brothers to join him. St. Francis especially appreciated the tremendous love of God by recreating that night of Jesus’ birth in Gubbio, in a stable with animals, representing the circumstance of Jesus’ birth and reflecting on the immense beauty of God and of His love to be among us. 

Merry Christmas to everyone. May the Lord Jesus bless each and every one of you. 

Yours in Christ, 

Fr. Vincent Clemente