My Dear People,       

Merry Christmas to all.   

This is indeed a very special feast. One, we should meditate and reflect upon, without   the noise, commercialism, and the business of activities. It is the time to reflect with anticipation, appreciation, and thanksgiving for what God has done for us. 

The people had turned away from God and lost Heaven. They were not deserving of salvation or to be in Heaven with the Lord. God, however, took pity on the people, and He is the one who took action by sending to us His only begotten Son.  

We read in the scripture on two occasions when Jesus was baptized and when Jesus was transfigured, a voice was heard: “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased!” God spoke through the prophets that He was going to redeem us. Through Jeremiah, God revealed He was going to make a new covenant with us. God wanted to send His Son not just to redeem us, but to save us. This is because God’s love for us is so great that He would give us His son, who took human flesh so that we could identify with Him. This was indeed an act of tremendous love on the part of God. The Father gave us His Son so that we would be worthy of being with God in eternity. Indeed, it was the greatest gift--a gift which will never fully be appreciated. 

We should always be thankful and direct our attention to God during this season and do it with a thankful heart. To do that we have to put our wishes aside for a moment, and close our minds to all the flurry of activities that this season brings. In doing that, we will appreciate this Christmas much more than we ever have. It is an interior journey! It is the most important part of Christmas!    

Our lives are an internal journey in more ways than one. It is a journey which will help us appreciate more that we came from God, and God wants us to return back to Him. In returning back to Him, our lives will become more fruitful. By understanding the purpose why Jesus came to us, we will also understand better why He puts us on Earth in the first place. We may reflect that purpose much more clearly by reflecting on the coming of Jesus to Earth. 

May God give you abundant blessing in your lives and in your hearts as we go forward this Christmas season into the New Year.

Peace to all. 

In Jesus Name,

Fr. Vincent Clemente