“I proclaim to you good news of great joy, for today a savior has been born.”

My Dearest Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

“I proclaim to you good news of great joy, for today a savior has been born.”

Gospel Reading Luke 2:1-14

In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that the whole world should be enrolled. This was the first enrollment, when Quirinius was governor of Syria. So all went to be enrolled, each to his own town. And Joseph too went up from Galilee from the town of Nazareth to Judea, to the city of David that is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David, to be enrolled with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. While they were there, the time came for her to have her child, and she gave birth to her firstborn son. She wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. Now there were shepherds in that region living in the fields and keeping the night watch over their flock. The angel of the Lord appeared to them and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were struck with great fear. The angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For today in the city of David a savior has been born for you who is Christ and Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find an infant wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was a multitude of the heavenly host with the angel, praising God and saying: “Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

Glory to God in the highest, for today our savior was born. The Gospel reading tells us that Christ was born in a manger because there was no room in the inn. Today, as we celebrate the glorious birth of Christ, we need to decide whether we are the inn or the manger. The Inn was a glorious majestic place while the manger was located in cave used to house farm animals. How could the King of kings, Lord of Lords be born in manger? It was from these humble beginnings that Christ came into this world. He came not for the rich and wealthy, but for the oppressed, the humble and the meek. It is time to ask ourselves, “Is our house too full for Christ?” The world has received the greatest gift ever, our Lord and Savior. Do you have room for him in your life? This Christmas, we should remember those who cannot come home, those that have no home and those that are hungry. We should life up the poor and those that are marginalized from society. We should pray for those people society has no room for. No matter what burdens we have on our shoulders, Christ came to relieve us from these burdens. “Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.” So who does his favor find rest, those who have no room for him or those who have humbled themselves. We need to become more like the manger and less like the inn. We need to become more humble to become worthy of the grace which Christ has given to us. Take time on Christmas to thank God for your real blessing and to pray for those who are less fortunate.

A Simple Prayer

Glory to God in Highest and Peace to All Men on Earth

For Today our Savior is Born – Christ the King.

Merry Christmas

Michael Marcon