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.
Luke 2:1-7
A Happy and Blessed Christmas to one and all! We gather now for one of the most holy days of the entire year. (And gather two times no less this weekend, with the 4th Sunday of Advent and Christmas Eve both falling on Sunday Dec 24th). Let me express my gratitude and joy! What greater gift could receive than the Father’s own Son? What birth could be more momentous than that of God become man? What occasion could be of greater important than this subtle affair in the small town of Bethlehem? The world was changed, even more so than the corruption that flowed from the disobedience of eating of forbidden fruit. God changes all for the Good by His Coming in Son through the Virgin Mary’s Yes and the Power of the Holy Spirit. God cooperates with humanity, and in Mary, humanity cooperates with God. Beautiful, faithful, loving relationship is restored. For in His coming, Christ could do nothing else than be obedient and true all the way to the Cross, all the way to the empty Tomb, all the way to the ascension to the Right Hand of the Father. All the ways of restoring, healing, forgiving, and bringing us to Himself for heaven. Oh what gratitude and Joy!
thee! Welcome this happy morning!
On behalf of the entire staff of Holy Family Catholic Parish and School, we pray you receive the tremendous gift of gratitude and joy this Christmas. May your family be enriched and encouraged by the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph. May you experience Peace. May you draw ever closer to Christ and His Church. Blessings and prayers for you.
May the Lord God bless you and yours this Christmas and New Year.
Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, Pray for us.
~ Fr Jeremy M. Gries