Whart Happened At Christmas.

(Plain Text Version)

God Took On a Human Nature; Now It Is Revealed.
On March 25, we celebrate the Solemnity of the Annunciation, the day on which the Second person of the Holy Trinity became Man in the womb of the Blessed Virgin Mary.  On December 25, we celebrate His birth. 
At the Annunciation, the course of human history was altered by an act of the merciful God.  Before this time, God existed only as a spirit.  Afterwards, and until the end of time, God is present on Earth in His human nature, without losing anything He already had.  This great event was to be a secret, to be revealed gradually.
On Christmas, Christ was born and revealed to two well selected groups: the local shepherds and the wise men from the east.  The shepherds were the most despised of all the Jews; the wise men were learned and respected, but not of the Chosen People.
The shepherds were told to spread the word about the birth of the Savior, Christ the Lord.  They did so, helping many people to recognize Christ when He later began His public ministry.  It is likely that the social barriers prevented the “higher” classes from learning of this great event.
We don’t know what happened when the wise men returned to their homes.  We do know that every action of God has a purpose.  Perhaps the seeds planted by the wise men are a source of strength for today’s Christians in the Middle East.
The revelation of Christ to the world, known as The Gospel, is by no means complete.  Today, imperfect disciples struggle against opposition to make Christ known.  We look forward to the day when “…this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations…” (Matthew 24:14).
Then Christ will return in glory.  For the faithful, never-ending union with God will begin.  Everything that was wrong will be replaced by a much greater good.  This new life will be much, much better than the life lost by Adam and Eve. 
Christmas is a time of great rejoicing because it is a vital step toward the our new life with our Creator, our Lord, out Savior.

Have a Merry Christmas!