To all parishioners and visitors to our Whatcom County Catholic Churches – Merry Christmas!
It is famously hard to convince family, friends, and neighbors to help you move. Packing and carrying heavy boxes all day is no one’s idea of a good time. So when someone does agree, we are immensely thankful. In fact, we often wonder what we did to deserve such a loving, generous friend or family member.
Now let’s extend that idea to the incarnation. Moving may be unpleasant, but it is nothing compared to the overall burden of a human life under the yoke of sin and death. And yet, Jesus freely chose to enter into our existence, to share our struggle, to unite himself to our pains. What did we ever do to deserve such a savior? Why would he ever want to empty himself to such a radical extent?
Because he loves us. He has loved us since the moment he created the universe and knit us together in our mothers’ wombs. He loves us on our best days and on our worst days. He loves us so much that he could never imagine leaving us alone to our burdens – he has always wanted to be with us, he was simply looking for the most opportune time.
That time was 2025 years ago in a backwater of the Roman Empire, on the Eastern shores of the Mediterranean. And ever since that day, humanity has been united in thanksgiving for such an incredible and unmerited gift.
Why does Christmas hold such power for us? Why is the nostalgia double strong for this season? Why is our desire to be with family and attend church so potent in these holy days? Because, in the small, sleeping figure of the Christ child we are reminded that God made himself small out of love for us. There is no purer or potent love than the love of God in his incarnation.
May the Lord bless you and your families!
Fr. Moore 