Gospel Reflection for December 25, 2020 – Christmas
The birth story in Luke’s gospel anticipates Jesus’ whole life and emphasizes his mission to people who are poor. The birth itself is an intimate family event. Joseph finds shelter among the animals in a stable or cave. Mary gives birth, wraps the baby in swaddling clothes, and places him in a manger.
Like the holy family, many refugees, immigrants, and deportees today experience too little room for their families. Like finding shelter in a barn during a census, they live in cramped camps awaiting legal status in a new country.
Shepherds watching their sheep under the stars hear an angel bring a message from heaven that a savior has been born, the long-promised messiah, the Christ, the anointed one. A solo angel voice announces this good news of great joy and provides a sign to verify it — the child in the manger. Then a chorus of angels arises to sing a Gloria and blessing of peace.
The shepherds find the child in the manger and become heralds of the messiah’s birth. We recognize with them Jesus is good news for the poor.
On the world stage Caesar counts potential taxpayers. Luke wants us to contrast the child and Caesar. People hail both as saviors. However, it is the child lying in the manger who incarnates the love and lifegiving power of the universe, not the emperor, even though his subjects give him the title Augustus — the divine.
Luke’s birth narrative is not a realistic video in narrative form, but a story carefully crafted to communicate to every hearer the same tidings of great joy the shepherds hear. God’s own Son is with us. God’s own Son is born one of us.
- Where might Jesus be born today to express God’s willingness to identify with the lowliest among us?
Many people today may identify with how unusual Jesus’ family is. His mother is not married when he is conceived. His mother’s husband is not Jesus’ real dad. His mother is a teenager.
Our families have probably always been more diverse in form and less ideal than we remember them. Today we have regular nuclear families, blended families, single-parent families, grandparents raising children, partners adopting children. Parents hold their families together in new and creative ways.
Families may no longer gather each evening for dinner but perhaps today’s working parent puts a fun note in the lunch he or she packs for a son or daughter. In many young families husbands and wives take turns being the stay-at-home parent—sharing jobs, doing half-time or at-home work. Fathers today do more parenting than in the 50s, giving boys more realistic role models for being adult men.
Toward reflecting on the scriptures for the Feast of the Holy Family, share your experience of family life.
- What is a way in which your family today doesn’t fit the supposed mold?
- What is a strength your family has because you don’t fit the mold?
- Think about a family you know that is struggling. What specific help can you offer them?