Christmas is the gift of God's Son, and his grace

Fourth Sunday of Advent, Sun., Dec. 18, 2011
Fr. Joseph Eddy, O. de M.
Gospel: Luke 1:26-38 “Hail, full of grace”

During the past week and a half I traveled with another friar to Italy for a meeting for our Religious Order. I do not know much Italian, only a little Spanish. This experience truly is a feeling of helplessness: being in a foreign country as a guest and not knowing the language. Being truly dependent upon others’ generosity, patience, and time.

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The friars that we stayed with live in Rome and Sardinia. They have guests coming all the time. Friars and priests asking to come and stay with them just to see the sites of Italy. These visitors are coming speaking different languages, from different cultures and not knowing or understanding the customs of Italy. One can imagine that this takes a lot of patience and charity to be hospitable to these guests.

A favor is a gift

During my journey, I am very grateful for the favors of others during our stay. “Favors” cannot be returned at least at the point that they are given. Really a “favor” is not meant to be returned. It comes from the Latin word for favor which is gratia or a gift freely given.

At this point in Advent our “joyful expectation” of Christ coming should be reaching its peak. We have gone through the first 2 weeks, which focuses on Christ’s Second Coming, but now we are in the final stretch. We can see the finish line! But, what is it? Is the finish line a gift? Is it the Christmas lights? Or, is it a big party with the family? No, it is not! It is “a gift freely given,” Jesus Christ. God, the Father, has given his Son to the world. Jesus emptied himself in becoming flesh in the Incarnation. The Incarnation is a gift freely given to the world to teach us the way to salvation and open up the doors to salvation by Christ’s Passion, Death, and Resurrection.

Christmas or winter holiday?

We do not deserve Jesus. We have proven this because we have so soon forgotten the true meaning of Christmas. All the other aspects of Christmas have their value only in Jesus Christ. Otherwise, it becomes a winter holiday where we give gifts to celebrate and worship nature. Once God is taken out of our lives and/or our relationships, then we are left only with creation. We worship the creation rather than the creator.  Creation is good, but to worship or live for it leaves us empty, searching for more.

And, so Jesus is sent by God to the Blessed Virgin Mary who is told that she has “found favor with God.” That “favor” is grace or gratia. Mary did not deserve to be the Mother of God, but God gave her this favor, this grace. Grace is the very life of God which is given to us. Mary is told that she is full of the life of God. Mary responds in the only appropriate way to such a gift, “be it done to me according to your will.” She does not deserve this favor and cannot do anything to deserve it.

The favor of God’s life

At Baptism, each of us is given grace, the favor of God’s own life. The grace that we are given at Baptism is unmerited, because there is nothing we can do to deserve it. What a wonderful favor is Sanctifying Grace! It is meant to lead us to experience the fullness of God’s life in heaven. Yet it all depends on our response.

In our final preparation for Christ’s Coming let us offer Mary’s “Yes,” her fiat. We respond to God’s favor especially by frequenting the Sacraments. Confessions are offered more this last week. We can be washed clean and prepared to offer ourselves to Christ as a gift for his birth. We grow in the life of God by appreciating this gift and allowing the Life of God to grow within us.

Our response is gratefulness

For, Christmas is about a Gift, one that we do not deserve. We cannot pay God back for his favor to us. He needs nothing from us. The only response is gratefulness; embracing the favor God has given. Allowing Christ to be born once more in our lives through the Sacraments he gives us. This is the only appropriate way to show our appreciation for Christ. A favor is best returned by appreciating it and realizing what the other has done. May our last week of Advent show our appreciation for God’s grace, which has opened up the doors of eternal salvation for all those who chose to accept it.