Christmas message
‘May the Christ child reign in our hearts…’

Dear Friends:

“Oh, that you would rend the heavens and come down!” (Is 64:1) More than 2,000 years ago, the Savior’s birth bridged heaven and earth, fulfilling in a perfection that surpasses human imagining the hope-filled cry of the prophet Isaiah. Every year when we celebrate the anniversary of the birth of Jesus, we ponder anew the inexhaustible mystery of the Son of God becoming man. Incarnated in the womb of the Virgin Mary, and born in Bethlehem, Christ hallowed the life of the Holy Family, as well as the whole human family and, indeed, all of creation.

The Virgin Mary’s Yes to God made possible God’s total and definitive Yes to man. Mary gave the Savior a dwelling place in her womb, and surrendered the whole of her life and being to him. In the stable of Bethlehem, we catch a glimpse of what Mary’s Yes to God would result in. In the wood of the manger, we see foretold the wood of the cross. At the same time, Bethlehem, which means “house of bread,” and the manger, as feeding trough, signify how Jesus would satisfy the hungers of man. Already the Eucharist, in its dual significance, is poignantly foreshadowed. Nothing less than our redemption is to be achieved.

Like Mary, we are all invited to enter deeply into the mystery of the Incarnation at Christmas time. We accompany the shepherds to Bethlehem to contemplate the Christ Child in wonder. We are amazed by the simplicity of the scene and the difficulties experienced by Jesus, Mary and Joseph. We are aware that poverty, both material and spiritual, as well as much suffering, exists in our present-day world, too.

We all share in the struggles of human life. Still, we rejoice that all of us are made rich because the Son assumed our human poverty. We have become sharers in the Divine Life because the Son of God humbled himself to share in our humanity. What an awesome mystery is entailed in this wondrous exchange. May the Christ Child reign in our hearts this Christmas and may he bring us deep peace and joy. A blessed Christmas and grace-filled New Year to all!

Sincerely in Christ,

WILLIAM K. WEIGAND
Bishop of Sacramento

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