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During my 13 years as a priest, I’ve been to a considerable number of dinner auctions. Inevitably, there is a puppy at the live auction and at least one person, usually more than one, offers to buy it for parish clergy. Maybe they think we are lonely over at the rectory or something like that. Without hesitation, no matter how cute the puppy is, I always turn down the kind offer. People are often surprised at my emphatic “no”. The immediately question is something like, “Don’t you like dogs?”. In fact, I do like dogs, especially other people’s dogs! We had some great canine companions growing up and lots of fond memories of our dogs who had wonderful lives of constant attention and affection as members of our large family.
But this symbiotic relationship between humans and dogs did not always exist. The dog's ancestors used to fear humans and hide from them, even attacking at times. At some point, a brave and brilliant person approached the wolves. Maybe he saw an abandoned wolf pup and took him in or sensed an openness within the canine creature. Whatever happened, that person somehow bridged the enormous distance between the two species and we began to see each other as companions rather than a threat. So much so that now dogs are considered man’s best friend!
Every Christmas, we celebrate the fact that Jesus did something similar but infinitely more remarkable for the human race. We used to fear God and hide from him; in some ways we still do, because of the guilt of our sins. But Jesus reached out to us in an extraordinary way. He became one of us in the little town of Bethlehem. He bridged the infinite gap between humanity and God, between creator and creature, because he loves us and couldn’t bear to see us wander and suffer any longer. That is what we celebrate on Christmas eve (day).
When we look at the Child in the manger, we are seeing something extraordinary. Astronomers tell us if we look into a powerful telescope, we are seeing events that already happened millions, maybe even billions, of years ago. When we look into the manger and reflect on the mystery of the Incarnation, we are seeing even further than that. Jesus existed before the dawn of time. When we see him, we are looking at God Himself.
The joy and awe of the Christmas mystery should lead us towards humility. You and I will never understand the mind of God anymore than a dog can understand the mind of a human. Even a seemingly simple thing, like drawing a picture or working on simple addition and subtraction, is beyond the dog’s understanding. Neither do we comprehend the enormity of what God is doing when he creates the universe and works out the mystery of our salvation. There is an awesome distance between us and God. That distance will always remain, but because of Jesus, we can enter God's presence. We can feel the peace of his acceptance and friendship.
I read a little-known story that illustrates God's acceptance of us, even with all our sins and limitations. The singer Johnny Cash shared how he spent the Christmas of 1974 with the famous evangelist Billy Graham. At one point, Graham said, "Let's call Richard Nixon and wish him a Merry Christmas." Johnny Cash wasn’t sure this was a good idea. I suppose that would be like us deciding to give the Cuomo brothers a call. The Christmas of ’74 was just a few months after Nixon left the White House in disgrace because of Watergate. The American people had placed the greatest trust in him, but he let them down by abusing his power and failing to rise above the fray of politics as the Commander in Chief. No one wanted to have anything to do with him. But in the end, that’s what they did! Cash admitted it was difficult to make holiday small talk with Nixon. Then he added, "Billy felt good he had talked to him. It didn't matter to Billy Graham what a man has done, it doesn't matter how rotten and low he has been."
God knows everything you and I have done. He's seen our best moments but also the many times we’ve given in to sin and selfishness, not just with our actions, but also in our most private thoughts and desires. He knows who we are, but just like that first man who reached out to wolves, he reached out to us dramatically on Christmas day. He is not afraid of our sins and weakness because his love is far stronger than any evil we can think, do, or say.
Sometimes people say they are afraid to go to church on Christmas. It’s been a long time since they came to Mass or practiced their faith. They think the walls will fall down or lightening will strike. But these walls are sturdy and we have a fully grounded electrical system! The God of all peoples and the Creator of the universe is not interested in crushing or zapping any of us. He wants to save every person and invites you and me into his wonderful friendship. He could impress us with his power or overwhelm us with his majesty but instead he seeks to soften our hearts as a vulnerable, meek Child. He wants to bridge the gap between us and the Almighty in the most non-threatening way. In Jesus God wants to embrace us, no matter how low we’ve gone or how far we’ve run away.
So let us rejoice in the incredible love God has for us. A love that cannot be destroyed by any sin, illness or death. A love that will never leave us or fade away. Let us embrace this love in the baby Jesus, opening our sinful, hardened hearts to him. Lastly, having received this love ourselves, may we never forget to turn around and share it generously with others: our friends, our family, and yes, even those who are difficult for us to be around, even the marginalized and inconvenient, all those the world has given up on or rejected. Like that brave man who first reached out to the wolves, God has reached out to us. We no longer need to fear God, to hide from him. That is the message for today: No more fear and hiding. Come to Bethlehem. Come to the Manger. Come to the Child.
I pray that you and your family have a Holy Christmas. And may we all keep Christmas alive through our love of God and love for one another.
