In my travels I have visited many holy sites including the little town of Bethlehem where Jesus was born. It was in Bethlehem that I purchased a beautiful creche that was made by local artists with olive wood. It is this creche that holds the figures of the first Christmas story. It was this little insignificant stable that held the greatest gift for all of us. Jesus is God's gift of love for us.
It is good for our families to have a creche in our homes to remind us that God was willing to become one of us. It is even more important to open our hearts to allow Jesus to enter our lives.
God's choice of a place to live among us is breathtaking - he didn't need a palace or a temple. God came to dwell with us in the body of a woman, in the sinless Virgin Mary. He continues to live within each of us if we open our lives to him. This is the true meaning of Christmas - God became one of us and made his dwelling among us.
Fr. Russell and I wish you and your families a blessed Christmas. Together with all our parish staff and employees, we pray in eager anticipation of God's gift in the new year to come.
