Christmas Reflection

For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son.

Those words are the beginning of what you found if you were ever curious enough to look up what all those people were holding signs about. Personally, I never thought that it made much sense - after all, if you want to encourage outsiders to look deeper into their faith, there are a number of verses that are more direct, personal, and accessible than that one. Certainly, the Faithful get, and are greatly heartened by, that verse. But from the crowd of a sporting event isn't exactly the best of places from which to preach to the choir. However, around Christmas time, it makes for a particularly important thing to reflect on.

This is the season when the sun has abandoned us for a warmer clime. We have less day, and more night. Less warm, and more cold. More dark, and less light. Yet still, we bundle ourselves against the darkness, pour lively drinks against the cold, and light our nights with a twinkling brighter than the stars themselves. In a time that brings depression and seclusion to all creatures, we seek others: a neighbor's smile as warm as a roaring fire, a friends laugh as refreshing as a hot cup of cider, a loved-one's embrace as snug as an old sweater from many winters ago.

This is a time to be children again. It is a time to wash away a year's worth of cynicism with a single snowball to the cheek. We light our neighborhoods to new friends and old, like we used to welcome a new playmate before we grew so judgemental. We embrace our families like we did before we decided we were so different after all. But the climax of this season of Communion is about more than remembering what we love - it's about loving before we even remember.

Sure, the passing years make it tougher. And, sure, sometimes we need to ask each other for "hints" before doing our shopping. But the mystery still remains: What lies beneath the brightly-colored paper? I know whose name is outside; I wonder what they have given beneath that facade. We awaken at the break of dawn on that morning, eager to unwrap each other's little mysteries. We're as excited to uncover our own receipts as we are to show others what we've given beneath our own paper.

We come to embody the same spirit of mystery, self-sacrifice, and love as that of the Saint in a red suit who taught us that lesson when we were younger. Yet, even he is but a flicker of that very same spirit we are commemorating. Because long ago came a gift given in the most unique of wrappings: wholly concealing the gift within, yet unusually complementary to the Gift itself. For, in the middle of the night, in a dark cave, among the lowliest of creatures, to an unwed mother was born the greatest gift of mystery, self-sacrifice, and love of all.

For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son.