All three of today’s readings are about the birth of Jesus.  To really appreciate his birth, first we must acknowledge that we need a saviour.  We need a saviour because of the sin of Adam and because of our own personal sins.  The link between Jesus and Adam is direct.  From Adam, we inherit sin.  And from Jesus, we receive the gift of grace to remove our sins.  

Before the birth of Jesus, mankind was alone and isolated from God.  The God of love took pity on mankind and revealed himself to a small band of Hebrews.  Through them, he promised salvation for all mankind.  The point of Christmas, the birth of Jesus, is that God has fulfilled his promise.  Jesus is the Messiah foretold by the profits throughout the ages.  He has come as one just like us into our human history to save us.  He is with us, Emmanuel.  We have a saviour who is here with us at this mass, in the tabernacle, in the church, and in the sacraments.  

The Gospel tells us about Joseph’s reaction to the news that his wife is pregnant.  And he knows that it is not his child.  In those times, engagement, or betroval, was taken very seriously, even with legal consequences.  According to Jewish law, she was already his wife even though they did not yet live together.  It was after the marriage ceremony that the bride went to live in the groom’s home, or the home of the groom’s father.  Until then, Mary would have lived with her parents and Joseph would have visited her from time to time.  

It is easy to imagine that Joseph was very confused and distraught at the news of Mary’s pregnancy.  In an instant, his whole life has changed.  He does not understand how this could have happened and decides to divorce her quietly so as not to subject Mary to the public shame that it would bring to her and her family.

While he was pondering what to do, an angel of the Lord tells him in a dream how Mary conceived and who this child is, Jesus the Saviour.  Dreams held much more significance in those days than they do now.  There are many instances in the Bible where a dream is used to convey God’s wished.  

Isaiah’s prophecy in the first reading, “The virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall name him Emanuel,” is coming true.  The centuries of waiting for the promised Messiah are almost over.  God is about to become man.  

Joseph, the just and righteous man, obeyed God and took Mary as his wife.  He doesn’t ask any questions.  He’s not quoted as having said anything.  He believed and trusted in God.  He believed and trusted that God would not let him down.  He was obedient and humble, some virtues that we would do well to imitate.  

Joseph provided a home for Jesus and Mary.  He supported and protected them.  Every day, he looked into the face of Jesus, who is both God and man, Joseph’s creator, and his foster son.  He held Jesus in his arms.  He taught Jesus how to speak; taught him to walk; taught to him to read and write; and taught him the Scriptures.  He also taught him how to be a carpenter.  Imagine, the one who created the trees was taught by Joseph, his foster father, whom he created, to make furniture and other objects from the same trees that he created.  It kind of boggles the mind.  Yet some people deny that Jesus was truly human.  They say that he only appeared to be a man, but he was fully human, born like us, an helpless infant, who needed Mary and Joseph to take care of him.  

He grew up advancing in wisdom, age, and grace.  He experienced hunger and thirst.  He became tired.  He slept.  He was tempted by the devil.  He cried over the impending destruction of Jerusalem and when his friend Lazarus died.  And he died a very painful and humiliating death on the cross.  He truly was fully human and exemplified the best of our traits in his kindness, compassion, and love.  

On the other hand, some deny that Jesus was really God, even as many people do today.  The Creed, which we will pray together in a few minutes, says that, “He is eternally begotten of the father.  God from God, light from light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, one in being with the Father.  Through him, the eternal word of God, all things were made.”  Just as he is fully human, he is also God.  

Today’s readings affirm the birth of Jesus as a true human being, true man, just like us.  But he is the most important man whoever set foot on this Earth because he is also God.  All history is related to him, everything that came before him and everything that came after him.  We have even divided our history into two periods, before the birth of Jesus and after the birth of Jesus.  

At Christmas, we celebrate his entrance into the world and into our lives.  He is the one gift we will never need to return.  He is the only one that can give true meaning to our lives and our existence.  A successful life means living for him and with him.  He is our saviour because he takes away our sins and leads us to eternal life.  All he asks is that we are willing to become one of this disciples and follow him.  He is fulfillment of all the prophecies of the Old Testament.

When we look at Jesus in the crib, we should ask ourselves, “Who is this child of Mary and Joseph?”  St. Augustine tell us, “My mouth will speak the praise of the Lord, of the Lord through whom all things have been made, and who has been made in the midst of all things, who is the revealer of the his father, the creator of his mother, who is the word of God before all time, the word made flesh at a suitable time.  Maker of the sun he was made under the sun.”  

“Unspeakably wise, he is wisely speechless, filling the world, he lies in a manger.  Ruler of the stars, he nurses at his mother’s bosom.  He creator of Mary, he is born of Mary.  The seed of Abraham, he was before Abraham.  The maker of the Earth, who was made on the Earth.  He who brought the heavens into existence, was brought into existence under the heavens.  He himself is the day which the Lord has made.  Let us walk in his light.  Let us rejoice and take the light in it.”

We rejoice at Christmastime because we are not alone, because he really is with us, because he is Emanuel.  This great truth should fill us with joy and hope.  Let us rejoice with Mary and Joseph, and the shepherds, and even the sheep and the animals around the crib in Bethlehem, because God is with us.  That is the meaning of Christmas.  Jesus said it best at the end of Matthew’s gospel, “Behold, I am with you all days, even until the end of time.”