Missionaries of the Sacred

I have often attended Christmas gatherings where a guest or two are invited  because they would have nowhere to celebrate the holiday. On these occasions, I often reflect on how this would be wonderful if the whole world would do this, not only during the Christmas season but throughout the year.

The Christmas season always involves community gathering, community building and community outreach. When we build community and reach out to others, we experience one of the foremost meanings of Christmas. The gospels show that wherever Jesus went, he formed a community and continues to do so today: “For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.” (Matthew 18:20). Jesus came to establish the community of the Reign of God. This community would be united in the bonds of a dynamic love. St. John reminds us, “Beloved, let us love one another because love is of God; everyone who loves is begotten by God and knows God. Whoever is without love does not know God, for God is love.” (I John 4:7-8)

This love which unites us to one another is not static. It is a love that reaches out to others. Like Jesus we can say,

The birth of Jesus reminds us of our vocation. The Incarnation is the testimony that God is love. We are all invited to share in this remarkable reality. God’s love summons us to love one another. The Reign of God, the community of believers are called to love one another.

This love is open to all persons. It is the “ultimate measure and rule of every dynamic related to human relationships...it is the very mystery of God, Trinitarian love that is the basis of the meaning and value of the person, of social relations, of human activity.” (Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church, 54)

Perhaps during this Christmas season, we can  reflect on the birth of Christ and his call for us to build community and to reach out to others. This Christmas, we might also mediate more on the fact that Christ wishes that we live these values, not just during holiday seasons, but live them each day.