It's common to hear children talk about Christmas as being Jesus' birthday. I've heard adults do the same, and I confess I find it sad to think an adult would think this is the case. Is Christmas Jesus' birthday; NO! To call Christmas Jesus' birthday is to neglect the real significance of the solemnity. Christmas celebrates and proclaims the Incarnation; God become fully human. We, as followers of Jesus are asked to do the reverse; namely to become divine (well as close as we can get). It seems to me that no matter what anyone thinks about the virgin birth or the authenticity of the nativity narrative, the Incarnation and our own striving to "be perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect" make Christmas much more. Like Mary in today's gospel (Luke 1:26-38), at Christmas we hear "The Lord is with you". May we be as generous as Mary in our own response!
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