Blessed Christmas to all on this glorious day, the Nativity of the Lord. The Gospel reading for today’s Mass is the prologue to St. John’s Gospel. These are the most profound words ever written because they are about the most important thing that ever happened: God became a man. This is the true significance of Christmas. The Divine Word became flesh and took on a human body and soul. On this Christmas day, St. John tells us the one Word that matters more than any other. It’s Jesus, the living Word of God who reigned from the beginning with the Father and who gives life to everything in the universe. He is the Holy Word whose “light shines in the darkness” to deliver us from sin and death. He “became flesh and made his dwelling among us.” He is “the Father’s only Son.” He is the Word of God, who came to speak peace, healing, joy and salvation in our world. Today we will celebrate Christ’s birth with family and friends by exchanging gifts, feasting on traditional foods, and sharing cherished memories of Christmases past. This is all good, but Jesus must be at the center of it all. We must take time to welcome Him into our hearts. He is the true and everlasting gift that remains with us always. Jesus invites each of us to the most precious feast of the Eucharist at every Mass. The remembrance of His passion, death, and resurrection must be always on our minds. Yes, celebrate today with those you love but be sure Jesus has the place of honor among all the festivities. Thanks be to God for this joyful and miraculous day.