Realize the real gifts of the season

My Dear Brothers and Sisters,

The religious traditions associated with the celebration of Christmas fill us with desire and longing. Our desires run much deeper than material things. We experience a longing of the spirit; a desire not of the flesh, but of the soul. We want to be at peace with ourselves and the world around us. We want to feel more love, more joy and a deeper connection with each other and the meaning of the season.

Our holiday traditions, however, have become filled with stress. We plan, shop and prepare endlessly, then worry about how we are going to pay for it all. Many of us, despite the spirit of celebration, end up feeling excited but exhausted, full yet empty, surrounded by family and friends, but still lonely.

We could learn much about ourselves and the real gifts of the season. Our worth isn't measured by the material gifts we give, nor does the parade of presents we receive prove how deeply we are loved. The real gift of the season comes from the heart. Our attentiveness to one another, our loving presence, our attempts to understand, to be sympathetic and compassionate — these are the authentic gifts which reflect the authenticity of the one who came down to Earth to raise us up to heaven.

It is in these simple gestures of caring and reaching out that we fill those empty spaces in our lives, that we find the peace, which we seek, and that we find rest in our wanderings.

Jesus came into our world in a profoundly humble way, as a helpless infant of poor parents in an obscure village. In many ways his humble origins were signs of the hidden God who is always present in our lives, who waits to be seen and to be touched. He shows us the way to the Father; a path filled with love and caring, with mercy and hope.

It is not possible for me to think about Christmas without concern for the many thousands of families who will not be in their homes, but who will spend this Christmas either in a crammed trailer or under some expressway overpass. Our hearts and our prayers go out to them. More importantly, we express our solidarity with them by our efforts this Christmas to help them rebuild their homes and their lives. Christ came to do that for us. Can he expect anything less of us in return?

I pray that you and your families will be blessed this year with a Christmas filled with joy and peace.

Sincerely yours in the Lord,

Bishop John H. Ricard, SSJ