The Bishop Writes

(From the Dec. 21, 2000 edition of the Inland Register)

Bethlehem today is a small village located just a few miles from Jerusalem. I suspect that it has not changed much since the time of Jesus, except for the large number of tour busses and pilgrims who come there every year.

The Basilica of the Nativity is located over the spot supposedly where Jesus was born. The very spot of the birth is in a very small room at the lowest level under the basilica where only a few people can gather at a time.

The last couple of times I have visited the Basilica of the Nativity have been marked by disturbances of violence in the courtyard. One incident involved a rambunctious crowd upset about some matter in front of the police station; the other, a fierce fistfight between two boys right in front of the basilica.

Incidentally, at the present time there is almost no tourist traffic in the area because of the recent violence, and this year there will be no formal large celebrations at Christmas.

We might well say how contradictory is the present situation, contrasted to this very sacred place where the Son of God was born. The scene of the birth as we read in both the Gospel of St. Luke and that of St. Matthew describes a very human event. Mary and Joseph can’t find a room in the inn. The birth takes place in a stable, probably a cave, and the crib for the newborn is a manger.

Luke tells us about the shepherds from the nearby fields who received a vision from an angel about the marvelous news of the birth of the Savior. Shepherds were not considered to be at the upper end of the strata of society at that time. Yet, they were singled out by God to receive this long-awaited great news.

Just as the birth of Jesus was surrounded by the human condition and contradictory signs, so, too, today, Bethlehem is a place of tension and disagreement. Violence and deep bitterness mark relationships between peoples of differing religious traditions. Yet, that electrifying moment of the birth of Jesus continues to leave its profound impact upon our world in celebration and thanksgiving. In a sense, the place of birth has been multiplied millions of time over every Christmas, with crib scenes and reenactments of the events surrounding the birth of Jesus.

The human condition is present not only at the place of the birth of Jesus, but all over the world. The Prince of Peace still needs to be proclaimed and his message lived. We can speak all we want about the place of birth or the place of our celebrations, or the contradictions in our world that need the saving presence of Jesus. Most of all, we need look at ourselves.

We hear a lot of comment these days about putting Christ back in Christmas. The time before Christmas has certainly been commercialized, but I would suggest that we look at something far deeper. We need to make sure that we recognize him in our hearts. In a sense we need to put Christ back into our lives so that the message of this great event in human history continues to be lived out in every one of us. Fidelity to the presence of Jesus in our lives takes wisdom, insight, humility and perseverance. Just as we see the outside world struggle with the human condition, so each of us struggles with becoming more whom Jesus calls us to be. The wonderful message of Christmas is that Jesus does not give up, neither on persons nor situations, even 2,000 years later.

The place of birth where the shepherds recognized the presence of the Savior is multiplied countless times over by the places where we encounter Jesus in our lives. The celebration of Christmas is one of those experiences. Sacraments and church are other invaluable and rich opportunities through which we recognize and experience a loving Redeemer who asks us in turn to live and spread the marvelous good news his love for all of humanity.

May God bless all of you with a very joyful, peaceful and blessed Christmas!

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