Dear sisters and brothers in Christ,

St. Thomas Aquinas wrote, “The incarnation accomplished the following: that God became human and that humans became God and sharers in the divine nature.” Through the birth of Jesus Christ, God has restored us to his image and his dignity.

Given God’s dignity, we ought to live up to it. “Christian [people], remember your dignity,” Pope Leo preached one Christmas fifteen hundred winters ago. “Now that you share in God's own nature, do not return by sin to your former base condition. Bear in mind who is your head and of whose body you are a member. Do not forget that you have been rescued from the power of darkness and brought into the light of God's kingdom.”

Note that Pope Leo said, “Christian people,” not “Christmas people.” Christmas, when Christ is born, is the starting point, but not the finish. We cannot stay at Christmas anymore than a child can refuse to grow up. Being Christian is living the cross. Christian dignity embraces the cross out of love, and so shares in God’s glory.

Margaret Silf relates the story of a children’s Nativity play. At the familiar moment, Mary and Joseph knocked at the door, “Please can we have a room for the night.”

The little innkeeper gave the scripted reply, “Sorry, there is no room in the inn.” Then he had second thoughts. “Hang on,” he added. “Don’t go away. You can have my room.”

Being Christian is to make room for all—saints and sinners, divorced and married, new immigrants and Mayflower descendants, believers and seekers. “It’s always Christmas at Nativity” means that God has made his parish for all.

For their sake, Christians, remember their dignity.

Merry and Joyful Christmas!

Father David