Some years ago I had the privilege of living in the desert southwest Town of Yuma, Arizona. Yuma was located in the Sonoran Desert. It was quite a different experience for someone who grew up in the northeast. At first glance the desert seemed like mounds of lifeless sand, but in the right conditions it could explode with life and beauty. The setting sun would dance across the sand, highlighting the different mountain hues and painting the sky in vibrant blue, gold, and fiery red. The parched desert floor could bloom also. Although rare, a heavy spring rain would flood the desert floor and trigger long dormant seeds to bloom. Within a few days in the recovering sunlight, the desert floor would bloom becoming a carpet of multi colored wild flowers. The once barren and lifeless desert floor, would be like a canvas an artist would paint with vibrant colors of violet, yellow, red, white, blue, and green.

The prophet Isaiah uses this same imagery in his prophetic announcement of the Messiah. “The desert and the parched land will exult… will bloom with abundant flowers…” “They will see the glory of the Lord, the splendor of our God – Be strong, fear not! Here is your God. He comes with vindication; with divine recompense he comes to save you.”

Into a world parched for life and love, our God comes to save us. He comes not as a tyrant, but a baby in a crib. Like the desert bloom, the tender love of a baby brings new life, new beginnings, new hope and promise. Nowhere is this more profound than in the birth of the Christ child. “For today in the city of David a Savior has been born for you who is Christ and Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find an infant wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger.”

Without God our lives and our world become parched and lifeless. But God never abandons His Creation. He comes in the new life of the baby Jesus to save us. This Christmas, let us behold the Christ Child and welcome God anew.

The clergy and staff of Saint Catherine of Siena parish wish you and your loved ones, a Blessed and Merry Christmas!

~Father Donohoe