It is staggering to conceive that I AM WHO AM humbled himself for the sake of human creatures, of whom God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness”. [Gen 1:26] Yet God, by his own work, created man from dust, gifting him breath and life. God planted a garden for the man and woman. He walked with them each day in the cool of the evening breeze. [cf Gen 3:8] Though they scorned him, God loved and blessed his human creation. Myriad human generations followed with their vaunted civilizations, but not one among them preferred righteousness to grasping for divinity. Nor did any society in the history of things escape by its own powers the whirlwind of its self-inflicted miseries. What the apostle Paul wrote is true. “The whole creation has been groaning in travail together until now”. [Rom 8:22] Desiring to rekindle among human beings a remembrance and reverence for his own divine image and likeness, God willed to empty himself “taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men”. [Phi 2:7] Of Mary in Bethlehem of Judea, a child was born who was and is and ever shall be fully human and fully divine. Foretold as the Emmanuel sent to be with us, his father Joseph named the boy Jesus, for his kingdom is mercy and loving kindness. He will purify our hearts in his likeness “from one degree of glory to another”. [2Cor 3:18] The Shepherd asks, “Who do you say that I AM?” [Lk 9:20] Worship him “in spirit and truth”. [Jn 4:24] Learn “the way, and the truth, and the life”. [Jn 14:6] Eat his Body and drink his Blood. Do the works of God. On Christ Mass Day, gaze on the Christ child, the ALL IN ALL who in his glory will be everything to everyone. [cf 1Cor 15:28] Go forth to celebrate the goodness of God’s creation. Bless your children. Bless the souls who sleep. Bless the world entire. Rejoice! Sincerely in the hearts of Jesus and Mary. Your pastor, Reverend Richard Barker