What Child Is This?
Throughout the Sacred Season of Advent, on Christmas and throughout the Christmas Season, Sacred Scripture points us to the One whose birth has forever transformed us and our world. Jesus Christ is the One alone who saves us and allows us to share in His very life both now and forever.
The words from one of the forms of the Act of Penitence of the Mass also assist us in understanding the identity of the Christ Child: Lord Jesus, You are mighty God and Prince of peace; Lord Jesus, You are Son of God and Son of Mary; and, Lord Jesus, You are Word made flesh and splendor of the Father.
Lord Jesus, You are mighty God and Prince of peace. God sent His Son into the world to take away our sins, to bring us peace and to show us how to live in harmony with one another. If you are burdened by sin, guilt or shame, celebrate the Lord’s infinite mercy and forgiveness in the Sacrament of Penance. In His loving embrace, you will know a peace the world cannot give. If you are clinging to bitterness or resentment, forgive others as the Lord has forgiven you. Only when we are in harmony with one another can we know the genuine peace of the Lord. At a time when our world experiences turmoil and witnesses so much violence, we find our hope in the God who has power over all that is evil. With renewed faith, we entrust our lives and the needs of our world to His care.
Lord Jesus, You are Son of God and Son of Mary. Jesus Christ is true God and true man. He is Son of the eternal Father, divine like His Father in heaven. He is also Son of the Virgin Mary, human like His mother and like us. The Child is one person. He has two natures, divine and human. He is the Mediator between God and His people. We must renew our commitment, in the midst of the demands of life, to spend time in humble adoration of Jesus, for He is the Son of God. We must be convinced that in His humanity He identifies with us and all that we experience. Thus, with renewed confidence we constantly turn to Him, especially in our time of need, and also seek the intercession of His Mother, asking her to protect us.
Lord Jesus, You are Word made flesh and splendor of the Father. According to God’s plan, Jesus was conceived in an extraordinary way by the power of the Holy Spirit. In becoming flesh, He reveals the dignity of every person. He proclaims and teaches that all human life is to be revered and all persons, regardless of race or ethnic background, religion, culture or worldly titles, are to be treated with dignity and respect. Christmas means that every life is sacred. Christmas challenges us to reflect this belief. I am in awe of the countless ways people throughout our Diocese respond to this call. I am deeply inspired by the great outreach to the unborn, the vulnerable, the sick and suffering, the prisoner, the hungry, the poor, the homeless and all those in need. In addition to such acts of generosity and compassion, I invite you to participate in the events throughout the month of January celebrating the sacredness of all human life, especially the Rally for Life in Raleigh (January 17) and the Mass and March for Life in Washington, DC (January 22). More than ever, our world needs this public witness and example!
In word and deed may we reflect our belief that the Christ Child is Mighty God and Prince of peace, Son of God and Son of Mary, and Word made flesh and the splendor of the Father. And, may you and your families know His abundant blessings in this Sacred Season and always!
Most Reverend Michael F. Burbidge