The Pandemic has destroyed hopes and dreams throughout the United States—and indeed throughout all Humanity.

As a result, there is a pandemic of feeling that our lives are unimportant.

A pandemic of feeling that our lives are insignificant.

A pandemic of feeling that our lives are meaningless.

A pandemic of depression.

A pandemic of suicide.

A pandemic of hate.

A pandemic of anger.

A pandemic of broken relationships.

A pandemic of violent actions.

Therefore, I thought now is a good time to quote the following passage from my book Visions of the Church to remind us that “the truth of Christmas . . . brings peace on earth—and peace for all Humanity”:

The truth of Christmas is that God cares about each one of us.

God is not merely far away, tending to the birth of new stars. God is near at hand, tending to the birth of each baby.

God is not merely counting the millennia while Humanity gains technological prowess. God is counting the hairs on each person’s head. (Matthew 10:30).

God is not merely watching as the galaxy turns. God is watching each sparrow that falls. (Matthew 10:29-30).

The truth of Christmas is that each person is eternally, infinitely important.

Indeed, “whoever welcomes a little child . . . welcomes Jesus Christ.” (Matthew 18:5).

There is a “kingdom prepared . . . since the creation of the world” for those who

     —give a hungry person something to eat;

     —give a thirsty person something to drink;

     —give shelter to a stranger;

     —give clothes to a needy person; or

     —visit a prisoner. (Matthew 25:34-36).

“[E]ternal life” awaits each person who performs such tiny acts of kindness.

But “eternal fire” and “eternal punishment” await each person who neglects to perform such tiny acts of kindness as if the person in need was Jesus himself. (Matthew 25:41-43, 46).

The truth of Christmas is that our lives have meaning. There is a true union between spiritual values and physical reality.

Faith, hope and love exist in history, not merely in myth.

The truth of Christmas is that God is a person.

That is why God was perfectly revealed to us by becoming flesh and dwelling among us as a person.

And that is why we know God perfectly by having a personal relationship with God, our Friend.

We cannot be a friend to a human merely by thinking thoughts, learning facts, and following rules.

We must laugh with our friend. We must weep with our friend. We must hope the best for our friend. We must hug our friend.

Similarly, we cannot be a friend to God merely by thinking thoughts, learning facts, and following rules.

Being a friend to God requires the engagement of our whole personality—our laughter, our tears, our hopes, our hugs. (Deuteronomy 6:4-9; Matthew 5:17; 22:37-40).

By living among us, Jesus revealed that God is such a person—such a friend to us.

     —Jesus laughed (Mark 12:37-39; John 2:1-11).

     —Jesus wept (John 11:35);

     —Jesus hoped (John 4:35); and

     —Jesus hugged (Matthew 8:1-8; Mark 10:16).

The truth of Christmas—that Christ came in the flesh and dwelt among us—brings peace on earth.

And peace for all Humanity!

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The quoted passage was first published in 2004 in my book Visions of the Church (published together with Visions of America) in the Section “The Truth of Christmas”, at pages 167-168. I made a few modifications to the quotation for publication in this blog.

The Truth of Christmas and the Truth of Easter are discussed at length throughout Visions of the Church.

For a number of applications of the Truth of Christmas, please read my blogs “St. Francis of Assisi Made the Way of Jesus Great Again”, “St. Francis of Assisi’s Vision of the Nativity”, “The Nativity Scene: Baby Jesus”, “The Nativity Scene: Mary”, “The Nativity Scene: Joseph”, “The Nativity Scene: The Homeless Family”, “The Nativity Scene: The Humble Stable”, “The Nativity Scene: The Shepherds”, “The Nativity Scene: The Magi”, “The Nativity Scene: The Sheep”; and “The Nativity Scene: The Angels”.

For more Pandemic Wisdom, please read my blogs “Pandemic Wisdom: Straining at the Oars”, “Pandemic Wisdom: Meditating”, “Fear Not the Pestilence That Stalks in the Darkness”,  “Holding Your Hand, Hearing Your Voice”, “Pandemic Wisdom: The Faith of My Father”, “The Baby Jesus ‘Vaccine’ Is Coming”, “Irresistible Hurricanes of the Holy Spirit”, “Pandemic Wisdom: Feeding Multitudes”, “Pandemic Wisdom: Multiple Choice Exams & No-Win-Scenarios”, “Trusting the LORD Will Provide”, “Getting Out of Your Tent”, “LORD Willing”, “Pandemic Wisdom: Visions of America”, “Pandemic Wisdom: Hear and See, Understand and Perceive”, “Pandemic Wisdom: Praying and Waiting”, “Pandemic Wisdom: Festive Throngs”, “Pandemic Wisdom—Hezekiah“, ”Pandemic Wisdom: Scattering the Church”, “Pandemic Wisdom: Paul Under House Arrest”, “Pandemic Wisdom: I Was Glad When I Went into the House of the LORD”, and “Pandemic Wisdom: We Need No Longer Fear Death”.