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Today in the city of David, a Savior has been born to you—that is Christ the Lord.

Tonight we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, our Savior—the Redeemer. God became man. We remember this mystery every year, so that every year we have the opportunity to delve deeper into it, to contemplate it, to understand it even better. The fact that God became man is a mystery —the mystery of the incarnation, just as our most important holiday is the mystery of the Resurrection of Jesus. The fact that it is a mystery is indicated by the very fact that we celebrate both of these holidays at night. Because the night is associated with a particular mystery, a person must enter the nocturnal depths of the mysteries of Christmas and Easter to understand their message. It is similar to looking at the night sky full of stars, when we touch the infinity of the universe with our minds. 

Even when we look at the Bethlehem scenery, our mind is invited to touch the infinity of God’s love. Because precisely in his infinite love, God decided to become man, to humble himself to our human level, to embrace our imperfect humanity with his perfect love of God. He was born as a tiny, vulnerable, fragile child. And why? He was born so that no one would be afraid to approach him, so that no one would have to be scared of him, and so that everyone could feel his closeness. Additionally, God does not impose his gifts; he only offers them. God chose to be born as an infant child because he wanted to be loved and to teach us to love. 

He came to show us the way. God is love, and that is why he comes in love. He is unconditional love that puts up no obstacles. Love is realized in relationships, and to truly love means being able to forgive and have time for the other, for the family. A time when we can show each other how we love each other, because actions should accompany love; otherwise, it is an empty word.

Pure love spreads from the manger, and each of us is responsible for what we share with our surroundings. In today’s modern media, it is very easy to spread anything. Populists exploit this very skillfully because they need to create the impression that we live in a time when everything is actually bad, and there are only negative solutions. People are then no longer looking for someone who wants to solve problems, but only for someone who represents their feelings, desires, fears, hatred, and the like.

On the contrary, Jesus invites us: Remain in my love and you will bear much fruit. We can create a society whose root is precisely love, which allows us to overcome prejudices and to see in the other a sister and brother whom we should always love. Only this will lead us to unity, not shared ideology, hatred, or fear, but mutual respect and love—and then we will also discover that even people with different opinions are gifts from God. A divided society is a weak society, which is why every enemy tries to divide their opponent first, as the slogan ‘Divide and rule’ expresses. Let us strive for unity, because only in unity is there strength. Bethlehem gives us hope as humanity that we belong together and that we are beneficial together. What unites us is much stronger than what divides us.

Let us therefore be filled with the love that comes from the manger. May this true love shine from us like the Star of Bethlehem to everyone we meet, and may it not only be now at Christmas.

On the threshold of the Christmas holidays, the morning liturgy of Christmas Eve offers us a text whose recitation in the liturgy of morning praise can sometimes become routine for some. However, it is truly a concise text of what we celebrate during the Christmas holidays. The author of the hymn looks at the circumstances of his life, the birth of John the Baptist, in the light of God’s plan for all of humanity, similar to what the evangelist John does in his prologue. Zechariah’s hymn contemplates history and prophetically looks into the future, which cannot turn out otherwise than well, because the God he encountered in his life is infinitely positive. Gratitude wells up from Zechariah’s heart for the way God has intervened in his family and in his life. Becoming grateful and giving thanks is a prerequisite for faith.

The entire text reflects this gushing spring of gratitude, which Zechariah could no longer stop. Imagine Christians who possess such a spring of gratitude! Thus, the beneficial news could immediately infect pessimistic and eternally complaining humanity. In joyful Christians, they would encounter salt that would add flavor to their lives, and light would come into their darkness. Is this an idealistic wish? We must not admit that at all, for the God whom Zechariah sings about here has accomplished this precisely in himself. The older man, who had long since stopped dreaming and doubted more than he should have according to the Scriptures (Luke 1:18-20), becomes a herald of the truth that where God enters life, the impossible becomes possible. On this Christmas Day, as we reflect on all the gifts we have received or will receive, let us ask for the gift of gratitude, making this day truly generous! And let us begin by giving thanks for the most minor things! We will be surprised at how rich we are.

Recently, an elderly Dutch priest, a Verist, stopped by our monastery. He was so profoundly deaf that, at times, it seemed as though we were constantly raising our voices to him. When I asked him how old he was, he quickly asked how old we were instead. Finally, he admitted that he was almost ninety, but with the remark, “You may be many years old, but you must not grow old!” And this thought really described him, because he was full of gratitude and joy. Our dialogue continued, and the missionary who once began his mission in Ghana by digging a well in an empty field added, “When people see the grace you have received, they will know that you are rich!” And I must say that we suddenly became rich too when we met this wise man. Zacharias’ experience and the content of his hymn thus became a living testimony in the person of an older man of our time, who for a moment illuminated our entire community. And believe me, we had no desire to leave the table, because a person transformed by God’s grace is captivating at any age!

Where gratitude, starting with details, is lacking, faith in God is lost. Suddenly, there is no one to thank! In contrast, when we view life through the lens of God’s plan, believing that everything is in His benevolent hands, our faith grows, and we become enriched. Zechariah became younger! What caused this? The Holy Spirit. In verse 67, we read that he was filled with the Holy Spirit. He opened Zechariah’s eyes to a new perspective. His life did not suddenly end with death. Zechariah found himself in God’s rich plan, where time is not counted and eternity is a gift. He no longer told himself he belonged “in the scrap heap.” The old man began to live an adventure because God gave him a glimpse into his depths through the Spirit, as the apostle Paul wrote: “But to us God has revealed them through the Spirit; for the Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God.” Zechariah sought to know God even more. With the Apostle Paul, he can say that he was graced to “proclaim to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ and to bring to light the meaning of the mystery hidden for ages in God, who created all things.” God wants to make himself known to us.

He bends down to us in the person of Jesus Christ, as an adult to a child. He speaks in our language so that we can understand him. He wants to heal us from the lies that the devil told us when we were weakened and wounded by sin, and thus separated us from our Heavenly Father. He wants to draw everyone back to himself (John 12:32). He longs to show that he has never ceased to be a Father and that he keeps his promises. He is willing to do everything to win his children back and remove from them the burden of sin, and all that is its consequence: guilt, shame, and fear. “We pray that we may serve him without fear and share with him the riches that belong to God’s heirs.” Fear is what most prevents us from seeing and using the gift. Yes, Christmas is about gifts. The New Testament begins clearly: Let yourself be gifted, accept the gift that God gives you in Christ, and with it He gives you everything else. You can receive this gift completely free. It will transform your heart and life. Blessed Christmas!

CURRICULUM VITAE

He came from Keta near Kraków, where he graduated from the university and later became a professor of theology and philosophy. He also worked as a canon and, for a short time, was a parish administrator. His life was filled with loving care, especially for poor students. He knew the value and significance of the pilgrimage on foot, which he made to Jerusalem and then to the tombs of the apostles in Rome four times. He always loved to return to his beloved chair in Kraków and died at an advanced age.

CV FOR MEDITATION

THE POWER OF A LOVING LIFE

He was born on 23 June 1390 in the village of Malec, 5 km from Kęta, about 70 km southwest of Kraków, Kraków, Poland. His father, Stanisław Cantius, and mother, Anna, taught their gifted son primarily piety. Jan Cantius, called Kętský after his hometown, studied at the Jagiellonian University in Krakow from about 20 or 23 years old, with excellent results. At 27, he became an associate professor of philosophy. After further studies, especially in theology, he was ordained a priest. He was allegedly 34 years old, which would place him in 1424. However, in 1421, the church authorities appointed him rector of the monastery school in Miechów. He worked there until 1429, when he was called as a professor at the university in Krakow, where he had previously studied. Before that, he was also a canon of the Krakow Chapter of St. Florian. He soon renounced his church duties and earned a living by copying codices. He always began his work with the words “in nomine Domini” and ended it with “in laudem Dei”. Over the years, he also wrote commentaries on the Gospel of St. Matthew, the Sentences of Peter Lombard, and the Summa of Thomas Aquinas.

John of Kent was distinguished by great modesty and asceticism. Both were associated with great love for God and his fellow man. In his humility before God, he was keenly aware of his every slightest imperfection, which is why he liked to travel to holy places on foot as a penitent, regardless of the distance. With the blessing of the Bishop of Krakow, he set out for the Holy Land. He did not give in to various warnings or persuasions from his companions to use a horse. In the heat of love, he is said to have spoken to the Mohammedans in Palestine and returned in good health, only exhausted from the journey, but with great comfort in his heart. After that, he traveled to the tombs of the apostles in Rome four more times. On his travels, he performed acts of love and thus taught practically. Everywhere, some people need help not only because of poverty, but also because of illness of body or soul.

On one of his trips to Rome, he was attacked by robbers, who asked him if he had any more money, and he said no. When they released him, he remembered the gold coins sewn into his garment and returned them, explaining that he had not intended to deceive them but had forgotten them. This, one might say, shocked them, and this encounter with the saint converted them. The amazement at such sincerity made them reflect on their previous lives, until they came to a penitential confession, to which John invited them with the promise of heavenly consolation. After granting them absolution, John is said to have accepted their hospitality and encouraged them in good things. In connection with this story, the example of Jesus, who did not condemn, but, as he said, “came to seek and to save that which was lost.” (Luke 19:10)

John of Kent was very merciful and kind to everyone, especially people with low incomes, to whom he gave more than he could. It is said that he often gave his shoes to a barefoot beggar and then lowered his cloak so that it was not visible that he was walking barefoot. One winter, he allegedly saw a half-naked poor man on the street in the snow, wrapped him in his doctor’s cloak, and continued to serve mass for him. Immediately after the service, he rushed with his assistants to the place where he had left the person in question. However, he was never found. However, John saw the doctor’s cloak hanging in his locked home. Subsequently, a legend spread that the poor man was Jesus himself.

More detailed biographies deal more with John’s generosity. In them, he is called a pantry and a provider for poor students. During a great famine, when there was nowhere else to take, an unknown voice told him in a dream that in the morning he should ask the first person he met for a donation to illuminate the image of the Mother of God, and then ask pious women for a pea, a lump of salt and a pinch of porridge… and offer everything to the Virgin Mary, who would multiply the small alms with her blessing. The first person John met in the morning was a merchant who wanted to show his gratitude for the grace he had received and added something for the students. He also received much more from the women in response to a modest request, and from that day on, he had no shortage of people with low incomes.

It is said that he wept with those who wept, rejoiced with those who were happy, and suffered with those who suffered. The legend also tells of a poor widow who called for help for her dying child too late. Despite her despair, John urged her to sacrifice the child to God. He took it in his arms, and after his prayer, it came to life. His work was imbued with the power of a loving life.

Once a fire broke out in Krakow, and John told the people, “Where a person is helpless, God will help.” Then he knelt to pray fervently. During the fire, a man allegedly appeared to him; according to John, it was St. Stanislaus, who told him to be calm and that his prayer would put out the fire. And that is what happened. Subsequently, John admonished people to repent to avert God’s punishments. These can occur because God does not intervene against the harmful things people do. Following the example of a particular saint, John wrote verses in various places – on doors, tables, seats, and in books – with which he reminded everyone that it is not permissible to harm the good reputation of others.

For some time, Jan was also a parish priest in the mining town of Olkuš nad Krakovem, but he reportedly perceived it as a burden and was soon called back to a university chair in Kraków, where he was pleased to return. He was twice elected dean of the Faculty of Philosophy.

After giving away all he had for the last time and receiving the last sacraments, he died at the age of 83. He was buried in the Church of St. Anne in Kraków. He was beatified in 1690 by Pope Alexander VIII and canonized in 1767 by Pope Clement XIII.

RESOLUTION, PRAYER

Indeed, much can only be done in the power of love, connection with God, and for His glory, as is shown in the lives of many saints. The opposite is concern for one’s own “self.” I must increasingly see the needs of others and consider them more important than before. The help is to see Christ in others.

Almighty God, guide us to ever more profound insight into the wisdom of your saints and, following the example of Saint John, to do good to all men, so that the promise of your mercy may be fulfilled in us too through your Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, world without end. 

  Perhaps, when looking at a memorial plaque or statue of a notable personality from any field, the thought has occurred to you: Who were their parents? How did they live? What did they do to make their child famous? We know very little about the parents of well-known personalities; we often learn about them only marginally, and yet they usually mattered in what would become of their son or daughter. This thought also became relevant while reading today’s Gospel, which tells of Zechariah’s offering of a sacrifice and his meeting with the angel Gabriel, who announces the good news to him. The predecessor of the Lord Jesus – John the Baptist, by his father and mother, came from the descendants of Aaron, from the priestly family, which enjoyed the most tremendous respect among the Jews. When a woman did not have a child, it was understood as a punishment from God for her and the entire family. This fate also befell Elizabeth and Zechariah. But both were righteous before God and kept all the commandments and statutes of the Lord blamelessly. Elizabeth and Zacharias were already advanced in age. The lot fell on Zacharias to enter the sanctuary and offer incense on the golden altar. It was a tremendous honor for Zacharias, as he represented the entire nation at this ceremony. Zacharias was aware of this honor. He was certainly overcome with excitement. It is also a time when the country is demanding the Messiah’s arrival. The hated Romans are spreading among their nation. The nation is more aware than ever that only the Messiah can deliver it from this sad state. Zacharias is aware of his old age, the years of his wife, and the fact that the Messiah will not come from their womb. In his younger years, he had hoped that God would hear his prayers. But even so, now he is asking for the coming of the future Messiah. He also has his goal in mind with the incense offering that he wants to make. Let us recall that when David established the Old Testament worship, he divided the priests into 24 classes. Each performed a week of service in the temple. It was decided by lot who would perform what service in his class. One of the priests entered the sanctuary every morning and evening, and there burned sacrificial incense on the so-called golden altar.

Zechariah also performed this service. At this offering, an angel announced to him the birth of a son. Instead of immediately believing, Zechariah thinks only of the obstacles nature has placed in the way of these words: infertility and old age. And yet the thought of hope flashed through his mind! After all, how many similar births does the nation know? After all, the mothers of Isaac, Samson, and Samuel were also of advanced age and gave birth to sons. Yet, Zechariah asks the angel, “How can I know this? I am an old man, and my wife is well along in years.” The angel answered him, “I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I was sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news. But you will be mute and unable to speak until the day these things happen, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their time” (Luke 1:18-20). 

If Jesus only wanted the wicked to change and become beneficial, then behaving honestly would win it.” And I feel that this is how we often act with the gospel and Jesus’ work of salvation—it is about sinners turning around, abandoning their sin, and thus changing their “no” to a “yes.” So why does he mention the second situation today, when “yes” ultimately becomes “no”? The answer is because he does not view the world in terms of “good” or “bad”! After all, He came so that everyone—good and evil (from our perspective)—”may have life and have it more abundantly.” He came so that we may have life. This is absolutely crucial because both good and evil individuals can choose to accept or reject life, close themselves off from hope, or become a person of hope.

One may do so for comfort, while the other may do so due to their sinfulness. There may be various reasons for this behavior, but the fact remains that resignation towards life and hope poses a danger for everyone. It’s not about how long we can be “sinless,” how strong we are, or how much good we can extract. It is about how often we have fallen into sin and neglected our resolutions. It is about never stopping, living, and desiring life. And we can and should do this—whether as “sinners” or as “righteous.” The Father has taken care of such issues for us through his Son, Jesus.

Come to the depths: How do I look at myself and the people around me—have I not put on “black and white” glasses of morality, through which I see very clearly “black and white,” good and bad people? When was the last time I glorified and praised God for His patience and generosity, for continually inviting me into the fullness of life, love, joy, and hope? Is it enough for me to be “good,” or do I want to live a life in the Spirit?

Tip for you: Today, I will not pass judgments—neither on myself nor on others.