“A thrill of hope, the weary world rejoices, for yonder breaks a new and glorious morn.” Dear friends, these words of the popular carol remind us that the day of our Lord’s birth is at hand. As we draw nearer to the celebration of Christmas, our hearts are lifted up and we are filled with expectation and joy. The annual celebration of our Lord’s nativity is a time of special grace, and I pray that you and your loved ones will experience anew the “thrill of hope” and the love of Christ in your hearts and homes.
This year’s celebration of Christmas will be special because of the Holy Year of Jubilee that begins on Christmas Eve. Every 25 years, the Church observes a jubilee year, an entire year to dive deeper into the mysteries of our faith and our relationship with God. As I wrote to you last month, Pope Francis has chosen for the theme of this Holy Year “Pilgrims of Hope.” As the world reels from war and strife and natural disaster, we do not lose hope. Our hope is firm because Jesus Christ, the Son of God, has come as our Savior, and he abides with us even now. A child born in a stable in the tiny town of Bethlehem is the turning point for our world and for each one of us. Even if everything around us seems to be out of control, we can look on the beauty of the Christ-child, and our hope will be restored.
At that first Christmas, some surprising visitors made their way to Bethlehem. A group of shepherds were minding their flocks on the outskirts of the town when they received word from an angel that a Savior was born. Shepherds were far down on the ladder of social prestige in that time. Undoubtedly they were simple, humble men, and their lives were hard. They had little hope for anything better, and they probably didn’t expect much more than what they had. But at the word of the angels they made a pilgrimage to a nearby stable where they found the One who gave them new hope. Gazing on the child, they realized their own worth in God’s eyes. They marveled at being invited to greet the newborn Christ, who is Messiah and Lord. Even though they were lowly in the eyes of the world, they were exalted by the incarnate presence of God. They went away overjoyed and filled with hope, because they knew they had a Savior who loved them.
Another group was also making their own pilgrimage to Bethlehem, but they came from a far country. The magi traveled from Persia in the east, and they were learned and wise in the movements of the heavens. They could have continued their study of the stars in the comfort of their own country, but their hearts were obviously yearning for something more. They set out on an arduous journey, looking for a newborn King who would be the fulfillment of their hopes, and they found him in the manger of Bethlehem. These wise men recognized that this was no ordinary child and no ordinary king. This child would give hope to a weary world, and after their long journey, they were filled with joy. These Magi were lofty and sophisticated in the eyes of the world, but they were wise enough to bow down before Jesus, and they offered him the gifts they brought with them.
Dear friends, at the beginning of this Jubilee Year we can learn from these pilgrims of hope who arrived in Bethlehem. Like the shepherds, we might feel downtrodden and overlooked, but we know that Christ sees us and knows us. In him we are lifted up. Like the magi, we are looking for the One who can bring peace and fulfillment to our lives. If we are wise enough to worship him and offer him our gifts, he will reward us with the gifts of heaven. Luke tells us they returned to their country by another way, because everyone who encounters Jesus can be changed and set out on a new, hope-filled path.
As we prepare to celebrate Christmas this year, I pray each one of us will make our own pilgrimage of hope to Bethlehem. We can bring with us all of our worries and fears and lay them at the feet of the newborn Savior, and our hope will be renewed. Looking upon Jesus, who came from heaven to dwell with us, we realize that God is not far away and unconcerned. He is right here with us, offering us the gift of his love and salvation. I suspect we all know someone who struggles at times with hope, and who might be looking for deeper meaning in their lives. Perhaps we can invite that person to join us on this pilgrimage, or to make their own pilgrimage to Bethlehem. And then, after welcoming the Christ child, our pilgrimage continues. He sends us out into the world, as witnesses of the hope we have received. We go forth from Bethlehem as heralds of the good news to others, just like the shepherds and the magi. May this Christmas, and the upcoming Holy Year of Jubilee, be a time of grace, peace, and hope for us all.