When I served as a Deacon at Holy Redeemer Church in Sudbury, Ontario, a child walked forward in the communion procession alongside his parents, and handed me a construction paper star, with red yarn looped through the top and a paper message on it that read, “Jesus loves everyone”. A simple message brought forth from the innocence of a child’s gesture. A simple message in a moment of mutual gift in the midst of eucharist which showed Christ’s presence in more than just one profound gesture.

Why is it that the simplest message of faith is probably the most complicated and unbelievable truth preventing us from living its profound meaning in our lives; not only at Christmas, but throughout the year as well?

Incarnation, Emmanuel, God-With-Us. How ever you say it, or spell it, brings forth such profound wisdom and insight that forces our gaze upwards with star-struck wonder, looking for further signs that bring forth the simple message of truth that God came to be among us, not to condemn us, but to save us. Why? Because of love. Simple as that.

But in our broken humanity, we have a tendency to grasp this simple truth with fists tight, and spin the message in so many unrelated directions often to justify a distorted thought, rooted in biases and fears, and ironically, to justify our reasons to keep everyone at a distance, to keep everyone from knowing the love of Jesus through us, our actions and our sense of being loved.

As we pray for ourselves, our world, lands riddled with war and hatred, for political systems and governments that can make a difference, we pray that our Prince of Peace, Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God and Everlasting Father will be able to break in to us, through our hearts, and be incarnate in our world to make a difference in the everyday here present. It all begins with that simple truth. A truth that is the least likely to be followed by us, elevating our minds and hearts to a mystery beyond our selves, yet a mystery that is as simple and profound as the peace and love that he came to proclaim. The simple truth, “Jesus loves everyone!”

Merry Christmas! Joyeux Nöel! Христос Родився!