Dear family and friends,

Whenever there was a new niece or nephew born into my family, I have vivid memories of seeing them for the first time. I recall being asked, “Would you like to hold her or him?” The joy of doing so was being shared with the rest of the family by proud parents bringing new life into the world. Not having children of my own, this simple gesture remains a beautiful memory of knowing that there are times when joy is much too big to be kept to oneself. One naturally holds the infant on the left side of one’s chest, connecting heart to heart with the blessing of new life.

This simple gesture of heartfelt hospitality seems to be so common and universal that it is easy to imagine Mary and Joseph doing the same, saying to the shepherds and other visitors, “Would you like to hold him? We want you to share in our joy.”

At Christmas time we are all given an invitation to hold Him close to our hearts and feel the joy of new life this season celebrates. Even a few moments of seeing ourselves in the scene that took place in Bethlehem, a birth like all births, one that changed the world bringing a message that new life no matter where it takes place is a blessing to all of us.

It is difficult not to also think of the stories and images we see on the news of children playing in the rubble of bombed out buildings that have become their playground. With deep sorrow over the 31,000 children under age 5 having been killed in Gaza during the conflict there comes to mind. Our children have active shooter drills in schools throughout the country. The threat of deportation and the separation of immigrant families is talked about as a new administration is about to take its place in the White House. How do such images take their place in our Christmas celebration this year? The good news of the Gospel message welcoming new life into our world is proclaimed with apprehension.

May the narrative that is ours to write with our lives be one that celebrates life, and not destroy it, one that invites us to hold the newborn child of our dreams in a world of justice, inclusiveness and peace. With the angels that proclaimed the birth of Jesus we join them asking the world, “Would you like to hold Him?”

May you feel His heartbeat in yourself and in others,

Br. Joseph Kilikevice, OP
Shem Center for Interfaith Spirituality