As Christians, we are called to be holy. In this week's readings, Moses tells us that God wants us to be holy. Paul tells us that we are God’s temple, and what can be more holy than that? And then Jesus explains what it will take for us to be holy as we’re striving to be perfect, like God. But Jesus doesn’t want us to be discouraged by how difficult this all seems. It won’t be easy, but if we sincerely try to follow the law of love that he lays out, we can meet that higher standard, and we will be in relationship with our God!

Because of the gifts of the Holy Spirit, we have what we need to live righteous lives, and God has given us the free will to do it. But that also makes us accountable. “Free will” is a tremendous responsibility, but if we can learn to open our hearts and minds to the Spirit, we can embrace the deeper wisdom that God offers. That broader perspective on creation, and our place in it, will help us understand the teachings of Jesus. We can see past the letter of the law and live our lives according to the spirit of God’s law!

Being a Christian isn't a spectator sport. God wants us to take positive action and make a difference in the world, and we can do it in big or small ways. We should work together with the Christian community, but we are also called to be conduits for the Holy Spirit. As believers, we are the salt and light of the world, and our lives are sacramental. Our actions should enhance the lives of others, glorify God, and share the light of Christ that will illuminate the darkness in the world!

Righteousness is about adhering to moral or ethical principles and allowing them to guide our actions. Self-righteousness is the belief that one’s own actions and beliefs are morally superior, which leads to being judgmental. As Christians, we are called to seek righteousness and humility, and to put our effort into boasting about the Lord and not about ourselves. It’s challenging because it requires a change in perspective, and then asks us to live according to God’s vision of the world, rather than our own!

After the imprisonment of John, Jesus left Galilee and the Gospel says, “From that time on Jesus began to preach, ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.’” The image of great joy and light to people in darkness is followed by the call to repent because it relieves us of our burdens. When we repent, we open ourselves up to the light of Christ and the joy it brings. So, if we keep our focus on Jesus, we’re able to leave certain things behind and truly answer Jesus’ call!

Being true disciples of Christ means answering God’s call, which makes Jesus our Lord. And if Jesus is our Lord, then we must live as he commands and take up his mission on Earth. Like the Suffering Servant, only preaching to believers isn’t enough. We are called to bring the Good News to all nations. If we remember that Jesus came to take away our sins, then perhaps we can see past our privilege, get out of our comfort zone, and truly bring God’s light to the world!

The Magi honored the baby Jesus and then went on their way but we know we’re called to do more. We only celebrate Christmas one time every year but we believe the light of Christ is a gift meant to be shared every single day. WE have gifts as well and it’s through the sharing of those gifts that we truly honor Jesus and spread the Gospel message of love, radical acceptance, forgiveness, and salvation for all!

Knowing we are children of God doesn’t justify judging and condemning others, especially when we know that invoking God’s name to bless those around us gives us countless opportunities to bring God’s divine grace into the world. Today’s readings can help us connect to Mary and embrace her approach, which was to keep the focus on Jesus. If we play our role to the best of our ability and leave Jesus as the main character, we will be worshipping Christ and honoring the Blessed Virgin Mary!

We believe God is Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. It’s a difficult concept and people wonder, “How is that possible?” Not fully understand something doesn’t make it impossible, and nothing is impossible for God. Others ask, “Why would God become human?” Our answer is that it was the ultimate act of love, because the invisible God became visible and tangible. Jesus brought us closer to God in a way that had never been done before, which is one reason we should truly celebrate at Christmas!

The common thread running through our readings today is the gift of God’s grace. Isaiah challenged Ahaz to place his trust in God, and offered a miraculous sign. His prophecy shows that Jesus Christ is the Son of God which, powered by grace, is what called St. Paul to be an apostle to the Gentiles. But the ultimate gift of God’s grace came through the Incarnation. The birth of Jesus fulfilled God’s loving promise to offer salvation and give us, "the created," a way to spend eternity with God, our Creator!