Everybody loves a baby. One of the most rewarding times of my nursing career was the time spent in maternity services. Particularly in the labour suite witnessing and assisting a new life into the world, a split second in time when the baby emerges and all of a sudden, when it takes its first breath, is filled with life. Then, helping to look after the newborn and their mothers, the gurgles, the smiles and the cuddles of the baby and helping new mothers to grow in confidence. I guess that Our Lady had something of these experiences too both as a mother and with other women.



The Lord Jesus enters the story of humanity in a way which from the start makes him instantly approachable, inviting a smile, an embrace, inviting the feeling and look of love. Everybody loves a baby.

This Sunday we hear from St John. In his gospel and letters he tells us of his direct encounter with Jesus during Jesus’ adult life, his death and His resurrection. His gospel is “part 1” of what he wants to say; his letters in the New Testament are “part 2” where he sets out his understanding of who Jesus is and what it means to be a believer. In his first letter he says, “that which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon and touched with our hands”. In other words Jesus was and is real and tangible just like you. But in Sunday's gospel John reminds us that Jesus is much more. He is more that the baby in the feeding trough, real and beautiful though that is.

St John tells us that Jesus is “the word” and how he is something beyond the grasp our poor intellects and intelligence. He is with God and He is God. All things in the universe were and are made through him, stars and galaxies, you and me. Without him there was and is nothing in creation.

In the gospel we see how John the Baptist, though he is six months older than Jesus, also says that Jesus existed before him. Jesus is yesterday, today and forever.

One of the miracles of Christmas is that God in Jesus directly enters the experiences of each and everyone of us, except sin. He is joined to our joys and sorrows, our laughter and tears, our fears and our hopes. This is more than God somehow having an excursion into the existence and experience of humanity. It is God being human, something that we can encounter and relate to.

In our beginning God planted something of himself in us, what we call our souls. With the first sin the light of God within us was darkened. After that our inheritance was not eternal light but eternal darkness. But that was not the end of the story, as Mary and Joseph loved Jesus as his earthly parents, so God loved and loves us as our Father. At all points in the story of humanity God wants to heal, to redeem and to save. The Father wishes to embrace us, his children, to wipe tears from eyes, to bind up the wounds we bare, and to heal the broken hearted. To heal your brokenness.

To make this a reality the true light, a light that can never be extinguished, comes into the world. The Word becomes flesh. The baby matures, his ministry shines in the world and cannot be overcome, even by death. Jesus holds out his light towards us, through which he gives you the right of becoming nothing less than a child of God, just as much as Jesus is as God’s only begotten son.

Throughout the whole of your life, whether you know it or not, you are called to a greatness and destiny beyond human imagination as the son or daughter of God. How we respond to that call is a lifetimes work. The chance is there for you. How will you respond?

Please accept my best wishes and prayers for a fruitful and blessed 2026.

God bless and keep you all.

Fr Chris