In this annual series, current and former volunteers reflect on the Advent Gospels and the Four Pillars of Faith-Based Service: Social Justice, Simplicity, Community and Spirituality. Presented by Catholic Apostolate Center and Catholic Volunteer Network.

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Christmas Day Reflection, By Monica Thom Konschnik, Catholic Apostolate Center, Catholic Volunteer Network Board of Directors

“How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings glad tidings, announcing peace, bearing good news, announcing salvation, and saying to Zion, ‘Your God is King!’” – Isaiah 52:7-10

We hear such words of hope in the Gospel readings today! We are called to rejoice and celebrate the birth of our Savior, who has come to us in the form of a newborn baby. A new baby brings so much possibility to our lives. When holding a baby, one cannot help but imagine the potential this small child will have over the course of his or her life; the impact he or she will make in the world.

As a mother myself, I often think about what Mary must have felt when she saw her infant son for the first time: exhausted and sore from the trauma throughout her body after giving birth, the anxiety of how to care for this baby now and over the course of his life, and the fear of trying to keep him safe when she knew it would not be an easy road for him in life.

But all of that melted away in that first, beautiful gaze. The elation she must have felt upon meeting this little being that had grown inside of her; that had kicked and hiccupped and swam around inside her womb for nine long months. Despite her anxieties and fears, she knew she had made the right choice by saying “yes” to the angel when she saw that sweet little face for the first time.

In a world that is filled with darkness and negativity, we need to look into the face of the baby Jesus and remember our commitment to say “yes” even when it is difficult or frightening. We have chosen a life of faith and service and we are committed to spreading the good news of the Gospel through our words, but mostly, hopefully, through our actions of support, accompaniment, and presence to those who we serve, our communities, our families, and our world.

This Christmas season offers us the chance to be a light in a darkness and to be the face of Christ to someone in our lives – someone we may know or someone we have yet to meet. We can be that person who can bring glad tidings, announce joy, bear good news, and announce salvation because we have chosen, like Mary, to say “yes” to God’s call to make this world a place filled with hope, joy, and love.

Peace Be With You!

Looking for more reflections like this one? We invite you to download our Advent Reflection Guide in its entirety, available by clicking here. You can find an extensive library of Advent resources by visiting the Catholic Apostolate Center website – click here.