Christmas Reflection by our University Chaplains – Fr. Kevin Stolt, IVE, PhL and Fr. Nathan LaLiberte, MA
Greetings Saint Mary’s Community!
As we approach the joyous season of Christmas, our hearts are filled with wonder and amazement as we contemplate the birth of the infant Jesus. God enters the world not by force, but as an infant child, respecting our free will in our response to this divine gift. This sacred time invites us to reflect on the profound mystery of the Incarnation—God, who without ceasing to be God, takes on the human nature, to dwell among us and bring salvation to the world.
Saint Augustine reminds us of the depth of this mystery when he says, “God took on flesh that we might be raised up to God.” The birth of Christ is not merely a historical event, but a divine act of love that invites us to a deeper communion with God. God has never desired us to be separated from Him, but has, since the fall, sought opportunities to lift us up to Him. Christmas is the announcement of that moment of wedding humanity with the Divine.
Christmas is also a time for us to emulate the love and generosity of Christ by reaching out to those in need, offering our time, resources, and prayers. As a university community rooted in Christian values, we are called to be a light in the world, sharing the joy and hope that Christ’s birth brings. In the words of Saint Francis of Assisi, “For it is in giving that we receive.”
May your Christmas celebrations be anointed with the same joy that filled this world some two thousand years ago with Angels singing and strangers becoming friends.
In Christ,
Fr. Kevin Stolt and Fr. Nathan LaLiberte
Chaplains for Saint Mary’s University
