by Very Rev. Edward Correia

I would like to welcome Fr. Oscar. Fr. Oscar is from the South American country of Colombia. He is studying in Rome. He just received his Licentiate Degrees in Church Law and International Law, Summa Cum Laude. He is now beginning his preparation for his Doctorate Degree in the same fields. Fr. Oscar is celebrating Mass for the Hispanic Communities of Nantucket and Fall River while he visiting with us. Welcome, Fr. Oscar.

I would like to welcome all parishioners and their families who might be visiting from other parishes. Welcome to all the young people who are here. Welcome to college students who are home for their semester break. Welcome to visitors. Welcome to our choir. Welcome to everyone.

On this special night we come to celebrate Christmas with all that is going on in our lives and world. For some of us this is the first Christmas without our mother, father, wife or child. Some of us are bearing great problems at this time. You boys and girls must be so excited to open your presents. Some of us are exhausted from a very hectic month of getting ready for this day. Others are so happy because this is the first Christmas with their newly born child. All of the feelings of the spirit are with us tonight.

What is the meaning of this night? Have you ever had a senior moment but didn’t realize it?

A few weeks ago a parishioner came to me and told me what I had said in a homily the week before. I never remember saying: It is better to receive than it is to give.

I thought about this for a long time. What else have I said in other homilies that I didn’t realize?

You know even though I didn’t know what I was saying, I got it right. Tonight is not about giving. It is about receiving.

God the Father wants to give to us the gift of his son, Jesus Christ made flesh. Will we receive the gift?

When Mary and Joseph went to Bethlehem, they looked for a place to stay for the night. Every place was full. Are we like the Inn that was so full that it had no room for Jesus?

We may be full with our worries and pain. We may be full of so many things to do. The problem is that there is no room for the gift.

We need to be like the stable. Yes, it was very run down, but it was empty. There was plenty of room for Jesus to be born. We need to make room to receive the gift.

It is better to receive the gift of Jesus so that we can give this very needed and important gift to others. No matter what gift we may have given, it will never be as good as the gift of Jesus.