Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, on this most holy night, as we gather together in the splendor of the cathedral, I extend a warm and joyful welcome to all of you—families, friends, and faithful from all walks of life. Tonight, we celebrate the most remarkable event in the history of the world: the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ. What an immense privilege it is to be here together, remembering and rejoicing in this grace-filled moment.

Our reading from the Letter to Titus offers us profound words that resonate deeply tonight. St. Paul writes: "For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all, training us to renounce impiety and worldly passions, and to live lives that are self-controlled, upright, and godly in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope and the manifestation of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ. He it is Who gave Himself for us that He might redeem us from all iniquity and purify for Himself a people of His own who are zealous for good deeds."

The grace of God has appeared  

The words "the grace of God has appeared" are not just a theological statement, but a profound invitation to us. The grace of God is not a distant concept, but a living, breathing reality in the form of a child born in a humble manger. This child, wrapped in swaddling clothes, is the very presence of God's grace among us. Grace, in its fullness, has come into our lives. The divine has broken into the human condition. This is not a distant or abstract idea; it is as close as the child in the crib, as close as the Christ Who continues to dwell among us through the sacraments, through Scripture, and through the love we share as His Body, the Church.

As we reflect on the grace that has been revealed to us in the Incarnation, we are reminded that Christmas is not just about the celebration of the birth of Jesus but about the manifestation of God's love and salvation for all humanity. The message of Christmas is that God, in His boundless love, has come to us, not as a king or a ruler, but as an infant, weak and vulnerable. He comes not to condemn the world, but to save it.

A call to transformation  

St. Paul calls us to a life of transformation in the wake of this great event. He writes that God’s grace "trains us to renounce impiety and worldly passions and to live lives that are self-controlled, upright, and godly." This is not a message that is limited to the Christmas season; it is an invitation that echoes throughout our entire lives. The birth of Christ challenges us to live differently in the world - to be people of peace, of integrity, of selflessness, and of hope.

This is especially poignant in our world today. As we gather here, many are struggling. Families are torn apart by conflict, poverty, and division. Nations are gripped by violence and war. Yet, tonight, we celebrate the coming of the Prince of Peace—the One Who came to reconcile humanity to God and to one another. Christ is the light that breaks into the darkness of our world, shining with the promise that peace, though difficult, is possible. His presence calls us to be agents of peace wherever we are. The Christmas message invites us to be instruments of reconciliation in a world desperately in need of healing.

Integrating Christmas into daily life: A takeaway for today 

So, how can we integrate the amazing event of Christmas into our daily lives? How do we allow the grace of God to change us, and how do we let the light of Christ shine in the world around us? I offer three takeaways for us as we leave here tonight:

1. Live with Gratitude - Let the grace of God be a source of deep gratitude. As we reflect on God’s incredible love, we are called to live with hearts that are thankful. This gratitude should lead us to recognize the dignity of every person and to be intentional about acts of kindness, compassion, and mercy. Perhaps we can reach out to someone this season who is lonely or forgive someone who has hurt us. The grace we receive calls us to share that same grace with others.

2. Pursue Peace - The world may be filled with chaos, but we are called to be peacemakers. Jesus, the Prince of Peace, was born into a world of conflict, yet He taught us that true peace comes not from political solutions but from a change of heart. This Christmas, let us resolve to be instruments of peace in our families, our communities, and our workplaces. In small ways, we can bring reconciliation, even if it feels like a drop in the ocean. But remember, peace begins with each one of us.

3. Live with Hope - The birth of Jesus is a sign of hope - hope for a world that is broken, hope for families struggling with pain, and hope for all of us who long for something more. This hope is not wishful thinking but the certain knowledge that Christ has come to make all things new. As we face the challenges of the new year ahead, let us keep our eyes fixed on the hope that Christ offers—the hope that He is with us always and that His Kingdom of peace and justice will come in fullness.

Gratitude for families

Tonight, I want to take a moment to express our profound gratitude for all the families who have gathered for Mass this evening. Your presence here is a testament to the strength and beauty of the family as the domestic Church. Families are the foundation of our society, and the love you share within your homes reflects the love that Christ has for His Church. May this Christmas be a time of renewal for you and may the peace of Christ reign in your homes.

A prayer for peace in our world 

Finally, as we celebrate Christmas this year, we cannot forget the ongoing struggles for peace in our world. So many families are torn apart by conflict—whether it is in distant lands like Gaza or Ukraine or even in our own communities where division and discord threaten to tear us apart. Let us offer up our prayers tonight for the peace of the world and for the healing of all those who are suffering from violence and war. We pray especially for the innocent, the vulnerable, and those who are most in need of the hope that only Christ can bring.

May the birth of Christ, the Prince of Peace, inspire us all to be bearers of peace, joy, and love in a world that desperately needs it. May His light shine in our hearts, and may we share that light with all those we meet. Merry Christmas to each of you and may the peace of Christ be with you always. Amen.