tvc.dsj.org | December 17, 2019
IN THE DIOCESE
3
The Christmas Mystery:
‘The Word Became Flesh and Dwelt Among Us’ (Jn 1:14)
I once heard a priest whom I
deeply respected say something
about Christmas that troubled
me. He said that Christmas was
really more for children, while
Easter was truly for adults. This
statement troubled me because
while the Christmas mystery is
more easily accessible to children
than might be the Easter mystery,
Christmas is neither superficial nor superfluous. On
the contrary, the Christmas mystery is profoundly
penetrating as it provides the foundation for unders-
tanding the key significance of the Easter mystery.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church quotes
St. Athanasius’ poignant expression: ‘the Son of
God became man so that we might become God’
(CCC 460). This is sometimes referred to as the
‘great exchange:’ God enters the human condition
to transform it, heal it, and elevate it, so that hu-
manity might enjoy communion with God. Indeed,
there is nothing superficial or superfluous about
that aspect of the Christian mystery. This is the
deep significance of the Christmas celebration: God
enters our world, our humanity, so that we might
enter his world, his divinity.
We might ask one more question in all this: why
does God do this? He doesn’t have to. He humbles
himself to enter our humanity freely, out of love –
love for you and me. I invite us all to ponder that
mystery of God’s boundless love during this Christ-
mas Season. Let us take time to ponder the quiet
serenity of the Manger scene – Joseph and Mary in
adoration of the new born Jesus. This scene speaks
to us deeply of God’s quiet, but profound presence in
the world, and if we allow him to enter, in our lives.
In this Christmas Season, I pray that the sacred
mystery of Jesus’ birth penetrate our lives, our fa-
milies, our relationships, our work and activity, that
we might acknowledge the power of the Incarnation
ever at work within us – transforming us, healing us,
elevating us to communion with a God who loves
us beyond our imagination.
Be assured of my daily prayers for you, especially
in this Christmas Season!
Bishop Oscar Cantú
Editorial: Thanks for Sharing; I am most Grateful
By Liz Sullivan
In the November 19 issue of The
Valley Catholic I wrote about the chal-
lenges I faced when trying to write
about “What Gratitude Means to Me.”
I asked for reader’s input, and people
responded.
Below are some examples I re-
ceived. I am only printing their first
names for confidentiality.
From Jesse: “Grateful to me... In
order to know what one is grateful
for is to first minimize the carnal and
maximize the spiritual traits each hu-
man possesses.
“For example, I don’t own a smart
phone, or have I ever texted. I’d rather
make eye contact with a person and
nod my head or verbally greet, ‘Hi.’”
“I am grateful for who were my
father and mother and who were my
four grandparents whom I had the
privilege of meeting. I miss all their
voices and cooking too!
“Thanks be to God that I was
granted life to see His Creation. I am
most grateful for that gift.”
Kevin said: “To me, gratitude is a
mindset. It is a way of living. And it is
the lens through which we are invited
to see the world. Gratitude makes a
difference!”
William spoke of gratitude: “Feel-
ing gratitude and not expressing it is
like wrapping a present and not giving
it. Why would we ever do this? And
yet, this is often what we do with our
feelings of gratitude. It is SO easy to
take people, experiences, opportuni-
ties, and possessions for granted.
Gratitude requires our attention, our
focus.”
Jean said: “I’m grateful for the won-
derful people that surround me, and
the Hope they give the future of our
lives and faith in God.
On this past Sunday I saw a man
quickly pass his child to a woman
behind him (he seemed to know her,
as their respective spouses were in the
choir together) and run to the aid of
an older gentleman who seemed to be
having a health-related event (I don’t
know what was happening to the man,
but he needed help).
It was all so quick, that it made me
stop and appreciate the quick aid he
gave this man. It could have been me,
or someone I knew and loved.”
From Kristi: “For me, gratitude
means waking up each day and thank-
ing God for giving me another day to
serve him in whatever way he wishes,
being mesmerized by a beautiful
sunrise/sunset, the moon and stars at
night, the beauty that surrounds us
each day. Gratitude means enjoying a
cup of coffee in the morning or simple
conversation with a longtime friend,
laughter with family/friends that per-
haps brings you to tears, simply being
grateful for each moment the Lord
invites us to as this present moment
is all we have...”
Thank you to all who responded or
took the time to read my column and
give thought to this topic.
I have learned gratitude is an ever
changing, ever growing quest in life.
Wishing everyone a joy filled season
of Christmas and Advent.And here’s to
a healthy and Happy New Year.
On the Cover
On the cover, the winner of Bishop Cantú’s Christmas card contest was designed
by Megan Kellogg, sixth grader at Resurrection School, Sunnyvale. Kailee Lauder,
fourth grader at Saint Mary School, Gilroy came in second place and Xcaret
Rodriguez Duarte, fifth grader at Saint Patrick School, San José finished in third place.
All Are Welcome To Hear
John Abbate
Author, Invest Yourself: Daring to Be Catholic in Today’s Business World
"Finding Hope, Happiness, and Legacy in Self-Gift"
Thursday, January 9, 2020
Monthly Speaker Series | September - June
CALIFORNIA CATHOLIC CONFERENCE EXECUTIVE TEAM MEETS WITH STAFF
Bishops from the California Catholic Conference Executive Team traveled to Sacramento
on December 9 to meet with staff. At the center, from left, Diocese of San Diego Bishop
Robert McElroy, President; Diocese of Orange Bishop Kevin Vann, Vice President and
Diocese of San José Bishop Oscar Cantú, Secretary/Treasurer.
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