Since the moment of the original sin when darkness and death entered Eden, man had labored under the heavy weight of banishment from the kingdom. The gates of heaven were closed, like the gates of the garden. Humble and unnoticed by the busy world, a poor couple wandered in the night, tired and cold. Today Jesus comes to his own, and, all too often, his own still do not accept him, after having 2,000 years to recognize him. Mary and Joseph had gone from the town of Nazareth to Judea, to King David's town of Bethlehem in order to register for the census in compliance with the decree of Caesar Augustus.
Words are of the utmost importance.
In the stillness of that night of nights, as the Word who had become flesh and was now dwelling among us lay safe in his mother's arms, even then the sacrifice which was the eternal Father's unalterable will was prepared. We are to become one with the eucharistic Lord Jesus and, filled with him, bring him to all the world.