Joke: Santa was working at Brookville shopping center when he noticed a young lady of about 20 years old walking toward him. He was surprised when she sat on his lap. Santa does not usually take requests from adults, but as she gave him such a nice smile, he couldn’t refuse and said to her, “What’s your name?” “Hannah,” she replied. “What do you want for Christmas, Hannah?” “I want something for my mom, please,” said Hannah. “What do you want me to bring her,” said Santa. Without blinking her eyes, Hannah replied, “A son-in-law.”

Just as Hannah expressed her wish to Santa during Christmas, what should we wish and pray for Christmas? To answer this question, the Church puts together all of today’s readings to clarify for us.

Every year, at midnight Mass, the Gospel of Luke is chosen to report the multitude of the heavenly host with the angel praising God saying, “Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.” The Savior was born in Bethlehem, Jerusalem, but has it had peace where the Savior was born? There was a long list of wars happening in Jerusalem it seemed there was no peace at all. Perhaps, those figures and those who were involved in the birth of the Lord Jesus Christ, our Savior, help us to meditate on this solemn night of the birth of our Savior.

Our Blessed Virgin Mary, with her hands put together, reminds us of her humble gesture of grace, who believes in the words of the angel to be the Mother of God. Saint Joseph, with one hand on his chest and the other pointing to baby Jesus, reminds us that he trusts in the words of the angel that the baby Jesus is the Savior of the world and that he’s humbly to be part of his birth, especially to be the foster father of the Savior.

In the manger, one can see several shepherds. One is with one hand on his chest and the other points toward the Baby Jesus to give thanks to God and with great awe to point out Jesus to others. Another shepherd, with his hands, opened up, reminds us that he has nothing to offer to the Lord, our Savior, except his breath to warm him up during the cold night. Still, the other shepherd, with his two hands together, reminds us of his disappointment in seeing the Savior of the world born as a baby lying helpless in the crypt of the manger.

Baby Jesus, the Savior of the world, born lying helpless in the crypt, with his eyes open up towards heaven and his hands wide open empty, reminds us of his total acceptance to be born in our human flesh. He offers up our human family to God the Father, while Mary and Joseph adored him. Mary adored Jesus, and Joseph points out to others that baby Jesus, our Savior; while shepherds, some believed, some doubted, some were in awe, and others adored the Savior.

  Perhaps, Emmanuel, God is with us, and his peace rests on his favorite ones just as Saint Luke reported in his writing proclaimed on every Christmas midnight Mass. The Savior was born in Jerusalem, but they didn’t seem to have peace. While he was not born in America, it seemed that his peace was in this blessed land. Why?

In the Gospel of this Most Holy Night, people denied sheltering Mary and Joseph when her due time was up. Even the educated people, knew exactly when and where the Savior was born and pointed out the exact location and date, but then they didn’t come to adore Him. One who held authority and didn’t want to lose his seat sent out soldiers to kill all the babies according to what the wise men told him.

At the birth of Jesus, angels in heaven were singing, “Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.” Is there peace on earth? Who will be considered as whom his favor rests?

Peace of Christ did come, but some accepted and others denied. Reflecting on those people surrounding the birth of Jesus, who have you identified yourself with? When have you identified yourselves with those people surrounding the birth of Jesus? The moment that you cannot find peace, gladness, and joy in this life, who have you identified yourselves with as Mary, Joseph, one of the shepherds, the wise men, king Herod, or soldiers? Christ the Savior was born more than 2000 years ago to bring peace, gladness, and joy to all those on earth whom his favors rest, have you considered yourselves as his favors to receive peace, gladness, and joy? The decision is yours.