Fr Paul Finnerty
Diocese of Limerick

For the perfect gift we are advised to log on to the internet at "perfectgift.com".  
Fancy doing a search to see what we can find for the family this Christmas?  It’s great 
there’s no need to fight through those hordes of shoppers any more.  Now we can shop 
from the comfort of our own homes just log on and away we go. 

Let’s start with looking for something for Dad.  What’s on offer here?  Now that’s a good 
idea, a hands free set!  No more worrying about him answering the mobile while he’s driving.  
It will make for safer driving from now on.  That will make a difference!

Now let’s try for something for Mam, maybe in the household area.  Now there’s an offer I 
can’t refuse, a microwave.  No more trying to keep dinners hot under the grill.  I’m sure 
she’ll appreciate it, everyone else in the house certainly will.  It will make some difference!
(It’s funny how mam always seems to get something practical which benefits all the family.)

How about little Paric?  Maybe I’ll try a ‘Harry Potter’ word search.  Perfect a 500 
piece Harry Potter jigsaw that will keep him occupied.  The house will be quiet for the next 
while, and that will make a big difference!

And last of all there’s Susan.  Something to do with music.  A mini Discman.  That’s great.  
From now on no one else will have to put up with listening to "Robbie" and "Westlife" and 
what a difference that will make!

Any gift we receive makes a difference to our lives and to our homes.  But the gift we 
received over 2000 years ago is the best gift of all, ‘The Word made flesh’.  It’s the gift
that has made all the difference!

Because of Christmas our lives are different.  They are different because the faith we 
profess is unique.  You might remember the song from a few years ago, which went, “What 
if God was one of us?”  The singer I’m afraid got it wrong, for God became one of us. Jesus, 
the Son of God became like us so that we might become like him, just as the prayer of the 
Mass says,

‘By the mystery of this water and wine
 may we come to share in the divinity of Christ 
who humbled himself to share in our humanity’.

Jesus is the human face of God.  He knows what it’s like to have good friends, to enjoy a 
glass of wine and to celebrate.  But he also knows what it’s like to feel abandoned, 
rejected, despised and mocked.  He knows what mental anguish and physical pain are like 
and this has makes all the difference.

All the difference to all those who suffer innocently, to the parents who stand helplessly 
around a bed where their child is dying.

All the difference to the woman who waits anxiously for the results of a mammogram.

All the difference to the lonely, the sick, to the displaced and the house bound.
It’s made all the difference because the God we believe in lived through it all he has 
been there done that.  He became flesh and lived among us.  It’s because he shared in our 
life that we come together as families, as a Church, as Christ’s mystical body to celebrate,
 give praise and glory and thanks to God who has walked among us.

A wise man once said, “Were Christ to be born in a 1000 stables it would be of no avail 
were he not born in our hearts”.

Jesus is the best gift of all, ‘the Word made flesh’, he is the difference and when we open 
our hearts to receive him we will know the difference it makes to our own lives and to our
world.  Then we too can do as one lady did when she said, “I might not be able to debate 
theologically with those who don’t believe in God but I sure can disturb them with my joy.”  

And in times like these joy is the best gift off all!

Nollag shona duit!

 
Ends
13 December 2002