I was making my way on foot to a refugee church when this kind woman approached me with a gentle smile. When she stopped, her baby extended his arm and motioned to me to come near. When I was close enough, the baby turned and put a hand on my face and kissed me on the cheek. While the baby was not even able to speak, he still knew how to communicate love.

I'm reflecting on that story as we enter into the celebration of Christmas. God became a baby and dwellt among us so that we would know the depth and breadth of his love for us in Jesus.

It's been a difficult year for many of us - and a most challenging year for those who have been uprooted by hatred and violence in their homelands. But in spite of our circumstances, we can look at Jesus and know that we are loved and that evil, suffering, and death will not get the last word. For Life and Love have overcome and will prevail.

So whether in good times or bad, we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, our Savior!

Merry Christmas!