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This was given at Saint Mary, Mother of God, Washington, D.C.
Over the past four weeks of Advent, the Church has meditated on the coming of her Messiah. Tonight, in the beauty and majesty of her sacred liturgy, she celebrates that coming in the birth of Our Lord in the Bethlehem stable, and seeks to do him homage by her worship and praise and adoration. We, who have longed for the coming of the Christ child, receive now our reward in the babe in the manger. God is made Man to redeem us and bring us back to himself. Our Advent prayer – Maranatha! Come, Lord Jesus! – is answered; God has taken on our flesh and nature, and come amongst us. He who is above all things has condescended to our lowly state to save us from ourselves and bring us back to the fullness of our human nature: eternal life in him.