This Christmas the Lord wants to become so real to us that we become awed by His presence as never before. This fear and awe of God's presence fulfills one of the deepest needs of the human person and therefore causes us to delight in the fear of the Lord. This delightful fear of the Lord is "hidden from the learned and the clever" but "revealed to the merest children" (Lk 10:21).

Those who let the Spirit stir up the fear of the Lord within them not only delight in it; they also delight in simply being alive. They see all life as being shot through with God's grace. A sunset, a flower, a mere breath is touched with His glory. Those who fear the Lord are like little children discovering and delighting in the wonder and beauty of creation. They are truly blest, and the Lord says to them: "Blest are the eyes that see what you see. I tell you, many prophets and kings wished to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it" (Lk 10:23-24).

The Lord's Christmas present to you is a fresh, deep awareness of His presence always and everywhere. You'll be like children at their first Christmas. You'll be in love with the Lord all over again.

Nihil Obstat:  Reverend Robert L. Hagedorn, May 30, 2001

Imprimatur:  †Most Reverend Carl K. Moeddel, Vicar General and Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, June 4, 2001