Archbishop Dolan's Thought for the Week

December 27, 2007 

“That little baby is God,” the big brother (he looked about six years old) explained to his little sister (she looked about four) on Christmas Eve, as they looked at the manger after Mass.

He of course is absolutely correct.

God loves us, and invites us to love Him back. He really wants us just to let Him love us, personally, passionately, forever.

How best to teach us that?

By becoming a baby! We all want to pick a baby up, to snuggle the baby, to kiss him, hold her, rock him and cuddle her. There is nothing more inviting, innocent, vulnerable, than a baby.

God wants us to hold Him, love Him, cuddle Him, rock Him. That’s how tender and accessible He is.

In the end, it’s all about love, isn’t it?

No one wrote more eloquently about God’s love for us than John, whose feast we celebrate today.

He’s the patron saint of our archdiocese.

He was our Lord’s best friend. There he was, next to Him at the last supper, at the foot of the cross, caring for His mother.

Pope Benedict XVI told us that holiness is friendship with Jesus.

He came to be Lord, Messiah, Christ, Redeemer and Savior.

He came to be our best friend.

O Come, Let us adore Him!

Archbishop Timothy M. Dolan

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