The First Sunday after Christmas Day AD 2024

What is the most popular Christmas song? According to media reports, “All I Want for Christmas Is You” and “Last Christmas” have tied for the top spot for many years. The second of the two, which turned 40 years old this year, begins like this: “Last Christmas, I gave you my heart / But the very next day you gave it away / This year, to save me from tears / I’ll give it to someone special.”

As unexpected as it is, this song contains – probably unbeknownst to its creators – a true Christmas message. Because God has truly given us His heart – His very heart, His only begotten, who is in His bosom. He gave us His heart… and we… His beloved mankind… have thrown it away…

The song continues: “I wrapped it up and sent it / With a note saying, “I love you,” I meant it / Now, I know what a fool I’ve been / But if you kissed me now / I know you’d fool me again.”

“The foolishness of God,” says St. Paul, “is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.” This “foolishness” and “weakness” of God is His self-giving love, the pouring out of His soul unto death, even the death of the cross.

“Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins,” says St. John, and adds: “We love Him, because He first loved us.” It was His love that made it possible for the virgin to be with child and bring forth a Son whose name is Emmanuel – “God with us.” It is His heart – let’s not throw it away!