• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
Catholic Review

Catholic Review

Inspiring the Archdiocese of Baltimore

Menu
  • Home
  • News
        • Local News
        • World News
        • Vatican News
        • Obituaries
        • Featured Video
        • En Español
        • Sports News
        • Official Clergy Assignments
        • Schools News
  • Commentary
        • Contributors
          • Question Corner
          • George Weigel
          • Elizabeth Scalia
          • Michael R. Heinlein
          • Effie Caldarola
          • Guest Commentary
        • CR Columnists
          • Archbishop William E. Lori
          • Rita Buettner
          • Christopher Gunty
          • George Matysek Jr.
          • Mark Viviano
          • Father Joseph Breighner
          • Father Collin Poston
          • Robyn Barberry
          • Hanael Bianchi
          • Amen Columns
  • Entertainment
        • Events
        • Movie & Television Reviews
        • Arts & Culture
        • Books
        • Recipes
  • About Us
        • Contact Us
        • Our History
        • Meet Our Staff
        • Photos to own
        • Books/CDs/Prayer Cards
        • CR Media platforms
        • Electronic Edition
  • Advertising
  • Shop
        • Purchase Photos
        • Books/CDs/Prayer Cards
        • Magazine Subscriptions
        • Archdiocesan Directory
  • CR Radio
        • CR Radio
        • Protagonistas de Fe
  • News Tips
  • Subscribe

God, born in us

February 6, 2020
By Father Joseph Breighner
Filed Under: Commentary, Wit & Wisdom

To paraphrase the great theologian, Meister Eckhart, of the 1400s: “What difference would it make to me that Christ was born 1,400 years ago, if I did not also believe that Christ is born in me today?”

We spend a lot of time reflecting on the earthly birth of Christ. We have the four weeks of Advent to prepare for the feast of Christmas. We have the actual day of Christmas. And the church celebrates the weeks of the Christmas season after the actual day.

But January and February have fewer celebrations. Yes, there is Valentine’s Day. (And God have mercy on the soul of any man who forgets to buy a card or gift for his wife or girlfriend.)

But could we use this time, not just to reflect on romantic love, but also to reflect on divine love? Just as we long to love and to be loved, can we also imagine God longing to love us and be loved by us?

We believe that in the fullness of time God wanted to enter history and be born physically. Can we allow ourselves to believe that God wants to enter each one of us and be born in us?

Salvation history is not just about what God did in the past, but what God wants to do through each one of us in the present. If we believed God lived in us and in each person we meet, there would be no more murders in Baltimore City, or anywhere else. We would not need weapons of mass destruction. We would not need to spend billions on arms while millions starve.

I’m not being naive. I understand the need for police and military. Thank God for them. Original sin manifests in actual sins every day. I’m glad we have people to protect us from our worst impulses. But if I really believed God lived in me, how would I treat myself and others? If the world believed God lives in everyone, how would we treat everyone?

Someone has wisely observed: “Christianity hasn’t failed. It’s just never been tried.” True, numerous saints have been canonized. Countless holy people live lives of extraordinary goodness. God wants to take on our flesh and blood and be born in all of us.

What if we let that happen?

Print Print

Primary Sidebar

Father Joseph Breighner

View all posts from this author

| Recent Commentary |

Practice the ‘BeDADitudes’

Comfort my people: Unexpected surprises in life

A father’s gift 

Question Corner: Is the parish administrator the same thing as a pastor?

Yes, it’s our war, too

| Recent Local News |

Sister Joan Minella, former principal and pastoral life director, dies

Archbishop Lori offers encouragement to charitable agencies affected by federal cuts

Incoming superior general of Oblate Sisters of Providence outlines priorities

Archbishop Lori announces appointments, including pastor and associate pastor assignments

Oblate Sister Trinita Baeza, teacher and pastoral associate in Baltimore, dies at 98

| Catholic Review Radio |

CatholicReview · Catholic Review Radio

Footer

Our Vision

Real Life. Real Faith. 

Catholic Review Media communicates the Gospel and its impact on people’s lives in the Archdiocese of Baltimore and beyond.

Our Mission

Catholic Review Media provides intergenerational communications that inform, teach, inspire and engage Catholics and all of good will in the mission of Christ through diverse forms of media.

Contact

Catholic Review
320 Cathedral Street
Baltimore, MD 21201
443-524-3150
mail@CatholicReview.org

 

Social Media

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Recent

  • Pope urges peace, warns against escalation in Middle East conflict
  • Minnesota lawmaker who once taught Catholic Sunday school shot and killed in apparent ‘politically motivated assassination’
  • In video for Chicago’s celebration, Pope Leo urges youth to recognize the ways God is reaching out to them
  • Pope: Sport reveals beauty of God, teaches teamwork, humility and hope
  • A pending element of tackling the abuse crisis: transparency
  • Vatican can take 3 key steps to bring Ukrainian kids back from Russia, says child advocate
  • Practice the ‘BeDADitudes’
  • Delaware garden of plenty provides food to needy, thanks to Vincentians, parishes
  • Pope sets Sept. 7 for joint canonization of Blesseds Acutis and Frassati

Search

Membership

Catholic Media Assocation

Maryland-Delaware-DC Press Association

The Associated Church Press

© 2025 CATHOLIC REVIEW MEDIA, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED