More often than not, big New Year’s promises are broken. Big plans become big flops. In our Gospel reading, we meet two individuals who had big hopes—but not in themselves.

It is not just the details of Jesus’ birth that are remarkable. Rather, the reason he was born—what he came to do and be—is most marvelous to the hearts and minds of sinners like us.

Tonight we celebrate a light shining in the darkness—the love of God’s heart taking on human flesh and being revealed to us for the very first time.