Preface: Pope Benedict VIII
Pope Benedict VIII, born Theophylact of the noble Counts of Tusculum, served as Bishop of Rome from 1012 until his death in 1024. Known for his resolute leadership and commitment to reform, he fostered alliances between the papacy and the empire, championed ecclesiastical discipline, and defended the Church in times of crisis. While his earthly journey ended long ago, his voice echoes in this reflection for the Church of the third millennium.
(Read more about Pope Benedict VIII)
1. Introduction
Beloved, as we celebrate the Nativity of Our Lord, let us reflect on the profound significance of this holy night. In the birth of Christ, the eternal Word entered our brokenness, not to condemn but to redeem, not to build walls but to weave grace.
The journey of humanity from Eden to Bethlehem, from shame to grace, is one of God’s relentless love. Tonight, as we marvel at the humility of the manger, we are called to embrace the work of the Cross—dismantling the walls of shame that divide us and weaving a web of grace that unites us in Christ.
2. Shame: A Necessary Guardian
2.1 Shame in the Garden
When Adam and Eve fell, they experienced shame for the first time. This shame, while painful, was also a gift from God. It acted as a guardian of their dignity, reminding them of their dependence on Him and the consequences of sin.
Without shame, humanity would have plunged into chaos. Instead, shame preserved identity and society, pointing toward the need for redemption. Yet, like the law itself, shame was only a temporary measure—a tutor preparing the way for Christ.
2.2 Shame in My Time
In my earthly ministry, I witnessed the Church using excommunication as a solemn tool to protect the community and call the sinner to repentance. While painful, this practice was necessary to uphold holiness and order. However, it was always meant to be a bridge to restoration, not a permanent separation. Even then, we longed for the fullness of grace revealed in Christ.
3. Christ: The Fulfillment of Grace
3.1 The Incarnation: God Enters Our Shame
On this holy night, we celebrate the moment when God Himself entered into our shame. The King of Kings was born in a manger, embracing our frailty to redeem it. In His life, Christ bore our sin, our pain, and our rejection, ultimately taking them to the Cross.
3.2 The Cross: Transforming Shame into Grace
On the Cross, Christ tore down the walls of shame that separated humanity from God and one another. He replaced them with a web of grace:
- Identity Restored: No longer defined by sin, we are now children of God.
- Relationships Reconciled: Hostility and division are replaced by forgiveness and unity.
- Society Redeemed: Communities are transformed by love, no longer ruled by fear or exclusion.
4. Our Christmas Calling
4.1 From Walls to Webs
As we celebrate Christ’s birth, we are called to participate in His work of redemption. The walls of shame that still divide us—within ourselves, between one another, and in our societies—must be replaced with webs of grace.
4.2 Encommunication: Living the Web of Grace
One way to embody this calling is through encommunication, a practice that invites healing and reconciliation. Unlike excommunication, which separates, encommunication seeks to unite by bringing conflicts and sins into the light of Christ for healing.
(Learn about encommunication)
Through encommunication, we:
- Confess and Forgive: Humbly acknowledge our need for grace and extend forgiveness to others.
- Seek Reconciliation: Mend broken relationships through love and humility.
- Commit to Communion: Gather at the Lord’s table, symbolizing our unity in Christ.
5. A Post-Shame Society
5.1 Building a Society of Grace
This Christmas, let us envision a society where grace reigns:
- Judgment is replaced by compassion.
- Exclusion is replaced by inclusion.
- Isolation is replaced by communion.
Such a society is not built by human strength alone but by the power of Christ working through us.
6. Conclusion
Beloved, tonight we celebrate the birth of the One who transforms shame into grace, death into life, and division into communion. The manger of Bethlehem and the Cross of Calvary are two parts of the same story: a story of God’s love for us and His invitation to live in that love.
This Christmas, let us dismantle the walls of shame in our hearts and in our communities. Let us weave the web of grace, living as witnesses to the hope and joy of Christ.
“Grace is the thread that binds us to God and one another. Weave it boldly, that love may reign in this third millennium.” — Pope Benedict VIII
Glory to God in the highest, and on earth, peace and goodwill to all. Amen.
Radically Happy 
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