In the fullness of time, God sent his Son, born of a woman. (Galatians 4:4)

The Greek word Paul uses, “pleroma” means “fullness”, completeness, plenitude. But it means far more. It is the plenitude of the divine graces in Christ communicated to the Church as His Body, making the whole Body knit together to increase with the “increase of God.” Even more, every individual in Christ is called to be filled with all the pleroma of God: that is, that we may be filled with the fullness which God is. As Christians, we receive from the divine completeness whatever each of us requires for our sanctification.

Now, we are celebrating the birth of Jesus into our world; at our Baptism he was born in our souls. Because he is eternal he is always coming to greater birth within our hearts. In this way, every moment can become “the fullness of time,” not just that moment 2000 years ago. We can experience “the fullness of time” throughout the coming year, every moment we are conscious of God. For example, when we encounter people as we pass a sidewalk; when we answer the telephone, or in whatever God gives us to do each moment of every day. Amen.