SCRANTON – A capacity crowd filled the Cathedral of Saint Peter on Christmas Eve as nearly 800 faithful gathered for the 4 p.m. Vigil Mass of Christmas, celebrated by the Most Rev. Joseph C. Bambera, Bishop of Scranton.
With every pew filled and worshippers standing in the back of the Cathedral, the joyful liturgy marked the beginning of Christmas celebrations at the Mother Church of the Diocese and was broadcast live on CTV: Catholic Television and livestream on Diocesan social media platforms.
Later that night, Bishop Bambera returned to the Cathedral to celebrate Midnight Mass, and on Christmas Day he carried the same message of hope, humility, and compassion to residents of the Gino Merli Veterans Center in Scranton, celebrating Mass with veterans and staff.
In his Christmas homily, Bishop Bambera reflected on the humility and hope found in the birth of Christ, sharing a personal story of witnessing kindness between two impoverished men on a cold winter day. He recalled witnessing one homeless man carefully ensure that his elderly friend had food before worrying about himself. That simple act, the Bishop explained, reveals the heart of the Christmas miracle.
“For whatever baggage those two men carried, the kindness displayed between them gives us a glimpse of the goodness of God who reached into our broken lives on that first Christmas,” Bishop Bambera said, noting that God continues to offer “hope and a way forward amid the upheaval of our world.”
Quoting theologian and martyr Dietrich Bonhoeffer, the Bishop reminded the faithful that “God loves the lowly” and is “near to lowliness,” choosing to dwell among “the lost, the neglected, the excluded, the weak, and the broken.”
That nearness, Bishop Bambera emphasized, speaks directly to the fears and struggles many carry today.
“In Jesus’ birth, we no longer have reason to be afraid,” he said. “God has accepted us and God has loved us – as we are.”
The Bishop also encouraged the faithful to recognize God’s presence in ordinary moments of compassion and human connection.
“The joy of God’s goodness is contagious,” he said, quoting Pope Leo XIV. “We just need to be wise enough to know where to look and to accept that joy.”
With the Christmas season now concluded, Bishop Bambera’s message continues to resonate: the light of Christ shines brightest when it is humbly received and generously shared, reminding all that Emmanuel – God with us – has already come.