There are times when we can be comforted by the romanticcised picture of Christmas with which we are also so familiar: the familiar story, the crib, memories of childhood, Christmas ritual. There are times too when we can see behind the story to the coming of God into the harsh realities of human life. We know that the birth of the Christ Child is not just a feel-good story, but significant for us and for our world. Whenever we are in some personal mess, or feel down about the state of the world, or are burdened with worries, we can be certain that God is in the middle of it all: the Word has become flesh, and really lives in our midst. The “Holy, Holy†can remind us of this, not just this Christmas night but every time we come to Mass.