We are here because we have heard a promise of peace and we have faith that its day will come. We have heard a rumor of justice and we have faith that its day will come. We have heard a whisper of hope and we have heard that its day will come. We have heard a hint of love and we have faith its day will come. We have heard of the birth of the Christ-child and we have faith this day is here!
Welcome to Christmas and Merry Christmas to one and all!
As we gather with our families in prayer today, let us witness not to successful lives, not to perfect health, faultless families, highly achieving work, or new possessions … but to the quiet inner knowing of Emmanuel, God who is with us.
We come here today not to convince God to save us as much as to respond to the God who wants to redeem us calling to mind the words spoken during the celebration of Mass: take and drink, for this is my Blood which will be poured out for you and for many, for the forgiveness of sins. In forgiving our sins, God was putting to rest the chaos, the pain, the destruction occasioned by the sin of Adam and Eve who undermined a world that was at peace.
All the prophets foretold that this day would come. The prophet Isaiah often spoke of a people who did not always respond to the prompting of God or the messengers that God sent them to help guide their way through life. God’s people refused to listen to the life-giving word spoken by the prophets and missed out on the blessings that God offered them. Dismissal of God’s Word led them down a path to darkness. Through God’s grace the darkness of the past was scattered by new light that would bring them abundant joy and great rejoicing. A child would be born, and they would name him Wonder-Counselor, God-Hero, Father-forever, Prince of Peace.
We have heard the wonderful accounts of the birth of this child and His mother’s ‘yes’ detailed for us in Luke and Mathews gospels. Luke spoke of how Mary came to know that she would bear this child in her womb. A messenger, Gabriel, came to her from God. Gabriel shared with Mary God’s plan for our salvation. She would bear a Son and name Him Jesus which means ‘God saves.’ He would be Son of the Most High, that is the Son of God and He would inherit the throne of the great King David. Gabriel told her how this would come about. Hearing all this, Mary had to have been afraid. Her fear was in evidence when she asked, how could this be. How could this be possible? Gabriel simply responded; with God nothing is impossible. (Luke 1:26-38)
One could imagine that over and over Mary would ask herself how this could be, a response that no doubt some of us ask ourselves. How could she, who was so young and insignificant, be loved by God, created by God, and be asked to bear the Christ child in her womb? God found favor with Mary. He delighted in her because she was His creation. He took joy and satisfaction in seeing what He made.
How could this be that we would be privileged to receive the living Word spoken to us through the Scriptures and receive His Body and Blood during Mass? How could this be that unlike Mary, our bodies are corruptible and yet God also comes to take up residence in our souls? How could this be? God finds favor with us also. He finds joy in seeing what He has created in each of us.
Most of us have heard of the humble circumstances surrounding the birth of Jesus and how Mary and Joseph struggled to find a place for her to give birth. For some, our memories are filled with scenes from a crèche in our home or in a church with the figures of Mary, Joseph, baby Jesus, sheep, shepherds. And while the focus may well be on the parents and child, for Luke, it is the shepherds who take center stage. They are the first people to find out about the birth of Jesus. (Luke 2:8-20)
The angel of the Lord appeared to the shepherds and they were struck with fear. The angel said to them, “do not fear for behold I proclaim to you good news of great joy for you and all the people.” All the people. It is for the whole world to know that this news is also for them. “Today in the city of David a savior was born for you who is Christ the Lord.” Keep in mind that the shepherds were close to the bottom of the social ladder. I am reminded of Pope Francis and his admonition to priests but also to all of us who profess to be followers of Jesus; get to know the ‘sheep’ who are in our midst, stay close to them and be concerned with their needs and welfare.
If we see the humility of God, who created the universe, lying in a manger in swaddling clothes, meaning he could not even move his arms or legs, we, too, can be humble. If we know how much we needed others to care for us as infants, we can likewise answer the call to care for others.
A people who walked in darkness have seen a great light. (Isiah 9:1) “You will know you have been in the presence of a Christian by the trail of light they leave behind.” (John Ruskin, English writer)