Homily for the Week of December 25, 2011

Christmas, 2011
Is 9:1-6 - Ps 96: 1-2,2-3,11-12,13 - Titus 2: 11-14 -Luke 2:1-14

The hopes and fears of all the years are met in Thee tonight. These lyrics from the Christmas hymn, “O Little Town of Bethlehem,” capture well the paradox of our times. Technological advances in the fields of medicine and communication open up whole areas of hope-filled possibilities. Yet, for many persons the fears about what tomorrow holds are real and unnerving. The economic distress that our families continue to endure, the unending violence suffered by the innocent, and the moral decline unravelling the very fabric of our families are sobering realities that make it difficult to be hopeful about what tomorrow may bring.

In the midst of our fragile human condition, God became flesh in the person of Jesus of Bethlehem. God gave Jesus to us as a human person like us and telling us through Jesus: I love you. God has come and illuminated the cruel night of our fears with the light of His undying love.

So, light the candles! They have more right to be here than darkness. Christ brought us someone who was not of this world, yet a who is capable of changing this world, for Jesus has the power to change our hearts, to enlighten our minds and to strengthen our wills. By taking on our flesh, with all its weaknesses, and transfiguring it by the power of His Spirit, Christian hope is not a mere pipe dream, but a Promise enfleshed in the Child lying in a manger.

In the Bible passage which I just finished reading we heard a story about an unusual birth. Mary, who is about to have a baby, and her husband Joseph had travelled from Nazareth to Bethlehem by donkey, a distance of about 90 miles. As they arrive in Bethlehem they could not find a room for the night. This is not only because the rooms were filled but because they had no money. The only place they could find is a stable with a few shepherds who had brought in their sheep for the night.

Many of your homes may have a Christmas manger and nativity scene -- maybe not as big as this one, but one that represents what we just heard of the birth of Jesus. When we stand or sit in front of the manger scene we get our first clue to the Christmas mystery.

Each of the figures in the manger scene are there for a purpose. We can easily do without one of the sheep, and we may not be upset if one of the shepherds feel asleep. But certainly we could not imagine a Christmas nativity scene without the centrepiece, the birthday boy himself: the Baby Jesus in the manger.

But how sad it is if we add Jesus to the Nativity scene in our homes or even here in church and then do not place him in the centre of our lives today and all year long. We who place Jesus in his crib at Christmas must place him at the centre of our lives every day. If we don't, we fail to honor Jesus who lives in and through you and me and all persons. Wouldn't be sad if Jesus found no place in our lives day by day.

To place Jesus at the centre of our lives is to repeat the song of the angels: GLORY TO GOD IN THE HIGHEST, PEACE ON EARTH TO THOSE ON WHOM GOD'S FAVOR RESTS.

To place Jesus at the centre of our lives is for us to live as he would want us to live. We must be eager to do what is right and true and good just as Jesus did. It is also important for us to help others to know him and to come to him whenever they have a need of any kind.

To place Jesus at the centre of our lives is to hear, really hear God speaking to us in the beloved son, offering hope to everyone.

To place Jesus at the centre of our lives means that we try our best to live as children of God.

To place Jesus at the centre of our lives is to find ourselves at the centre of God's love, at Christmas and forever.

Our job in this Christmas celebration is to find how we fit into the manger scene with the shepherds, and with Joseph, Mary and Jesus. If God is not part of our lives, we are homeless. If God is not part of our lives we are nobodies.

At Christmas we celebrate the fact that Jesus came among us at a particular moment in history and continues to come to us today. Because of this we have reason for hope. We have a future. Jesus is
Emmanuel, God-with-us, the Mighty God, the Prince of Peace, the new-born who fulfils our deepest yearnings for peace and happiness.

May you enjoy a most blessed and merry Christmas, and know throughout the Christmas season the love of God present in your lives, and that Jesus came to love us without conditions. It is my prayer for you that God will give you this peace and joy, now and throughout the coming year.

May the Christ Child come to you and your loved ones this Christmas with the Gift of Love, the Blessing of Hope, and the Promise of Peace. A blessed Christmas to all of you!