Tradition tells us that St. Luke was a painter. In the Gospel that we just heard he beautifully illustrates with words the birth of Jesus. There is more to the Nativity than first meets the eye. The question I would ask tonight is how you do and I see this event? What does it say to us personally? Unfortunately our understanding is often influenced by what we are accustomed to see in those many representations on our Christmas cards and we can easily end up getting only part of what God wants us to see and only, maybe, only what we want to see. Jesus was born into a very messy situation. Even Bethlehem of Judah was a city in a messy country occupied by a hostile power. Rome hated Jews and their religion and often caused violence. What is the message? I believe it is that God came into a messy world to save messy people. We may be all dressed up tonight. But in comparison with the holiness and innocence that was born in that stable most of us are messy spiritually. We are messed up by our sins, by our failure to love, by not being human in the way God has shone us and wants us to be. No matter how messed up and sinful the world is today, God loves it so much that he sent his only Son. And he gave him not only for the world but that everyone who will believe in him shall not perish but have eternal life. No one is beyond God’s love, however much he/she messes up or sins. So great is the love of God that he stepped into this world in a human body to endure like all of us must endure whatever happens to us here. We are the messy stables that Jesus Christ wants to be born into tonight. He calls us in this Christmas Eucharist to let him in and to be grateful, hopeful and to joyfully celebrate his mercy.
I believe that it is more than appropriate that Jesus, Mary & Joseph have become identified not only as the model family but as a Holy Family. They allowed God’s scripture and personal revelation to shape their lives. They prayed for God’s direction, they listened for his response, and they discerned what God’s words meant for them. Their lives became a model of prayer, discernment, and obedience. Their belief in a gracious God allowed them to press on even when they didn’t understand what was being asked of them or understand where the journey might lead them. Growing in holiness does not require that we lead a perfect life; however, it does require that we set ourselves apart from worldly desires and dedicate our lives to God. Holiness isn’t something that can be earned - like a Boy Scout or Girl Scout badge of honor. It’s a gift from God that will: transform lives, inspire people to pray, and assist us as we discern, “where is God is asking us to minister today?” In times of turmoil, it will allow us to hear the quiet voice of God say, “This is the way. follow it!” We know that Mary was a Jewish maiden and Joseph, was a carpenter. They were two ordinary people simply going about their business when God chose them to help bring about the salvation of the world!. They became holy because they were deeply committed to their Jewish faith. They loved God above all else and they lived their lives with an expectant faith. They placed their trust in God and God gave them the courage to overcome their fears and anxieties and enabled them to make difficult decisions not only for their immediate family but for the entire family of God! Those who desire to draw closer to God will naturally invite God to be part of their daily routine. They will develop an intuitive sense of what God is asking of them. During this blessed and holy Christmas season, let us set aside some time to contemplate on what effects holiness has had, and will continue to have, on our lives.
We are on the cusp, the threshold of the of Christ’s coming! This time of year is filled with excitement and always holds so much promise for us! The promise of a real encounter with Emanuel, God with us! As we near the end of Advent, our time for preparation is almost complete! We as a human family always celebrate the birth of a child, the wonderment, the anticipation, and the promise! How much more should we anticipate the birth of Jesus the Christ child! Christ walking with us, here as human and divine! As we complete our Advent preparation, we are in essence opening a new door as individuals and a faith community in our journey, a door that opens to God, a door filled with mercy and love. As we receive this mercy and love from God we are also called to reflect God’s mercy in our lives to others. To consider what it truly means to live out mercy in our lives. A mercy that Pope Francis calls us to in Advent season and throughout the year. Mary and Elizabeth serve as models, wonderful examples and guides of how we are called to be open to God working in our lives. They gave of their entire self, body and soul to God! They put their lives in the service of God, truly demonstrating faithfulness, forgiveness and mercy. We are called to emulate their faith and commitment. How have we prepared ourselves to receive Christ in this Advent season? Let us use the time left in Advent to reflect on the lives of these great women and prepare our hearts for the Lord. In every generation God asks all people to say yes to Christ. We all carry the light of Christ within ourselves. Will we say yes to God? Will we truly let the light of Christ shine from us into the dark places of this world? Are we a people, who are will to putting their lives in the service of God and truly demonstrating forgiveness and mercy? God may not ask us to lead his people out of slavery or to bear a child for him. But he might ask us to do something which could be more difficult for us: He might ask us to be more loving in our lives, to show more mercy, to think before we condemn people who are different from us and then to be more patient and tolerant of those people. To think before we shut someone out of our lives and then to seek reconciliation when we fall out with friends or family. I hope that when we say yes, we say yes to whatever it is God is asking of us.
This past Tuesday, Pope Francis opened the Holy Door at St. Peter’s to begin the Jubilee of Mercy. Francis said this Holy Year will focus on the topic of mercy. He says he wants this church of 1.2 billion members to more merciful and less rigid toward sinners. The Jubilee would be an occasion for all members – and for the church itself – to rediscover the need to be forgiving and generous. The church is the home that accepts everyone and refuses no one – the greater the sin, the greater the love that the church should toward those who repent. This Advent is the perfect time for us to establish during this jubilee year of mercy our parish holy door of mercy. As we pray in our Blessed Sacrament chapel and in our church, may we with grateful and joy-filled hearts celebrate the presence of Jesus among us. In the first Scripture from the prophet Zephaniah, we are told that sin occurs when we search for happiness apart from God, when are too caught in the busyness, the commercialism, the fleeting pleasures of life. The prophet reminds us that the Lord, your God, is in our midst. The Lord wishes to rejoice with you and renew you in his love. The apostle Paul, even from a prison cell, knew that joy was the basic mood of a Christian. This is the theme of Gaudete Sunday. Every experience, if we can only realize it, is touched by God and has its meaning. Once that meaning is found and accepted, inner joy and peace can return. The great truth of our life is we have everything we need here and now to be happy. May John the Baptist be an Advent guide for us. Our aim, our mission is to lead people to the feet of Jesus that they may know him personally as Saviour, Lord, brother and friend. In this Advent season, as we joyfully prepare for the coming of Christ, may we lead others to Jesus. This is our mission as Catholics – to experience Jesus in our hearts and to share the love of Jesus with others.