Homily

“And the WORD became flesh and dwelt among us.”

On of my favourite pieces of music at this time of year is listening to a chorus from Handel’s Messiah, that raises my heart hearing the words, “For unto us a child is born,” and builds up to the thunderous words, “And his name shall be called, Wonderful, Counsellor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace!” Throughout the celebrations for Christmas the Gospels follow a similar progression of thought leading to the crescendo in the Gospel I just read, “And the WORD became flesh and dwelt among us.”

The first Gospel of Christmas read last evening rete4lls the story of that holy night over Bethlehem, and follows with the scene of the shepherds coming to meet the child in the manger, and then we come to story that lifts these scenes out of history into the realm of mystery, where Jesus is identified as the WORD OF GOD, who is present with God from the beginning, and through whom all things came to be, and who BECAME FLESH. And so a most fitting response to these gospels are the words of Handel: “And his name shall be called, Wonderful.”

The birth of a baby is always a time for joy, celebration and hope. We have reason to celebrate, for the cynicism that clouds so much of our world today and our lives during the last year under the threat of a pandemic – is dispelled; we have a reason to hope just as every new parents feels at the birth of a child, – they feel hope as the baby is a sign for a future, hopefully a better future. A newborn child has no past, and so every infant is a promise for the future, not simply the future of that infant but for all of us, which is why we rejoice at the birth of a child. When a  child is brought into the world, the entire family is changed, and so is the future of that family. Now, anything is possible.

The future of us all is now placed upon the shoulders of this child at whose birth we rejoice today. With his birth, the new world of promise has been born, and God has been proven trustworthy.

The birth of the child Jesus is surrounded with paradox. Though he was in the beginning with God, he enters into time to be with US. Though all things were made through him, he concealed his power in the swaddling bands of cloth. He came as prince of peace into a world of enmity and wars. He came as light into a world of darkness. Paradoxes such as these remind us that God desires to accomplish in us and in our world marvelous deeds we cannot begin to completely understand or fathom. But we are faced with questions: “What has really changed with Christ’s birth?” “Is there PEACE on earth?” “Is there light?” “Are we open to receive the marvels of God prepared for us?” Like the shepherds in the Mass at Dawn, we have to be unafraid – courageous to first find the child and then go out and retell the Good News to all – announce this through our lives to everyone we meet.

The new world promised by the birth of this child, the restoration our world so sorely need, is already unfolding in our midst. Many still go out of their way – despite so many obstacles – to care for the needy of the world. People collect and distribute food, clothing and medical supplies despite threats to their own health and welfare. People still fearlessly and courageously stand up for justice and against evils perpetrated against the most vulnerable. People continue to volunteer of their time , energy and resources helping to rebuilt the lives of others after natural disasters or after social upheaval or wars.

If we do not recognize or see this “new world” of the Child Jesus, perhaps it is because we ourselves are doing nothing do bring about change. Perhaps the peace we wish at Christmas is merely a holiday greeting and not a promise to live in peace with everyone. Perhaps we have romanticized the poor and the despised shepherds while we ignore the poor and the despised among us. Perhaps our celebration of Christmas is simply a reenactment of the seasonal mystery play or parish school pageants we participated in years past. We are celebrating the real act of God’s LOVE for us.

Let us never forget that Christmas is above all a time of PROMISE, just as the birth of any child is such a time. The child born is our Saviour, the WORD of GOD, the Wonder-Counsellor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace!” This is the fulfillment of the promise made to us by God, not by us, and so it is trustworthy. All we have to do is open our hearts to accept this promise, just as we would accept the child that is born to us.

​Today, Christians must overcome tremendous obstacles to gather and to listen to the ancient story of Christmas as it is re-told… and to proclaim their faith in the fact that it is TRUE, that the God in whom we believe has spoken indeed, and speaks again, a WORD of great power, the word IMMANUEL. He truly is “God with us,” God in us, God of us. But remember, no power on earth can prevent us from celebrating the Birth of the Christ Child. “The Word became flesh.!”

The WORD became Flesh so that we can become one again with the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.The WORD became Flesh and dwells among us so that God will not just be “up there” or “out there” or “over there.” He is with us.

The WORD became Flesh and dwells among us to give us power to become children of God. He became part of our life so that we can become part of His life – forever. But how to start? Begin with the baby in the manger! The Baby captures the beauty, the clarity, the tenderness, the transparency, the honesty, the depth, and the embrace of God’s love for us. Begin with the Baby in the manger today, but don’t end there.

Embrace the cleansing and renewing power of Christ’s death and resurrection. As the ancient Church Fathers wrote, “He came down to raise us up, to restore our dignity, our purpose, and our peace.”

On this Christmas Day, begin this closer walk with Jesus by trying to appreciate God’s LOVE and presence in your life. Start with the WORD – start with the Baby and all that He means. This Baby is unique precisely because He is like a million other babies – HE HAS HIS FATHER’S EYES!

Prayers

Celebrant:  “The Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us.” As we celebrate the Birth of Emmanuel, God with us, we offer our prayers of thanksgiving to the father for this precious gift of his Son.

READER: For our Church, for our Holy Father, Pope Francis, for our Apostolic Administrator, John, and for all our priests, deacons, religious and catechists and the many volunteers in our parish, that together they be channels of God’s peace, (Pause) LET US PRAY TO THE LORD.

READER: For joy and peace at Christmas – may Christmas be for each of us a time of joy and peace among families, neighbors, friends and nations,(Pause) LET US PRAY TO THE LORD.

READER: Lord, fill your people with whatever good we need and let the mystery of your birth be a source of our peace and our hope, (Pause) LET US PRAY TO THE LORD.

READER: King of all eternity, you desired to be born within time and to experience the daily toils of all men and women. Share your gift of unending life with us,(Pause) LET US PRAY TO THE LORD.

READER: For all who are still in the darkness of loneliness, depression illness, or grief, that the light who is Jesus may enlighten and comfort them, andmay they come to know the joy of our love in His name, (Pause) LET US PRAY TO THE LORD.

READER: For our dear ones who have died, that they may be soon brought to their heavenly reward, where Jesus is seated at the right hand of the Majesty of the Father, (Pause) LET US PRAY TO THE LORD.

CELEBRANT:  Mighty God and Prince of Peace, today our hearts are filled with joy and confidence as we present our prayers to you on this special day, for you are Lord for ever and ever, (all) AMEN.