On behalf of Dcn, Tony the parish staff and on behalf of the many inches of newly fallen snow I wish all of you a very blessed and white Christmas. I guess most people will not be dreaming of a white Christmas because it’s already white. There are many things people of faith dream about, dreams that fulfill the desire to be aligned with the wonderful things God has prepared for those who love him. Many of those dreams became realized that first Christmas
The Prophet Isaiah sets the stage as he foretells what the future holds. The people who walk in darkness have seen a great light. Upon those who dwell in the land of gloom a light has shown. In other words those walking in darkness are those who are without the truth and those who dwell in the land of gloom are those who are without hope. Matthew Kelly in his book Holy Moments mentions how he meets many good people who are losing hope because they are becoming discouraged and confused. He defines hope as the belief good things lie ahead and having the confidence that something wonderful can happen. He said when we lose hope we stop believing - the future can be better and that - there’s nothing we can do about it. Holy moments are those times we can make a difference for others and play a vital role in bringing out the good in our society and one another. They are primarily those great moments of collaboration between God and man. One of those great moments of collaboration - is the Annunciation to Mary that she’s to be the mother of God and her response: Behold the handmaid of the Lord - May it be done unto me according to your Word.
The epitome of hope was realized that first Christmas night. Everything changed because Jesus Christ our savior is born and our redemption is now at hand Isaiah goes on to say that on this night the people were brought abundant joy - rejoicing because a child is born to us, a son is given to us and upon his shoulders dominion rests. They name him wonder-counselor God hero father forever-prince of peace. His dominion is vast and forever peaceful for it is from David’s throne and from his kingdom that he confirms and sustains his promise and it’s by his judgement and justice that the Lord of hosts does this.
St Paul tells us: the grace of the lord saved us by teaching us to reject godless ways and worldly desires and living temperately, justly and devoutly in this age as we await the blessed hope of the 2nd coming - the appearance of the Glory of our God. It is our God and savior Jesus the Christ who gave himself up for us to deliver us from all lawlessness and to cleanse for himself a people of his own. Think about that - Jesus came to earth so he could cleanse his people and make them holy.
Jesus is this LIGHT that the prophets are speaking about. The Story unfolds with the establishing of a decree from Caesar Augustus that the whole world should be enrolled in their own hometown. Joseph upon seeing this decree knew he had to go back to the home of his father, to the house of David, to the town of Bethlehem and in doing so he takes with him his wife Mary who is with child. Imagine Jesus takes his 1st journey with Joseph and Mary to their hometown just as Jesus is willing to journey with you and me to help us find our home in him. We are told that while they are in Bethlehem the time came for Mary to have her child. She gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger for there was no room for him in the Inn.
Having waited for the Messiah all these years one would think the Jewish people would have prepared a place for him to stay but what’s saddest of all is that they weren’t ever aware of his coming. The first ones to know of his coming were the shepherds who were also without a place to stay as they were living in their fields keeping night watch over their flock As I was meditating on this gospel I couldn’t help but compare the shepherds keeping watch over their flock - to Jesus the good shepherd who always keeps watch over his flock being sure they stay close to him so they don’t get in trouble. That’s what he wants for you and I today for us to stay close by him - as the sheep stay close to their Shepherd so they don’t get into trouble. So, when you go home today stay out of trouble. I see the shepherd as the one we need to emulate if we hope to be missionary disciples by helping others have a closer relationship with the shepherd - so they can know him more deeply.
God sends an angel to these future missionary disciples who - tend their sheep by night - so nothing harms them. They are the ones the Angel first comes to. We are told the glory of the lord shown around them but that they were afraid,The Angel reassures them not to be afraid and then says; behold I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all people for today in the city of David a Savior has been born for you who is Christ and Lord and this will be a sign for you. You will find an infant wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger and suddenly there was a multitude of heavenly hosts with the Angel praising God and saying Glory to God in the Highest and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.
When I hear the words peace to those on whom his favor rests it seemed to me his favor rests on the lowly shepherds. I had the opportunity to visit the holy land and I came across many shepherds tending their sheep and I remember looking over the hills particularly at one which is referred to as shepherds hill thinking about that great night when they were chosen by God to have the angel come to them and announce the good news a savior has been born for them who is Christ and lord. After speaking to an Israelite, we were told the shepherds are now looked down upon and I’m wondering how could that be when the fathers of our faith were shepherds Abraham Isaac and Jacob were all shepherds as were Moses and King David, It seems we can easily lose sight of our heritage and what is of great importance We can’t let that happen. We are all made in the image and likeness of God. We need to remember that Jesus came for all people - but especially the poor and lowly of our society.
There is simply no preparing for the grace that God gives the world even Mary and Joseph were unprepared for the arrival of the Christ child. The question you and I need to ask ourselves during this most holy season is how prepared are we for the coming of the Christ child? Do we even have a place for him in our home, an even better question, do we even have a place for him in our heart?
While the Jewish people believed the messiah would come amongst them as a king full of power and might with the ability to free them from all of their enemies, God chooses instead - to come in a very subtle way unbeknown to many but to a few lowly shepherds keeping watch over their sheep by night. God’s subtleness is expressed by Mary in her Magnificat after she he told by the Angel Gabriel - she is to be the Mother of God as she prays:
My soul proclaims the greatness of the lord. My Spirit rejoices in God my Savior for he has looked with favor upon his lowly servant... He has filled the hungry with good things and the rich he has sent away empty. He has come to the help of his servant Israel remembering his promise of mercy - You and I on this most holy night also need to pray a Magnificat. You and I also need to give praise and honor to God as Mary had. You and I need to thank him for the many blessings he has given to us - and for his willingness to come into our world - so that we may have eternal life –
May our souls also - proclaim the greatness of the Lord and like Mary, may our Spirits rejoice in God our savior - for he has also looked upon us - his lowly servants and has - also done great things for us - for on this day we celebrate the birth of his Son who was willing to become like us so he could give his life for us so we could live forever. Our messiah’s birth and death is - the fruit of our Hope and our Faith
St Paul tells us in Romans. Faith is the assurance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen. Faith in God is knowing with certainty eternal life awaits those who love him
May each of you - have a very - blessed and - Holy Christmas - Father Tom Farrell