Any feminists here? I have lots of women friends from Arizona who are what I would call “feminists” – in a good sort of way, not in a radical way – and one of them e-mailed me the following joke:
Do you know what would have happened If it had been 3 Wise Women instead of 3 Wise Men?
Answer: They would have asked directions, arrived on time, helped deliver the baby, cleaned the
stable, made a casserole, brought practical gifts and there would be Peace On Earth.
Now of course I don’t know if that is really true, although I’m sure that it made some of your laugh – especially the women. Now guys – we need to fess up and admit that most times, women are very practical – oftentimes much more practical than us men. And I think one of the reasons I really like this feast of the Magi, this feast of Epiphany and of the Three Kings, is that it is such a practical feast. It’s not a lot of pie-in-the-sky, high-fallutin’ theology, but it’s about the practical reality of making God present in us and through us, each and every day.
Christmas is about looking backward – back 2,000 years ago to the birth of Jesus. But Epiphany is about look forward – looking out into the future, to see how Jesus is being born anew each and every day in us.
The word “Epiphany” means “to make manifest” or “to make visible, to make present.” So today, on this feast, we look at how God is being made manifest, visible, present – today. If you look on your handouts, you will see the question framed at the top: HOW TO MAKE GOD VISIBLE IN YOUR LIFE. That’s a real concrete, down-to-earth, gritty sort of question – and the question I want to try to answer today in this homily.
As we get started, I need your help. I brought with me today four objects, and I need you kids to help me identify these objects. First, I have a – map. What’s it used for? Right – it helps us on a trip or journey so we don’t get lost! On this feast of Epiphany, the wise men were on a journey – and we too are on a journey, a spiritual journey through life, to discover and know God better. Next, I have – right! Glasses. They help me see! Without them, I’m blind! Next, I have a --- magnifying glass. This is to help me see better, even when the letters are too small for my glasses. Finally, I have – right! A telescope. This is to help me see really far away objects that I can’t see with just my naked eye – nor even with my glasses – nor even with a magnifying glass.
Now all these four things have one thing in common – they help us keep on track, they help us to see, they help us to not get lost. And Epiphany is kind of like that, also. As we begin a new year, this feast orients us and keeps us on track so that we don’t get lost. It focuses our attention on following the star, on following Jesus. It’s kind of like our roadmap, and kind of like our eyeglasses or a magnifying glass – and sometimes, like a telescope, it really focuses our attention on something important.
Today, we’re going to focus in and look at four ways that we can make God more visible in our lives in this upcoming new year.
First: We can make God more visible in our lives by being WISE and FOLLOWING God. Now, that me seem a bit self-evident to some of us here. After all, we are here in church, hearing about the WISE MEN – so it stands to reason that we are trying to be wise ourselves by following God. But our Gospel today tells us that not everyone wants to be wise, and not everyone wants to follow God.
Let’s read the story: After Jesus was born in Bethlehem village, Judah territory—this was during Herod's kingship—a band of wise scholars arrived in Jerusalem from the East. They asked around, "Where can we find and pay homage to the newborn King of the Jews? We observed a star in the eastern sky that signaled his birth. We're on pilgrimage to worship him.” When word of their inquiry got to Herod, he was terrified—and not Herod alone, but most of Jerusalem as well. – Matthew 2:1-3 (Message)
We have the wise men, but we also have King Herod. He was the “King of the Jews” – a mighty political figure at the time of Jesus’ birth, who ruled in Palestine with an iron fist. He was a great builder – he built huge palaces and fortresses and temples – but he also was a wicked tyrant who oppressed and enslaved his people. Herod was so jealous of others, so worried that they would usurp his power, that he killed three of his own children, and one of his wives, and his mother-in-law – just out of jealousy and fear that they would try to take over. When Herod was old and on his deathbed, he wanted people to mourn when he died, but he knew that nobody would cry for him, because of his great wickedness. So he ordered that, just prior to his death, all the leading citizens of Jerusalem be arrested – then, when he died, they were to be killed. In this way, he would be assured that the streets of the city would be filled with weeping and wailing on the day of his death – even if the weeping and wailing was not really for him!
King Herod was King of the Jews, and he could tolerate no other pretenders to the throne. So when he heard about a new king of the Jews who was about to be born, he was terrified. Did you know that the very notion of God and church terrifies some people? It’s true! And usually, they are terrified because, just like with King Herod – listening to God will mean that they have to change, and they really don’t want to change any of their bad habits or their evil ways.
Let’s keep reading: Herod lost no time. He gathered all the high priests and religion scholars in the city together and asked, "Where is the Messiah supposed to be born?" They told him, "Bethlehem, Judah territory. The prophet Micah wrote it plainly: 'It's you, Bethlehem, in Judah's land, no longer bringing up the rear. From you will come the leader who will shepherd-rule my people, my Israel.' "-- Mt 2:4-6
Here, we see how God works in mysterious, almost invisible ways sometimes. He chooses Bethlehem, the smallest and most insignificant of the 12 tribes of Israel – the tribe that is always bringing up the rear! And he comes not as a powerful, worldly king – but as a servant, as a shepherd king. Epiphany reminds us that we need to keep a watchful eye, not fall asleep or become complacent, if we want to see the presence and the manifestation of God – because God often manifests himself in unexpected and hidden ways.
We read on: Herod then arranged a secret meeting with the scholars from the East. Pretending to be as devout as they were, he got them to tell him exactly when the birth-announcement star appeared…- Mt 2:7
Herod “pretended” to be devout. We too can fall into the trap of “pretending” to follow God – we go to church, we follow all the rules and regulations, we do exactly what is asked of us – but our heart is not in it. We’re just pretending. But God wants real, genuine, authentic faith – not just an empty external shell.
Last week, while traveling to visit my family for Christmas, I was reading a novel on the airplane entitled “Satisfied with Nothing.” It’s the story of a black teenager growing up in very racist, very segregated Louisiana in the south during the time of the civil rights movement and the integration of public schools. He and the other black students are bused to an all-white school, but they are never accepted there, and are the constant targets of taunts and racial slurs – and not only by white students, but also by white teachers and white school administrators. Meanwhile, on Sundays, the boy attends a black Baptist church with his mom, where he hears the preacher yell out to the congregation that they just need to accept the persecution, the injustice, the suffering – because, even though they struggle here in this world, they will reap a great reward when they die and go to heaven.
The boy hears this message repeated from the pulpit, week after week, and he becomes angrier and angrier. What kind of God allows innocent people to suffer unjustly? He gets tired and angry with the preacher’s pie-in-the-sky, grin-and-bear-it sort of theology. And do you know that this theology isn’t much different from the theology preached by the Mexican priests and conquistadores to the native Indians – grit your teeth, bear suffering and indignity in this world, but you will be rewarded in the next life.
Baloney! Epiphany remind us that there is evil and darkness in the world. There are tyrants like Herod. But we can’t just bury our heads in the sand like ostriches and hope the darkness will go away. We can’t just pretend that vindication comes at the end, when we’re dead and buried. Epiphany reminds us that we must become light ourselves, here and now – we must carry forth the torch that will extinguish the evil and darkness. We must make God visible and manifest in our world – not with empty words and dead rituals and meaningless platitudes – but by really plugging into God, really allowing God to be the King and ruler of our hearts and loves, really allowing the power of God to transform us – and, through us, to eventually transform the world. We must seek God’s wisdom, and not the false wisdom of this world.
And so, our second point: To make God visible in our lives, we must do as the wise men and lead by shining for others. Let me explain as we continue to read the gospel story: Then the star appeared again, the same star they had seen in the eastern skies. It led them on until it hovered over the place of the child. They could hardly contain themselves: They were in the right place! They had arrived at the right time! – Matthew 2:9-10
The magi were not afraid to take a risk. Traveling in their day was dangerous. There were not telephones, no automobiles, no superhighways, no Motel 6’s along the road to rest after a long day of travel. But they persevered. They followed the star. They did not give up. And we are called to do the same.
Notice their attitude: They could hardly contain themselves. They were filled with joy! For us, is the Christian life a drudgery or a joy? Do we, like these first wise men, show forth an exuberance and an excitement that is contagious? That’s how to be a witness for Jesus. That’s how to make God visible and manifest in our lives.
Question: What star do we follow? Is it the star of God? Or the false stars of this world that surround us – the pop music stars, the movie stars, the sports heroes? Is it the pursuit of pleasure, vanity, money, comfort – or the pursuit of a loving relationship with God, so that He is our true master and our true inspiration?
The third way we make God more visible in our lives: We share our gifts: They entered the house and saw the child in the arms of Mary, his mother. Overcome, they kneeled and worshiped him. Then they opened their luggage and presented gifts: gold, frankincense, myrrh. – Matthew 2:11
This year, as part of our spiritual New Year’s list of resolutions, perhaps we should ask ourselves: What is the gift that I wish to bring, to offer in service of God and church?
I remember a story about a rich man in the Middle Ages who built a huge cathedral for the people of his village. On opening day, everyone attended for the inaugural Mass – only to discover that the church was completely dark, because the rich man had failed to put windows into the new church. “Where are the windows?” they asked. And the rich man replied, “The light in this church depends on you. When you bring your lamps, your lanterns, your candles – they you will fill this church with light. But if you stay at home and don’t attend, this church will stay dark.” Epiphany reminds us that we are to be the light-bearers in the world – we must share our gifts and talents so that, through us, Jesus can scatter the darkness of this world.
Finally, we make God more visible in our lives when we don’t let detours distract and discourage us. Life is full of obstacles, roadblocks – and it was no different for the Magi. They had planned to return home one way, but found their way blocked because of evil King Herod. Let’s read together: In a dream, they were warned not to report back to
Herod. So they worked out another route, left the territory without being seen, and returned to their own country. – Matthew 2:12
Along with the roses, life has its thorns. And maybe for some of us, Christmas and New Year’s have not been times of joy. Maybe a friend or relative has just died. Maybe in the past year, a mother has lost a child in a miscarriage. Maybe a spouse has lost a job, or a child is causing grief to his or her parents because of a drug problem. Maybe the family has been wrenched by a painful divorce. Maybe we have children serving in the military, and the threat of war with Iraq has us terrified.
The answer is not just to grin-and-bear-it. The answer is not to just suffer passively now, in the hope that God will reward us sometime in the far-distant future when we get to heaven.
The Epiphany answer is to let God take over our hearts and lives as King – let God fill in the holes and valleys of our pain by transforming that pain from the inside out – let God use us to become His light for reaching out to others who also are in pain.
The Epiphany answer is not just to sit back and do nothing – but to stand up and become active, so that together, as one family, as one church, we start to scatter the darkness – we start to make a difference – we start to transform our world. Then God becomes more visible, more manifest – in us, and in the world.
The real question for us this Epiphany is simply this: Is God visible in my life? Is God really shining there, brightly for all to see? Is my life a star – a light – that draws others toward God?
On your sheet, I’ve included a space for each of us to make a New Year’s Spiritual Resolution – a promise to let God shine in my life more brightly in this new year of 2003 by --- and you can fill in the blank.
I’ve listed some ideas, some suggestions:
Become Wiser by following God – Truly commit your life to Jesus as Lord and Savior and King … Grow spiritually by consistent prayer each day … Don’t miss Mass each weekend … Unlike Herod, let go of vanity and resentments and jealousy … forgive a grudge … stop judging or gossiping … don’t succumb to the world’s false wisdom – strive to be less materialistic and worldly …
Lead by Shining for Others – Set a better example for your family and friends -- for your husband or wife; for your kids; for your classmates at school … Grow spiritually by attending a Bible study or youth group or mini-retreat … Spend more time with your family … Get rid of a bad habit (smoking, gambling, bad language, overeating, drinking, drugs)
Sharing Your Gifts – Serve in a church ministry … Become more faithful in tithing each week.
Don’t Let Detours Distract or Discourage – Keep going, despite pains and hurts … Lean on God to transform those hurts and pains … Reach out in your hurt and pain to help others who also are hurting…
Let’s close with a final Epiphany Prayer. It’s on your sheets. It’s the poetic vision and promise from God, as spoken in our first reading from the prophet Isaiah in the Old Testament. As I read it, especially note who it is speaking to. I want everyone here to really yell out in one voice at every mention of the word “you” or “your” in this passage, because it is speaking to us:
Arise, my people! Let your light shine for all the nations to see! For the glory of the Lord is streaming from you. Darkness as black as night shall cover all the peoples of the earth, but the glory of the Lord will shine from you. All nations will come to your light; mighty kings will come to see the glory of the Lord upon you. Lift up your eyes and see! … Your eyes will shine with joy, your hearts will throb and overflow… – Isaiah 60:1-5 (Living Bible)
This is the Epiphany promise – God with us – God made visible in and through us, so that a darkened world can find the true light and the true light of Jesus Christ. Blessed Epiphany, all!
Happy New Year! Hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas!
I want to start us out today with a short film clip. Try to see if you can identify the movie… [show Forest Gump running] What is the movie? What is the Forest Gump doing? Right – he’s running! Is he running anyplace in particular? No. Just going, going, going, from one ocean to another, then back again – for three years, two months, 14 days and 16 minutes.
Today’s Feast of the Magi, the Wise Men, Epiphany, is about a journey – the journey of the magi who followed a star in order to see the newborn king, Jesus; and our journey to also follow the star, the light of Christ in our lives. But there are two ways to travel. Lots of people are like Forest Gump – running furiously, but going nowhere, with no direction and no purpose. It’s like a dog chasing its tail. But as we begin this new year of 2005, our feast today invites us to be like the magi – to journey forward, but with a purpose and a destination in mind. God doesn’t want us to waste away and squander the opportunities he has given us, by chasing our tails.
Look with me on your handouts. It says: “Taking the Long Road Home.” The wise men, on their journey, came face to face with a major obstacle, King Herod, who wanted to kill the baby Jesus before he could grow up and become king and seize the throne from Herod. So they were forced to go home by a different and longer route, in order to avoid King Herod. Our spiritual pilgrimage in life is a lot like the adventurous journey of the wise men: full of surprises, detours, and there are really no short cuts to heaven. We too need to take the long road, if we want to arrive at our true home and our true destination, which is with God.
Now look again at your handout, where it says: “Living a Life of Overflowing Generosity.” On this feast of Epiphany, we celebrate a journey of generosity. Read with me, please, where it says, “Sermon in a Sentence” – “Blessings beget Blessings.” Repeat that with me, please: “Blessings beget Blessings.”
When we are generous, when we bless others – then these blessings beget, or give birth to, new blessings – blessings for ourselves, blessings for others. Living a life of overflowing generosity and blessing is countercultural – it is taking the long road home, the unpopular road, the road that flies in the face of what society says. We live in a “me only” society and culture – a materialistic and often selfish and greedy world where everyone is taught to look out for themselves, look out for No. 1, and don’t worry too much about your neighbor in need, who probably is lazy and dishonest, anyway.
How many believe we need to teach our children generosity? I heard not too long ago about a father and his son, in the drive through lane at McDonald’s. He bought himself a Big Mac and a Happy Meal for his son. But as they were driving down the highway, the father reached over and grabbed a French fry from his son’s Happy Meal. The boy immediately protested: “That’s mine!” Some angry thoughts instantly popped into the dad’s head: “Those French fries aren’t his! I’m the one who paid for them! I’m his French fry god! Doesn’t he realize that without me, he would have no French fries!” And so the dad began to teach his son a lesson in generosity – a lesson in sharing, even if sharing only involves sharing of a French fry.
The dad didn’t need his son’s French fry. He could have bought a dozen French fries from McDonald’s, if he had wanted to. But the dad did want to teach his son about kindness and generosity and sharing. In a similar way, God is our heavenly Father. Everything we have comes from Him. He doesn’t need anything from us. But he wants to teach us how to share and be generous and grateful.
Maybe you’ve heard about the movie, “Super Size Me.” For an entire month, this guy does nothing but eat McDonald’s food. Obviously, he gains lots of weight. But in one scene, a bunch of 1st graders are gathered together and shown three pictures. The first is a picture of George Washington. None of the kids can identify him. One gets close: “Wasn’t he the fourth president of the United States?” The next picture is of Jesus Christ. None of the kids can identify Jesus. One kid asks, “Is that George Bush?” Finally, the children are shown a picture of Ronald McDonald. Anyone here want to guess? Right! Every single kid could identify Ronald McDonald. Such is the power and the influence of the media and of advertising on our children! So we, as Christians, need to fight back and help our children and our families follow the star of Jesus, journey on God’s road and not just wander aimlessly through life with no purpose, no plan, no vision – or following the false stars that society offers to us.
It all begins with God’s generosity to us. That’s what Christmas is all about. As John’s gospel says, “For God so loved the world that he GAVE his only Son.” God is a giver. Christmas is about the greatest gift of all – God himself who came down and took on human flesh and was born into the world and became one of us, to rescue us and save us and show us the pathway to life.
Read with me the next verse on your handouts, from the book of Acts: “We are saved because Jesus… out of share GENEROSITY moved to save us.” (Acts 15:11, Message). Or look what Saint Paul tells us in his 2nd Letter to the Corinthians: “Remember the GENEROSITY of Jesus Christ, the Lord of us all. He was rich beyond our telling, yet he became poor for your sake so that his poverty might make you rich.” (2 Cor. 8>9, Phillips)
How do we respond to God’s lavish generosity toward us? Today’s gospel presents us with a living example, the response of the magi, the wise men. We don’t know a whole lot about them. They are only mentioned in Matthew’s gospel, only in these 12 short verses. We don’t even know how many of them came to visit Jesus. The Bible never tells – though the tradition says there were three, based on the fact that they brought three gifts: gold, frankincense and myrrh.
But we do know a few things. They were rich – just look at the costly gifts they brought. And they were foreigners – they came from a distant land. This story tells us that the Good News of Jesus is for all peoples and all nations, not just for a small, chosen few. We also know that they were very generous. Look on your handouts:
• They were generous with their time. It took a long time in those days to make such a long journey, probably from Persia in the East, all the way to the Holy Land.
• They were generous is that they were willing to risk their lives. In those days, long journeys were dangerous. There were no cell phones, no planes or trains or automobiles, no AAA if your camel broke down in the desert. And it was dangerous because they were foreigners, entering a foreign country ruled by King Herod, who was known for his ruthlessness – he had killed many of his own children, spouses and other family members, out of jealousy and rage.
• Finally, they were generous with their gifts – expensive gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.
The story of the magi invites us to examine our own lives and ask questions about our own journey God-ward. Look with me on the back side of your handout, where it says, “Our Own Journey God-ward.”
• Are we willing to make sacrifices, like these wise men, in order to follow Jesus?
• Are we willing to take risks and become “strangers in a strange land” – foreigners, if you will, who buck the popular trends of the culture? Just last week, I came across a family that had decided not to allow their children to own or use such things as Play Stations or Nintendo or Sega Genesis or Game Boys – they didn’t want their kids influenced by these popular devices. Now I am not necessarily advocating that we not allow our children to have access to any of these toys – but maybe we need to be more vigilant, more careful about how much time our kids use these devices. Are they spending more time playing games or studying and doing their homework?
• What star are we following? God’s star? Or the star of pop culture and society – the world of materialism and instant gratification, the “me” society, the Oprah Winfrey’s and Dr. Phil’s and the JLo’s of the airwaves?
The long way home of God requires:
• Faith. The magi had no road maps, just the star. And for us, there is no road map that tells us, step by step, exactly how life will proceed. But we do have God’s light to guide us, gently, step by step, and we have God’s instruction book, the Bible, to give us advice and guidance along the way.
• The long way home also requires perseverance. This walk with God is for the long haul. There are no short cuts and quick and easy ways to get to heaven. Christianity is a marathon, not a sprint.
• There will be detours and obstacles – temptations and King Herod’s that get in our way and try to sidetrack us.
• Finally, the long way home requires generosity, a giving and generous heart.
Carl Menninger, the famous psychiatrist, once said that generosity is a central component to good mental health. But centuries before Carl Menninger, Jesus Christ understood this simple truth, which is why he urged us to be generous, blessing others – as the wise men did – so that the blessings could multiply into new blessings for others.
Did you know: The Bible used the word “believe” 272 times. It uses the word “prayer” 371 times. It uses the word “love” 714 times. But it uses the word “give” 2,162 times!
There are really only two kinds of people in the world: GIVERS and TAKERS. People who are generous, and people who are sponges. Did you know that the world “miserly” and “miserable” come from the same root? Those who are miserly, who are takers, will live miserable and unhappy lives. And so, God invites us to be lavishly generous, blessing others with overflowing generosity.
On your handout are seven simple reasons for being generous:
1. Generosity creates community. Look at the outpouring of generosity this week to help the victims of the earthquake and tsunami in Asia and Africa. This outpouring of generosity makes the word seem smaller, as if we are all part of the human family, we are all connected to one another as a world community.
2. Generosity defeats materialism. I was impressed by the outpouring of generosity in our church in the days and weeks before Christmas, as family after family dropped off Christmas gifts to help needy children.
3. Generosity strengthens our faith – it moves us to depend on God for our sustenance and our needs.
4. Generosity is an investment in eternity – Jesus promises riches in heaven to those who are generous here on earth.
5. Generosity blesses us in return. Blessings beget a hundredfold return to us in additional blessings.
6. Generosity produces happiness. Doesn’t it just make you feel wonderful inside to give something to another person, and watch them smile? Let’s try something. Everyone stand. Put on a big smile. Now give that smile – and a hug – to the person on your right and on your left. How do you feel? Better, I suspect. We can be generous in simple ways – with a smile, a handshake, a greeting, a hug, a kiss, a kind word or a word of encouragement.
7. Finally, generosity makes us more like God. God is the great GIVER. And isn’t that really what we want our life journey to be about – helping us to become more and more like Christ?
In the days long past, I am told that George Burns wrote a humorous skit in which his wife could not get her new electric clock to operate properly. So she called a repairman. He tinkered with it a bit, but then told her: “There’s nothing wrong with this clock. You just need to plug it in.” The wife replied: “O no! I only plug it in when I want to know the time. Otherwise, I leave it unplugged so that I can save on electricity.”
It’s sad, but spiritually, a lot of people are only plugging into God when they need something, but they are not staying connected to the power source 24-7. They are running like Forest Gump, faster and faster, but going nowhere.
How can we be generous? The wise men brought three gifts to Jesus:
1. First, they brought the gift of gold. This symbolizes our material wealth. And all of us, if we live in this country, are enormously wealthy materially, in comparison to most other people in the world. We need to be generous with our material wealthy – helping others in need. We need to send money and resources to the Indian Ocean, to help the many victims of the tsunami there.
2. They also brought incense, which was used in the Temples and synagogues in the days of Jesus. The incense represents our spiritual life. Have we given God the gift of our hearts, our lives? Are we in love with God? How do we show that love? Maybe in this New Year, we can rededicate ourselves to growing closer to God – plugging into a Bible study group, a youth group, or some other church activity, so we can stay plugged in and connected to God, 24-7.
3. The final gift is myrrh, used in ancient funerals. It is the symbol of our humanity. As human beings, we need to give emotionally – to fill up the emotional gas tanks of our children, our spouses, the people all around us. More than money, more than anything material, the people who are important to us, the people in our lives like our kids, our husbands and wives, our co-workers, our friends, our other family members – they need that emotional gift – our time, our energy and enthusiasm, our kind words, our encouragement, a helping hand, a visit.
So, one again, the sermon in a sentence: Blessings beget blessings.
This Epiphany, as we embark on a New Year, let’s take the Long Road Home, by living a life of overflowing generosity. Let us become blessings to God a to one another!
December 31, 2006
Holy Parenting, Holy Families
Winston Churchill, when he was prime minister of England during World War II, battling Nazi Germany, said, “We shall fight on beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and streets, we shall fight in the hills!” Many years later, a comedian commented, “Sounds to me like my family’s vacations!”
Today, we celebrate the Feast of the Holy Family. I want to talk about holy parenting, and how we create holy families. It’s not easy being a parent these days! Another comedian once said, “Whenever I get sick, I follow the directions on the aspirin bottle: take two tables, keep away from children!”
Turn with me on your outlines, and let’s read together the first point, out loud: “There are no perfect families.” Repeat! “There are no perfect families!” That’s what we see in our gospel today – even the Holy Family of Joseph, Mary and Jesus had their difficulties from time to time:
Every year Jesus' parents went to Jerusalem for Passover. And when Jesus was twelve years old, they all went there as usual for the celebration. After Passover his parents left, but they did not know that Jesus had stayed on in the city. They thought he was traveling with some other people, and they went a whole day before they started looking for him. When they could not find him with their relatives and friends, they went back to Jerusalem and started looking for him there. Three days later they found Jesus sitting in the temple. – Luke 2:41-46 (CEV)
Just imagine the scene: Jesus is 12 years old, almost a teenager; the family is traveling on holiday, to the big Passover festival in the capital city of Jerusalem; it’s like a carnival, like the country fair or the Date Festival, but even bigger; even bigger than the Coachella Music Festival at the Empire Polo Grounds; and Jesus, without telling his parents, without telling anyone else in the family, decides to stay behind. Joseph and Mary don’t notice that he’s missing until a day later – they think he’s in another part of the caravan, with other friends or relatives. Imagine a first century Palestinian version of the movie, “Home Alone.” And when they go back to look for him in the big city of Jerusalem, it takes them three days until they finally locate him in the temple. Mom and dad probably are not happy campers here! What’s our first point today: There are no perfect families!
Watch with me the following video clip of a family at dinner, and ask: Is this a familiar scene, even in my family? [Show clip from “The Incredibles” of a family feud at dinner time – at Chapter 5 of the DVD]
I also brought a few clips from the comic strip “Zits.” I thought you might enjoy them, and they definitely show, in a humorous way, some of the tensions in today’s typical American family:
The good news is the second point on your handout: “You can make your family whole and holy.” Not perfect, of course – there are no perfect families – but nonetheless whole and holy, because God loves us and wants us to have healthy, whole and holy families. We’re going to look at some strategies on how to build strong families.
First: The war is on, but don’t stress! How many parents here worry about your kids? We read the newspapers, watch all the horrific news on TV about drugs, alcohol, gangs, unwanted teen pregnancies; we hear some of the foul lyrics and messages of the rap and hip hop music on the radio; we see the violence and gratuitous sexual messages on TV, in the movies, even in advertising; we hear about the blood and guts of many video games – and we want to wrap our kids in our arms and shield them from the negative influences of the world out there. But we can’t. We can’t shield them or protect them. So what can we do?
First, don’t stress! The bad influences are out there, of course – but if our kids experience a loving, nurturing environment at home where they are listened to, cared for, understood, encouraged – then the bad influences in our society are kept at bay and can’t penetrate into the hearts and minds of our children.
We need to inoculate our children, give them a spiritual vaccination – fight back with the sword of love! One of the problems is that too many parents today are too busy with work and other responsibilities to really guide and parent their children responsibly. I was reading just a few weeks ago that today, 37 percent of U.S. births are out of wedlock, which is a scary statistic. But the birthrate in the U.S. of girls ages 10 to 17 has actually fallen. The problem is not with our kids – it’s with the adults! More often, it’s the parents who are the problem.
Studies show that this current generation of teenagers is more interested in God, more interested in service to the community, more interested in values and morality and spirituality, and in making a contribution to society, than the previous two or three generations of young people. I think of the altar servers who spend their time a week ago collecting and distributing Christmas gifts for needy children, about kids like Jacob here who just earned his Eagle Scout, about the many teens who are active here at church in youth group and in helping with our church’s children’s programs. This is a great group of kids! Give them a big applause!
But our kids need our love, our time, our understanding and our guidance. Listen with me to the following song – it’s an oldie but goodie. See if you older folks can identify it, and (just to show there’s a definite generation gap!), let’s see if the kids even recognize this song! Listen especially to its words and to its message… [Play “Cat’s in the Cradle” by Harry Chapin] Our kids yearn to imitate their parents – and it behooves us adults to spend quality time with our kids, not to get so busy with other things that we miss the golden opportunities that God has given to us to bond with our kids and to develop and grow healthy and whole and holy families.
Look at what Saint Paul tells us today in our second reading, from his letter to the Colossians – a wonderful and simply guidebook for holy families:
Clothe yourselves in heartfelt compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, bearing with one another and forgiving one another… And over all these put on love… And let the peace of Christ control your hearts, the peace into which you were also called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, as in all wisdom you teach and admonish one another, singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or in deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. -- Colossians 3:12-17 (NAB)
One could do no better than to take these words of Saint Paul home with you, and use them as part of your household prayer and meditation. Saint Paul goes on:
A wife must put her husband first. This is her duty as a follower of the Lord.
A husband must love his wife and not abuse her. Children must always obey their parents. This pleases the Lord. Parents, don't be hard on your children. If you are, they might give up. – Colossians 3:18-21 (CEV)
The best gift parents can give to their kids is a healthy marriage, where mom and dad love each other, are kind and gentle to one another, respectful and generous, instead of yelling and screaming at one another, or angry. When our kids see their parents behaving lovingly, this helps them get ready for their own happy marriage later in life.
Saint Paul urges kids to do their part – obeying their parents, showing courtesy and respect. And He urges parents to go gently on their kids, encouraging rather than criticizing, lifting up rather than putting down. Some parents are in the bad habit, when they lose patience, of also losing control and saying the wrong things to their kids – hurtful, long lasting verbal stings: “Why are you so stupid? Why are you so clumsy? Why can’t you be more like your other brother and sister?” – instead of disciplining with love and out of a sense of strength and self control: “I’m punishing you and taking away your TV privileges or your phone privileges or your Nintendo privileges because I love you and care for you, and want to teach you an important lesson so you grow up to be the young man or young woman that God intended.”
Another “Zit’s” cartoon was in the newspaper last week for Christmas and the New Year – gifts that kids can give to their parents. Creating holy families is a two way street, with kids doing their part, too!
Listen to the start of this next song, and see if you can identify it: [Play the beginning part of Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young’s “Teach Your Children Well”]
On your handout, it says that parents must teach their children. It says, “Successful parents protect their children, but also let their children go.” It’s a delicate balancing act here, but all important. Parents need to protect their children – know where their children are, who is supervising them, know their children’s friends. Last week, my brother was telling me about a mom who gave her daughter a new cell phone, with a camera built in. The mom said to her daughter, “This is so I can know where you are and that you are safe. But remember, if I need to know where you are, I can always know if you are telling me the truth – I’ll just ask you to take a picture of your surroundings and send it to me!” A mom in our parish called me a few months back because who 14-year-old son had been picked up by the police – he was spending the night at some friend’s house, and some trouble broke out and the police were called, and this young man ended up getting arrested because he was in the midst of the brawl and was at the wrong place, at the wrong time. But his parents were not carefully monitoring their son’s whereabouts!
The other extreme are parents who are so overprotective that they smother their children and never let them get involved even in healthy activities. Teens, especially, need to be out of their house and with friends – but in a safe environment. One way for parents to ensure this is to encourage their children to get involved in safe activities where there is good adult supervision: sports, clubs, school activities, church youth groups. If we smother our children too much, they’ll rebel and end up doing the one thing we feared all along – running away or getting into trouble behind our backs.
Three things we need to teach our children:
1. Teach your kids to love God. Not this empty faith based on do’s and don’ts, rules and regulations and requirements. Rather, a living faith, a relationship with the living God.
I heard a funny story of a little boy whose parents belonged to a Baptist Church. But the little boy was always reluctant to go to the church. One day, he want to one of the activities for children, but he came home early and upset, and complained: “It’s all just a racket. They sing, play games, eat pizza, tell stories, get you all relaxed and comfortable – but then, they drown you!”
The best way is for parents to model this love of God in their own lives. Faith needs to be part of the fabric of our family life, not just something tacked on occasionally on Sunday as “something we do because it’s a rule.” Kids need to see that their parents are plugged into church because they love God, because they have a living relationship with the Lord of the universe, and they want their children to share in that same living, loving relationship with God. If kids see their parents living out their faith and giving of their time to the Lord, our children are more likely to imitate their parents.
Do you pray at home with your kids and as a family? Do you pray before meals? Have you dedicated your kids to the Lord? That’s what Hannah and Elkanah did to their son, Samuel, in our first reading today from the Old Testament:
When it was the time of year to go to Shiloh again, Hannah and Elkanah took Samuel to the Lord's house. They brought along a three-year-old bull, a twenty-pound sack of flour, and a clay jar full of wine. Hannah and Elkanah offered the bull as a sacrifice, then brought the little boy to Eli. "Sir," Hannah said, "a few years ago I stood here beside you and asked the Lord to give me a child. Here he is! The Lord gave me just what I asked for. Now I am giving him to the Lord, and he will be the Lord's servant for as long as he lives." – 1 Samuel 1:24-28 (CEV)
Jesus in our gospel also understood this. He asked his parents, Mary and Joseph: "Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father's house?" – Luke 2:49 (NAB) Our children are gifts to us, on loan to us from God – but God has a plan and purpose for our kids, and wants parents to help their children learn about the Lord and discover God’s plan and purpose for their lives. We are all called to be about our Father God’s business!
2. Second, parents must teach their children to be wise. Now, wisdom is not just book knowledge, of course – but education is a big part of growing into wisdom. Jesus was at the temple learning, and the gospel today tells us: Jesus increased in wisdom, in stature, and in favor with God and with people. – Luke 2:52 (NJB)
In the Hispanic community, education is not always respected as it should. I know, there are exceptions – some of our kids who are doing exceptionally well at college. If any of our kids are back from college, would you please stand! Let’s give them a big round of applause! And I also know that college is not God’s plan for everyone. But in the U.S., the road to success is paved through education. Too often, hard working parents have not themselves had the opportunity to go to school, so they don’t really understand its importance in the lives of our children. A friend of mine once told me, “We parents sometimes work hard, but we don’t work smart.” We only look at the short term – telling our kids, “Go out, get a job, make some money, help pay the household bills” but without thinking the long term: “Go, finish college, get a good education, then, over time, you’ll get a better job and be able to become more successful and happier in life.”
It pains me to go to the Mall on Monday, my day off, and see parents with their school aged children wandering around the shops. Or parents who let their kids take extended vacations and miss weeks of school. Of course, kids don’t like school – what’s new? – but they still need to attend. I heard a story of a little boy who lived in southern California, where the weather is always nice, and he begged his mom and dad to take him to the beach the next day. But mom and dad said, “No, because tomorrow is a school day and you need to go to class.” The boy thought maybe the beach was not enough incentive for his parents, so he begged them, “Tomorrow, let’s go to Disneyland.” Still, the answer was, “No, tomorrow is a school day.” Finally, the boy asked his parents the inevitable question, “Why do I have to go to school?” Trying to win the boy’s sympathy, mom replied, “Because, if you don’t go to school, the police may put your mommy and daddy in jail.” The little boy, undaunted, paused for but a moment, then asked, “For how long?”
A few weeks ago, I asked some of our teenagers here in church how they were doing in school. “OK,” one of them said. But being wise to the ways of teenagers, I knew I needed to probe more deeply, so I asked, “Specifically, what does it mean to say, ‘OK’? What kinds of grades are you getting?” One of the young men answered me, “I’m doing fine – I’m getting just one F and only two Ds in my classes!” True story, I swear! But as parents and as adults, we need to encourage our kids to do well in school, to complete their homework assignments on time, to study and read at home, to get tutoring help if they don’t understand a subject or are falling behind.
3. Finally, we must teach our children to be kind and respectful of others, generous and compassionate, like Jesus, especially towards those who are hurting and in pain. We want our kids to grow up to become good, holy people who think about others, not just themselves. In our gospel today, it says: Jesus went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was obedient to them. – Luke 2:51 (NAB) I know kids don’t like that “O” word – “obedience” – but it shows that Jesus was kind, respectful, caring about the wishes and feelings of his parents, Joseph and Mary. In the book of Sirach, from the Old Testament, which was an alternate first reading for today’s Mass, it says: My son, take care of your father when he is old; grieve him not as long as he lives. Even if his mind fail, be considerate with him. – Sirach 3:12-13 (NAB) When the fourth commandment tells us to love and honor our parents, this applies to us older children, also, when our parents are older and need our attention and care.
This last picture on the overhead screen is of the Holy Family – Joseph, Mary and Jesus. I’ve brought with me today a statue of the Holy Family, and as we begin a New Year, I want to propose a project for us as a church family in this new year, to help us build strong and healthy, whole and holy families. On your handout is a space for you to print your name, phone number and address, and which Mass you attend regularly. If you want to participate in this project, fill out the information and drop it into today’s collection basket, or give it to me after Mass or at some other time. My idea is this: Every month, we will draw the name of one family from the hat. That family will get to take the statue of the Holy Family home with them for the month, place it in a prominent place in their home, and pray for God to help them and others create holy families in our church. Do you like this idea?
It’s not easy being a parent. No family is perfect. But God wants all of us to enjoy strong, healthy families that are whole and holy. God bless, and Happy New Year!
Christmas 2002
Deacon Fernando Heredia and his wife, Regina, lent me this little statue, of Santa Claus with his red hat off, kneeling at the foot of the manger as Jesús is being born.
I love Santa Claus – his generosity, his joviality, his big round belly fully of jelly. He really brings out – especially in children – the magical joy and enchantment of this season. But Santa really is just a modern-day representation of St. Nicholas, a fourth-century bishop who went around giving out gifts to help remind people of the greatest gift of all, which is Jesus.
This statue reminds us that Santa is NOT the reason for the season. Jesus is the reason for the season.
On your sheets, I’ve printed a little reflection, and I’d like us to read it together. It’s entitled, “Why Jesus is better than Santa Claus.” Let’s read:
Santa lives at the North Pole...JESUS is everywhere. Santa rides in a sleigh...JESUS rides on the wind and walks on the water. Santa comes but once a year… JESUS is an ever present help. Santa fills your stockings with goodies...JESUS supplies all your needs. Santa comes down your chimney uninvited...JESUS stands at your door and knocks, and then enters your heart when invited. You have to wait in line to see Santa...JESUS is as close as the mention of His name. Santa lets you sit on his lap...JESUS lets you rest in His arms. Santa doesn't know your name. All he can say is "Hi little boy or girl, what's your name?"… JESUS knew our name before we were born. Not only does He know our name, He knows our address too. He knows our history and future and He even knows how many hairs are on our heads. Santa has a belly like a bowl full of jelly… JESUS has a heart full of love. All Santa can offer is HO HO HO… JESUS offers health, help and hope. Santa says "You better not cry"… JESUS says, "Cast all your cares on me for I care for you." Santa's little helpers make toys … JESUS makes new life, mends wounded hearts, repairs broken homes and builds mansions. Santa may make you chuckle but … JESUS gives you joy that is your strength. While Santa puts gifts under your tree… JESUS became our gift and died on a tree.… The cross. We need to put Christ back in CHRISTmas, Jesus is still the reason for the season.
I remember when I was living back in Phoenix, working at the parish there and preparing for Midnight Mass for Christmas, I had heard a story of a parish where they couldn’t find the baby Jesus for the crib. Baby Jesus had just vanished. In fact, they had to celebrate all the Christmas Masses without a baby Jesus in the crib. The next day, Dec. 25, after Masses had ended and the priest was walking home, he came across a little boy, pulling a new toy wagon which he had just received for Christmas. In the wagon was the baby Jesus. The boy explained to the priest, “I really wanted a new wagon, so I prayed real hard and I told Jesus that if he gave me a new wagon for Christmas, I would be sure to give him the first ride.” Funny as the story may seem, that little boy understood the real meaning of Christmas – that its about Jesus, not Santa or gifts or other things.
On your sheet is a picture, of gifts. How many here like to give and receive gifts? It’s fun, isn’t it? And at Christmas, we give and receive lots of gifts. I remember a story of a little boy, who really wanted lots of gifts from Santa for Christmas, so he wrote a letter to Santa. It went like this: “Dear Santa: There are three little boys in my house. Juan is 2. David is 4. Rigoberto is 7. Juan is good some of the time. David is good some of the time. Rigoberto is good all of the time. My name is Rigoberto.”
The problem with Santa is that you need to be good – you need to earn your gifts. You know the old song, “He’s keeping a list, he’s checking it twice, he wants to make sure if you’ve been naughty or nice, Santa Claus is coming to town.”
But Christmas is about a free gift. It costs nothing. There are no strings attached. It can’t be rescinded. The Christmas gift is Jesús himself – born among us, a human being just like us, so that he could save us from sin and death. All we have to do is accept the gift – but there is no earning it, no trying to figure out if we’ve been naughty or nice. On your sheet, the good news of Christmas is summarized by one short verse in the Bible, John 3:16. Let’s read it together: This is how much God loved the world: He gave his Son, his one and only Son. And this is
why: so that no one need be destroyed; by believing in him, anyone can have a whole and lasting life. Juan 3:16
Jesus is the reason for the season. But not just Jesus. We too are the reason for the season, because Jesus came for us – to rescue and save us, and to give us life. I want everyone to repeat after me: I am the reason for the season. Once again: I am the reason for the season. Jesus came and gave his life on a cross because he loves us and he wants the very best for us.
Have you ever wondered why God chose to enter the world as he did – in a stable, out in the cold, amid the animals and shepherds, poor and down-and-out? Why didn’t he just announce his arrive with sky writing in the clouds? Why didn’t he just get on the PA system and all the television networks during the Super Bowl? The answer, I think, is rather simple: God came to save us, not to scare us. And that’s because he really, truly, deeply loves us – loves each and every one of us.
Christmas is not necessary to know a lot about God. We can look up at the stars or out at nature and know that God is immensely powerful. We can look at the wide variety of all living things on this planet, and conclude that God likes diversity. We can see through the orderliness and logic of science that ours is a God of order, not chaos. But unless God comes down and reveals himself – unless God decides to actually take upon himself human flesh and become a living, breathing person – then we can never know if God loves us or not, if God forgives us, if God really wants to live in an intimate relationship of friendship with Him. And that’s the reason for Christmas – so that we can look into the very heart of God and see his great love for each and every one of us. Jesus came to help us NOT just exist, but to truly live – live life to its very fullest.
If I offered you a free gift – a gift that would instantly alleviate all your big problems in life; a gift that would heal you of all your pain and hurts, past, present or future; a gift which would forgive all your past mistakes; a gift that would give your life meaning and purpose, and make you into the very best person that you can be – a gift that would always fill you with joy and contentment, here and now and also for all eternity in heaven – would you want and accept that gift? How many said “Yes”? How many said “No”? It would be foolish NOT to accept such a gift.
But did you know – that’s the exact kind of gift that Jesus gives to each and every one of us. But we must accept the gift. And sadly enough, a lot of people never accept the gifts that God has given to them.
Look on your sheets. We have three witnesses to the Christmas good news. First, we have the Gospel of St. John, which talks about how God so loved us that he sent his Son – the very Word of God that existed from before the beginning of the universe – to scatter the darkness and to bring the new light of God into the world. We have the good news of Christmas that God came to us, because we could not come to Him – and that he came to make us his sons and daughters, his children. Let’s read: In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came to be through him, and without him nothing came to be. What came to be through him was life, and this life was the light of the human race; the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it…The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world…. To those who did accept him he gave power to become children of God….And the Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us, and we saw his glory, the glory as of the Father's only Son, full of grace and truth. John 1:1-5,9,12,14
Next, we have the witness of Matthew – the good news that we have a God who is close – Emmanuel, God-with-us. Let’s read: Mary will bear a son and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins." All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: "Behold, the virgin shall be with child and bear a son and they shall name him Emmanuel," which means "God is with us." Mateo 1:21-23
Finally, we have the witness of Luke. Let’s read what he says: And the angel said to Mary, "The holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore the child to be born will be called holy, the Son of God….for nothing will be impossible for God." Mary said, "Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word." Lucas 1:35, 37-38
In Luke, we learn that nothing is impossible with God. But like Mary, we need to have faith, we need to have eyes to see – and we need to say “yes” when God calls to us.
It’s Christmas, and I suspect all of us like to sing. I love to hear Christmas carols. So today, I want to use some popular Christmas carols – and to invite you to join in singing these carols with me – as our response to God’s Christmas love. Each song contains a message, a hint as to how God would like us to respond this Christmas to the gift of his Son.
The first song I want us to sing is “O Come, All Ye Faithful.” The words are on your sheet. This song says simply, “Come. Accept the invitation. Accept the free gift of Jesus Christ into your heart. Make him king and savior and Lord.” Let’s sing …
The second song is “Silent Night.” Our world is too noisy, too full of distractions, and this song reminds us that we need to slow down – especially at Christmas, but all year round – slow down to pray, to meditate, to read the Bible, to spend time in silence with God. So let us sing …
Our third song is “Joy to the World.” It reminds us that the Christian life is meant to be a life of joy. Let’s sing…
The fourth song is “Angels We Have Heard on High.” Angels are God’s messengers. Two thousand years ago, the Archangel Gabriel announced to Mary and Joseph the good news that Mary was to give birth to the savior of the world. And on Christmas day, angels announced this miraculous birth to the shepherds. We too are called to be messengers – angels – of God’s love and God’s light in the world. That too is part of Christmas. So let us sing …
Finally, this last song is not a religious song at all. But we all know it by heart – “Jingle Bells.” Why sing “Jingle Bells” at church for Christmas? Because of a guy named John Pierpont, who lived in the 1800s and was a failure at everything he ever did. He graduated from Yale and became a teacher, but was too nice to the students, who took advantage of him and refused to obey – so he was fired. He started his own business, but was too generous in giving people credit, and they never paid him back, so he went bankrupt. He then became a Protestant minister – and was a staunch opponent of slavery and racism. But his white Congregation was not nearly as progressive, so they kicked him out. He tried politics, but lost twice in different elections. Finally, at age 76, he tried to serve as a chaplain in the military during the Civil War – but by now, he was quite elderly, and he got sick at the sight of blood. So he was a failure even at that! In 1866 at age 81, John Pierpont died working as a lowly government clerk. But he wrote a little song for his family – just a little ditty, really – and that is the song “Jingle Bells.” It reminds us that with God, nothing is impossible.
Can you repeat that? With God – NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE. Let’s sing together, “Jingle Bells” …
Christmas – its not about Santa. It’s about Jesus – the greatest gift that God could give to the world. For God loves us. God wants to make us his children. God came down to us, and on Christmas, invites us to open our hearts and lives, and accept this precious and free gift by letting him in.
St. Paul, in his letter to the Philippians, perhaps summed it up best. So on your sheets, let us KNEEL (OR BOW) and let us pray out loud: He had equal status with God but didn't think so much of himself that he had to cling to the advantages of that status no matter what. Not at all. When the time came, he set aside the privileges of deity and took on the status of a slave, became human! Having become human, he stayed human. It was an incredibly humbling process. He didn't claim special privileges. Instead, he lived a selfless, obedient life and then died a selfless, obedient death—and the worst kind of death at that: a crucifixion. Because of that obedience, God lifted him high and honored him far beyond anyone or anything, ever, so that all created beings in heaven and on earth—even those long ago dead and buried—will bow in worship before this Jesus Christ, and call out in praise that he is the Master of all, to the glorious honor of God the Father. – Philippians 2:6-11
Why are we here?
The famous Christmas song says it all: [Sing…] “Come, all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant, O come, ye, O come, ye, to Bethlehem. Come and behold him, born the king of angels. O come, let us adore him. O come, let us adore him. O come, let us adore him, Christ, the Lord.”
I love Christmas – the singing, the food, the smells and sounds, lights and trees and gifts and decorations, and – did I mention? – the food. How many here like Christmas?
For some, it may be extra-special – the first Christmas as a young married couple, or with a newborn baby. Or maybe all the kids are home from out of town. But Christmas isn’t merry for everyone – think of the soldiers in Iraq, for example, or those who are all alone or far away from family and friends, or those who’ve lost a loved one in the past year, and this is their first Christmas without that loved one. Last week, I visited the juvenile hall detention facility in Indio and we through a wonderful Christmas party for all the teenagers who were there – cookies, cake, ice cream, gifts. But I would imagine that today is a bit difficult for those kids, and for adults, too, who are locked away in prison.
I read a story just last week of a little boy who, for Christmas, was allowed to visit a pet store, where he could pick out any dog he wanted as a Christmas present. He saw this one little dog whose tail was wagging furiously, so he picked that little puppy. His mom and dad asked him why he picked that particular dog, and he answered, “Because I wanted the one with a happy ending.”
Don’t we all want life to have a happy ending? And in a way, that’s what Christmas is all about. As we stare into the crib at the baby Jesus, we think of peace and joy, even in a world where there is not always peace and joy. We think of light scattering darkness. We see hope defeating despair. We dare to dream that there is a messiah, a savior, someone greater than any problems we might encounter. Christmas is not just about peace, joy, hope and light – it is about a person, Jesus Christ. It is about God’s love which has flooded and invaded our world – and not just 2003 years ago in tiny Bethlehem, but here and now, in our world, in our lives. Jesus lives in us and his greatest gift to us is to allow us to become beacons of his light in the world – his foot soldiers who go into the world in our day and scatter darkness.
Years ago, I remember a Christmas card. Mary was on the donkey. Joseph was walking in front. The caption read: “It’s Christmas, I’m pregnant, and I don’t know how this happened. He just told me we don’t have a reservation. That’s kind of how it is, isn’t it?”
I like that card, because it reminds us that Jesus, Mary and Joseph were human, just like us. That they could laugh. That they could cry. That life was not always easy, for them or for us. But they still trusted that somehow, God was in control of their lives and their destinies – and that they greatest call in life was to continue to say “yes” to call of God the Father.
A pastor I know in Orange County is having a rough Christmas this year. His wife is in the hospital, receiving painful chemotherapy and radiation treatments for cancer. It’s the first Christmas in more than 20 years that they have not celebrated at their church. It sounds like a pretty dreary and depressing Christmas, doesn’t it? But in his e-mail, that pastor wrote of something that was written on a plaque on the wall of the hospital where his wife is receiving treatment: “Cancer is so limited. It cannot cripple love. It cannot shatter hope. It cannot corrode faith. It cannot destroy peace. It cannot kill friendships. It cannot suppress memories. It cannot silence courage. It cannot invade the soul. It cannot steal eternal life. It cannot conquer the Spirit.”
On your handouts, it says, “Come, Let Us Adore Him!” Then below, it says, “Following in the Footsteps of Joseph and Mary.” That’s what we are invited to do – follow the example of ordinary people like Joseph and Mary, who were not that different from you and me. We trust and hope and walk in faith, just as they did.
On TV now, there is a new show out – not a very good show, I might add. Here’s a clip. [Show video clip] The show is called “Average Joe,” and it’s about whether a beautiful, voluptuous blonde will ever fall for one of the “average Joe’s” – who are guys who are middle aged, balding, with spare tires around their bellies. But the one thing this show might teach us that Joseph was an ordinary Joe, too – as was Mary, his wife; and as are we. And that’s good news, because God came into the world and was born into an average, ordinary family. They weren’t rich or famous or powerful. Joseph was a carpenter, Mary just a young teenage girl.
Or for your children, I have a song. Listen to it for a second, and see if you can guess the name of this song. [Play “Rudolf the Red-Nosed Reindeer] On your handouts is a picture of good ol’ Rudolf. But can someone tell me what Rudolf’s problem was? Right! He had a shiny red nose, so all the other reindeer would tease him and make fun of him. But Santa picks Rudolf to be his No. 1 reindeer and to guide his sleigh through the clouds and the fog and the snow and the night. And even more interesting, Santa never asks Rudolf to change – he accepts Rudolf just as he is, red nose and all. He uses what others think is a defect or a flaw in Rudolf – his flashing red nose – and transforms the seeming defect into a strength.
The story of Rudolf is a parable of sorts about God. You see, all of us are “ordinary Joe’s” and we have our weaknesses and defects – some of them hidden, some of them visible for all the world to see, like Rudolf’s red nose. But God loves us for who we are – loves us so much that he sent his Son Jesus into the world to rescue us from sin and death – to give us hope and joy and new life – to scatter the darkness so that we could become children of light. And just as Santa used Rudolf’s shiny nose to scatter the darkness in front of his sleigh, God came into the world 2003 years ago, on that first Christmas, to love us and use us so that we could become God’s instruments for scattering the darkness in our day and age and in our world.
God’s most precious gift is himself, born in a manger. Emmanuel – God-with-us. And that is a marvelous insight. In so many religious, God is a far off and impersonal deity – up in the sky somewhere, maybe raining down thunderbolts of punishment on his wretched creatures below. But Christmas reminds us that Christianity is so very different – God who so loved the world that he invaded the world and lived in it himself, who is one like us and one with us, closer than we can every imagine. I remember years ago hearing the story of a little boy, who came running to his mom and dad in the middle of the night during a thunderstorm. His mom and dad told him, “Go back to bed! God is watching over you.” But the little boy insisted on climbing in bed with his mom and dad. “I need a God with skin on,” he said. And don’t we all! Which is why God came down and put skin on, became one with us. That’s Christmas!
Or there’s another story of a little boy, looking up at the sky at an airplane going by. His mom and dad were with him, and they said, “Uncle Scott might be on that plane. He’s flying now to see his family. Let’s wave to him!” The little boy started waving, then asked, “How do people climb way up there and get on those airplanes?” The parents laughed as they explained that people don’t climb into the sky to get onto an airplane. Rather, airplanes come down so we can hop onto them. God did the same thing. He came down to be with us, and was born as one of us in a manger. That’s Christmas!
“Come, let us adore him.” Let’s watch the Christmas story. [Show brief video clip of Christmas story]
On your handout, please look at the last point – and probably the most important point for us today. It says, “Following Jesus requires RISK.”
All of life is a risk, when you really stop and think about it. Last week, I came across some rather startling statistics about risk. Did you know that in a year’s time, 1 in 4,000 Americans will suffer an injury in bed, and that every two days, somebody in this country actually dies by falling out of bed? Men, did you know that in a year’s time, 1 in every 7,000 of us will suffer a shaving accident that is serious enough that we will need some kind of medical attention? Did you know that every year, 1 in 6,500 Americans get hurt using the toilet (don’t ask me how!), and that 1 in every 2,600 Americans will get hurt from a zipper?
Wayne Gretsky, the famous hockey player, once said, “You miss 100 percent of the shots you never take.”
God took a risk on us by sending his Son into the world. He didn’t know if we would accept Jesus or reject him. Some people hung him on a cross. Some, like the innkeeper, shut the door in his face. Some, like King Herod, were so afraid of him that they tried everything to rid the world of him. And many people are doing the same thing today – closing him out, shutting the door in his face, missing 100 percent of the shots that God wants them to take and make.
Joseph took a risk. He listened to the angel and he married Mary, even though he would face embarrassment at home. The townspeople would think that Mary had been unfaithful to him, and that he was a fool for taking her back.
Mary took a risk. She said “yes” when the angel asked her to give birth to the savior of the world. She knew it would mean pain, rejection – maybe seeing her son die and cruel and agonizing death that would feel like a spear piercing her own heart.
This Christmas, 2003 – will we take the risk and allow Jesus to truly be born in our hearts and in our lives? Will we really and truly follow Jesus and allow him to lead and control our lives? Or will we simply be content for Christmas to be a mushy, sentimental but essentially meaningless once-a-year opportunity to see family, to sing some songs, to admire the lights, to eat, to open presents?
Last week, I received a Christmas card – in the form of an invitation. It said:
Guest of honor: Jesus
Date: Every day of the year, but traditionally celebrated each Dec. 25
Time: Anytime – but don’t be too late or you will miss the party.
Attire: Come as you are
Cost: Free
Suggested gift: Your heart.
That’s really what Jesus wants – our love, our hearts. It’s like the mom her asked her little son to polish his shoes, because the next day was Christmas. After he had done so, she placed a dollar bill inside his shoe and a simple reward. But the next day, the little boy discovered the dollar bill in his shoes and returned it to his mom, saying, “I done it for love.” God wants us to open our hearts so that he can be born anew inside of us.He wants us to follow him for love.
When we accept the free and most precious gift of Christmas, which is God himself always with us, our lives suddenly become a beacon of God’s love and God’s life. We find joy – true joy – and if you stop for just a second and think about that interesting word:
J stays for Jesus and is the first letter in the word “joy,” to remind us that we need to make Jesus # 1 in
our lives.
O stands for “others” and reminds us that as we make Jesus first in our lives, we also start to reach with Christian love and compassion to others, especially those in need.
Y stands for You – and it is the last letter. Because when we put Jesus first, when we then think of others besides ourselves, then Jesus will fill our lives with joy.
Will you take the risk – follow in the footsteps of Joseph and Mary – allow Jesus to be born in you? Can we sing, and really mean it – “Come, all ye faithful … Come let us adore him!”
Merry Christmas! And let us sing! [Sing “O Come, All Ye Faithful”] ….
Merry Christmas!
I brought with me a few silly Christmas riddles. Ready?
• What did Santa say when his toys misbehaved? Toys will be toys.
• Why does Santa have three gardens? So he can ho, ho, ho.
• What are the three stages of maturity for a man? First, he believes in Santa Claus. Next, he doesn’t believe in Santa Claus. Finally, he is Santa Claus.
• An honest politician, a kind lawyer and Santa Claus see $20 fall out of a person’s pocket. Which of the three picks it up and returns it? Santa Claus. There’s no such thing as an honest politician or a kind lawyer!
Turn to your handouts. It says: A REAL Christmas or an ARTIFICIAL Christmas? The True Meaning of Christmas.
Why are we here? Is it just for the warm fuzzies – pretty music, beautiful lights, habit or tradition? There is a lot of artificial, fake Christmas out there – more a focus on Santa Claus than Jesus Christ, more a focus on Frosty the Snow Man or Rudolf the Red-Nosed Reindeer of getting Christmas gifts than celebrating the true gift – God who became flesh and became one of us and is with us forever. We’ve made Christmas into Xmas. We’ve replaced “Merry Christmas” with “Happy Holidays” so as not to offend anyone.
Look on the TV screen. I’m going to show you several slides. Yell out either “Real” or “Artificial,” depending on whether the slide presents the real meaning of Christmas, or just the artificial meaning of Christmas. Ready? [Show slides, mixing secular Christmas scenes with Christian Christmas scenes]
In a Charlie Brown cartoon strip, Lucy says to Charlie Brown, “Christmas is such a wonderful time of love and joy and peace and kindness.” Charlie Brown agrees but asks, “Why can’t we have love and joy and peace and kindness all the time, not just at Christmas?” Lucy thinks for a moment, then says, “What are you, some kind of religious fanatic?”
Maybe we need to become Christmas fanatics – get rid of the artificial Christmas and get back to what makes Christmas real. Today, I want to look at three aspects of the real Christmas:
1. First: Christmas is about Light that scatters the darkness.
A few years ago, I came across this poem, entitled “The Day After Christmas.” Let me read it to you:
Twas the day after Christmas, and all through the house, Every creature was hurtin' even the mouse. The toys were all broken, their batteries dead; Santa passed out, with some ice on his head. Wrapping and ribbons just covered the floor, while Upstairs the family continued to snore. And I in my T-shirt, new Reeboks and jeans, I went into the kitchen and started to clean. When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter, I sprang from the sink to see what was the matter. Away to the window I flew like a flash, tore open the curtains, and threw up the sash. When what to my wondering eyes should appear, But a little white truck, with an oversized mirror. The driver was smiling, so lively and grand; The patch on his jacket said "U.S. POSTMAN." With a handful of bills, he grinned like a fox Then quickly he stuffed them into our mailbox. Bill after bill, after bill, they still came. Whistling and shouting he called them by name: "Now Dillard's, now Broadway's, now Penny's and Sears Here's Wal-Mart and K-Mart and Robinson's May. To the tip or your limit, every store, every mall, Now chargeaway--chargeaway--chargeaway all!" He whooped and he whistled as he finished his work. Then I heard him exclaim with great holiday cheer, "ENJOY WHAT YOU GOT........YOU'LL BE PAYING ALL YEAR!"
There’s a lot of darkness in the world: Doubt, disappointment, defeat, depression, despair. We wonder: Where is the perfect world? That perfect world would have no sickness, no death, no divorce, no abortion, no war, no fear, no bullies, no calories, no financial struggles.
Other people sometimes hurt us. They spray verbal graffiti on us: You’re no good; you’re to blame; you’re stupid. Hurtful words. We need some spiritual Vandal Guard – that special anti-graffiti spray paint.
Christmas is about Jesus coming into the world to scatter the darkness. In our first reading, Isaiah tells us: The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; Upon those who dwelt in the land of gloom a light has shone. – Isaiah 9:2 (NAB)
Just yesterday, at our staff Christmas party gift exchange, I was given this gift of a lava lamp. I love lamps, because they give out light that is so beautiful. That’s why I love Christmas lights. Ushers, please turn out all the lights. [Ushers turn out lights] Let’s all get quiet. Usually we do this at Easter Vigil Mass, not Christmas – but there is a lot of darkness in our world, a lot of people who are trapped in silence and feel nobody loves them or cares about them or even hears them or know they exist. Christmas is about God coming into the world to scatter the darkness. [Ushers turn lights back on]
The light of Christmas doesn’t promise that life will be without its struggles and pains, but it does promise us two things: (1) God is with us in our darkness – Emmanuel, “God-with-Us”; and (2) that God is there to lead us through the darkness. Look at the story of the wise men. They followed the star, which symbolizes God’s guidance. They must have had struggles during such a long journey – but they persevered in following God. Real Christmas is about following the star – about following God – in our lives, and not just one day a year, on Dec. 25, but all the days of our lives.
Last week, I received a funny story through e-mail about a guy who had ordered a tree house for his kids at Christmas time. He opened the box. The tree house was there – but the instruction book was on how to assemble a sail boat. Angrily, he wrote a complaint letter to the company. They apologized but sent the following reply: “We are truly sorry for the error and the inconvenience. However, it might help to consider the possibility that somewhere there is a man out on a lake trying to sail your tree house.”
We laugh. Life is not perfect. There will be darkness. But we need faith in Jesus – He’s the instruction book who will help put our life together. He’s the light that scatters the darkness.
A word to all who are struggling with darkness in their life: DON’T LET DEFEAT AND DESPAIR DEFINE YOU. Let God’s love define you. You are a child a God. Read the next verse on your handout, from John’s Gospel: In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.… What came to be through him was life, and this life was the light of the human race; the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it…. To those who accepted him he gave power to become children of God…. And the Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us, and we saw his glory, the glory as of the Father's only Son, full of grace and truth. -- John 1:1, 3-5, 12-14 (NAB)
Who are you listening to – God, or the voice of false prophets and the devil trying to discourage you? Who do you look to – God, following his star, or the false idols of the world that promise happiness and fulfillment, but never deliver on their promises? Let God’s love define you. That leads to our second point:
2. Christmas is about love.
A quick question for one of our children: How old are you? How old is your daddy? How old is your mom? (Hint: Always say 29!) How old is God? But today, Christmas, we celebrate that this God is existed for eternity, from before the beginning of time, decided to become young again, to become a human being, born into our world! Why? Because of love!
I came across a story recently of a group of first graders who got together and decided to write their own version of the Nativity. It was more modern than the traditional drama. Of course, there were the familiar members of the cast: Joseph, the shepherds, the three wise men, the star, and an angel propped up in the background. But Mary was nowhere to be seen. Suddenly behind the bales of hay could be heard some loud moans and groans. Evidently Mary was in labor. Soon the doctor arrived dressed in a white coat with a stethoscope around his neck. Joseph, with a look of relief on his face, takes the doctor straight to Mary, then starts pacing back and forth. After a few moments the "doctor" emerges with a big smile on his face. "Congratulations, Joseph," he says. "It's a God!"
The Bible tells us in John 3:16, probably the most famous verse in the entire Bible: For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life. -- John 3:16 (NAB)
Isaiah the prophet tells us: For a child is born to us, a son is given us; upon his shoulder dominion rests. They name him Wonder-Counselor, God-Hero, Father-Forever, Prince of Peace. -- Isaiah 9:5 (NAB)
Our Gospel today tells us: Mary gave birth to her firstborn son. She wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. – Luke 2:7 (NAB)
Why a baby? Why didn’t God just send Superman? I don’t know for sure, but let me make a few brief suggestions:
• Babies are signs of hope and joy. Christmas invites us to dream that light can win over darkness.
• Babies are innocent and non-threatening. They do not evoke fear, Maybe this was God’s way of reassuring and comforting us, and helping us not to be afraid.
• Babies are a sign of our humanity. God is telling us: To be human is good.
One of my favorite stories is a Polynesian legend. The custom of the islands was for a groom to pay the family of the bride with cows, in order to secure his wife. A man could pay up to 10 cows. This man fell in love with this girl, but she was not very pretty. Neighbors said she was worth may 1 cow, at the most. But the man gave away 10 cows in order to marry her. The villagers asked later, “Why did you pay 10 cows for her? You could’ve gotten her for just one or two cows?” But the husband replied, “I wanted her to know that she was worth 10 cows, or even more, to me!” The story ends by saying that over the years, she became the most beautiful woman on the island. You see, love transforms us. And God loves us! We just need to believe it!
I once heard a preacher say that God’s love is four-dimensional.
• God’s love is long enough that it never ends;
• God’s love is wide enough that it is everywhere;
• God’s love is deep enough that it can handle any of our hurts; and
• God’s love is high enough to overlook any of our faults and sins.
Let me play a song. You try to identify it. [Rudolf the Red Nose Reindeer]
Rudolf is a parable about God’s love. You see, Rudolf had a red nose. He was different from everyone else. Nobody loved him. And all of us have our red-noses – our defects, our imperfections, our sins. But Santa in the parable represents God – who comes down from heaven and rescues Rudolf. God on Christmas comes down and is born into our world to save us. But notice: Rudolf doesn’t get a new nose. Santa uses Rudolf’s nose for his advantage. And God uses us – weaknesses and imperfections, all – for his glory, if we let him.
That leads to our third and final point:
3. Christmas is about a Lifetime Relationship with God.
We need to cooperate with God. Our faith cannot stay at the level of an infant. God wants us to grow into mature faith. Look at what our second reading says today, from Titus: For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all people. And we are instructed to turn from godless living and sinful pleasures. We should live in this evil world with self-control, right conduct, and devotion to God… He gave his life to free us from every kind of sin, to cleanse us, and to make us his very own people, totally committed to doing what is right. -- Titus 2:11-12, 14 (NLT)
In other words, we are called to respond to God’s love. In our gospel, Luke tells us not to be afraid of following Jesus. The angel said to them, "Do not be afraid; for behold, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.” -- Luke 2:10 (NAB)
You see, lots of people get the first two points about Christmas: That Christmas is about God scattering darkness with light, and that Christmas is about God’s love. But they miss the final point: That we need to respond by being in a relationship with Jesus. It’s like getting married. At some point, we need to take the plunge and say, “I do!” And it is the same with our faith in God. We need to take the plunge spiritually and say, “I do!” When we enter into that lifetime relationship with Christ, the Bible tells us: When someone becomes a Christian, he becomes a brand new person inside. He is not the same anymore. A new life has begun! -- 2 Corinthians 5:17 (Living)
Nicky Ramos, one of our parishioners, sent me a fascinating story a few weeks ago. It is the story of a wealthy man who loved to collect rare works of art, everything from Picasso to Raphael to Michelangelo. During the Vietnam War, his son joined the army, went to fight and was killed in battle while saving another soldier’s life. Months later, at Christmas, the young soldier knocked on the rich man’s door and presented him with a gift. “I know this isn’t much,” said the young man. “I’m not a great artist, but I think your son would have wanted to you to have this. He saved my life.” Inside the package, the young man had painted a portrait of the dead son. The father hung the painting of his son over the mantle. He always showed visitors this painting of his son, before he would show any of his other art works. The man died, and there was an auction of his paintings. The auctioneer began: “We will start the bidding with the painting of the son.” There was silence. Then a voice in the back said, “We want to see the famous paintings. Skip this one.” But the auctioneer persisted. Nobody would make a bid, until finally, the longtime gardener of the man and his son said, “I am a poor man and don’t have much, but I will give $10 for the painting of the son.” Nobody would bid higher, so the gardener received the painting of the son. Then the auctioneer ended the auction. The stunned people who had come to buy the famous paintings were confused and angry. But the auctioneer explained, “The old man, in his will, specified that the person who bought the painting of the son also would inherit the entire estate, including all the famous paintings. So the auction is over!”
God gave his son to us, 2000 years ago. Much like the auctioneer, his message is: “The Son, the Son, who will take the Son?” And whoever takes the Son gets everything.
Let’s end by asking three simple questions, then I want to give you five simple suggestions on how to make Christmas real, not artificial – how to make Christmas last throughout the year, not just one day – and on why the real Christmas with Jesus is better than the artificial Christmas with just Santa Claus.
First, the three questions:
• Am I living in the light or still in the darkness?
• Do I feel loved as a child of God?
• Have I said “I do!” to a lifetime relationship with God?
Now, five simple suggestions for making Christmas real:
• Make quiet time alone with Jesus. Slow down the busyness. Develop that relationship with God.
• Make time with your family. See that the family is holy, sacred. See God in your spouse and in your children. Build a truly Christian family, surrounded and protected by the love of God.
• Make time for yourself to grow spiritually. Read the Bible. Attend a class or retreat at church. Join a small faith community. God wants our faith to grow to maturity, not to stay as a baby faith.
• Make time for God each week by going to church, together as a family, if possible. This helps us feed ourselves spiritually, and shows our love and gratitude to God.
• Finally, make time to serve others. Get involved in some ministry. It is in giving that we receive. It is in giving that God will be able to help us overcome any darkness.
Finally, why is the Real Christmas with Jesus better than the artificial Christmas with Santa? Read along, the final reflection on your handout, :Why Jesus is Better than Santa Claus”:
Santa lives at the North Pole...JESUS is everywhere. Santa rides in a sleigh...JESUS rides on the wind and walks on the water. Santa comes but once a year… JESUS is an ever present help. Santa fills your stockings with goodies...JESUS supplies all your needs. Santa comes down your chimney uninvited...JESUS stands at your door and knocks, and then enters your heart when invited. You have to wait in line to see Santa...JESUS is as close as the mention of His name. Santa lets you sit on his lap...JESUS lets you rest in His arms. Santa doesn't know your name. All he can say is "Hi little boy or girl, what's your name?"… JESUS knew our name before we were born. Not only does He know our name, He knows our address too. He knows our history and future and He even knows how many hairs are on our heads. Santa has a belly like a bowl full of jelly… JESUS has a heart full of love. All Santa can offer is HO HO HO… JESUS offers health, help and hope. Santa says "You better not cry"… JESUS says, "Cast all your cares on me for I care for you." Santa's little helpers make toys … JESUS makes new life, mends wounded hearts, repairs broken homes and builds mansions. Santa may make you chuckle but … JESUS gives you joy that is your strength. While Santa puts gifts under your tree… JESUS became our gift and died on a tree.… The cross. We need to put Christ back in CHRISTmas, Jesus is still the reason for the season.
GODSpace.com or MySpace.com?
This is a magical night (day)!
The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; Upon those who dwelt in the land of gloom a light has shone. You have brought them abundant joy and great rejoicing… For the yoke that burdened them, the pole on their shoulder, and the rod of their taskmaster you have smashed…For a child is born to us, a son is given us; upon his shoulder dominion rests. They name him Wonder-Counselor, God-Hero, Father-Forever, Prince of Peace. – Isaiah 9:2-4, 6, NAB
What a wonderful message of hope, what a wonderful vision of God’s light entering into a world of darkness, but scattering that darkness and defeating it with the power of love!
I’ve always loved Christmas – the lights, the trees, the caroling, the manger scene. When I was a little child, one of my favorite parts of Christmas was the ritual of attending midnight Mass. I remember one year, when I was about 9 or 10 years old, and it was Christmas Eve, but I was tired, so I told my parents, “I’m going to take a short nap, but please, please, please, don’t forget to wake me up for midnight Mass. I don’t want to miss it!” I took my nap, and the next thing I remember, it was morning. I was so mad! I ran to my parents and complained, “Why didn’t you wake me up for midnight Mass? You know that I never, ever, ever miss Midnight Mass for Christmas!” They quietly explained, “We did wake you up! You walked around the living room and you told us clearly, ‘I’m too tired to go to midnight Mass this year! Let me go back to bed.’ So you went back to bed!” It turned out I had been sleep walking – and, I suppose, I was even sleep talking! – and I didn’t remember any of it!
In high school, I was part of what was called “Concert Choir.” We performed all over the city, especially at Christmas time, and one of my favorite concert pieces was the Hallelujah Chorus, from Handel’s “Messiah.” It’s magical – the words of Isaiah, the prophet, in our first reading this night (day). Listen for a moment – nobody has captured the beauty and awe and majesty of Christmas like Handel! [play Handel’s “Hallelujah Chorus” from “The Messiah”]
But what does this night (day) mean? Read with me from our second reading, Paul’s letter to Titus: Beloved: The grace of God has appeared, saving all and training us to reject godless ways and worldly desires and to live temperately, justly, and devoutly in this age… - Titus 2:11-12, NAB
This night (day) is about grace, about a gift given to us by God from heaven. And it is about salvation. It’s not about what we do. Rather, it is about what God has done for us. You see, God in heaven was looking down and saw how messed up the world had become, and how hopeless and helpless we were to fix the mess by ourselves. So God sent a gift, special delivery – and not just any gift, but His very own Son, to live in our midst and to guide us and to save us. But God did not want us to be afraid of the gift, so He sent His Son into the world as a tiny baby in a manger – because what can be less frightening and less threatening than a little baby?
In Luke’s wonderful gospel, The angel said to them, "Do not be afraid; for behold, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For today in the city of David a savior has been born for you who is Messiah and Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find an infant wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger.” -- Luke 2:10-12, NAB
Christmas is about presence, not presents! It’s about God-with-Us – Emmanuel, God in flesh dwelling in our midst, at our side, taking us by the hand, guiding us, loving us, God’s presence rather than about the gifts and presents that we give and receive.
If you little child complains this Christmas because he or she didn’t receive the gift they wanted, gently remind your son or daughter, “That’s OK, because this isn’t your birthday, is it?”
I love the story of a family that always took turns at Christmas letting one child crawl under the Christmas tree and hand out the presents to everyone else. One year, it was the youngest daughter’s turn to pass out the gifts, but she kept looking under the tree, looking, looking, but something was missing. Her parents finally asked her, “What’s wrong? What’s missing?” And the little girl looked up at them, panic in her eyes: “It’s not here! There’s no gift for Jesus, and it’s His birthday, isn’t it?” You see, she understood the real meaning of Christmas!
A few years ago, I came across a story about a priest who went to celebrate Christmas Mass and discovered that the statue of the baby Jesus had vanished from the crib in the church. He looked and looked for the baby Jesus, but to no avail. Someone apparently had stolen the baby Jesus! Later on Christmas day, as he was taking a stroll outside the church, he came across a little boy pulling a brand new toy wagon – and there, in the back of the wagon, was the statue of baby Jesus. The priest asked the little boy “Why do you have the baby Jesus in the back of your new wagon?” The boy answered with true solemnity: “Before Christmas, I prayed and prayed that I would get a new toy wagon – and I promised God that if He granted my wish, I would give His Son Jesus the first ride!”
Fr. John Shea, many years ago, wrote an essay about Christmas, written from the perspective of a 5-year-old girl. It goes like this:
She was five, sure of the facts, and recited them with slow solemnity, convinced every word was revelation. She said, “They were so poor they had only peanut butter and jelly sandwiches to eat. And they went a long way from home without getting lost. The lady rode a donkey, the man walked, and the baby was inside the lady. They had to stay in a stable with an ox and an ass. (hee-hee) But the Three Rich Men found them because a star lighted the roof. Shepherds came and you could pet the sheep but not feed them. Then the baby was borned. And do you know who he was?” Her quarter eyes inflated to silver dollars. “The baby was God.” And she jumped in the air, whirled round, dove into the sofa, and buried her head under the cushion. Which is the only proper response to the Good News of the Incarnation. – Fr. John Shea
What is our response to Christmas? The teens today spend a lot of time on the computer, on a web page called MySpace.com. Anyone here ever heard of it? For those of you who don’t know about these such things, who are “computer illiterates” and “computer challenged,” don’t worry. It’s simply this: Kids post pictures of themselves and of their activities on a private web page on MySpace.com, and share messages and comments with one another. They are, in a sense, creating a “virtual community,” a “community” of friends and peers on the worldwide web. Now, I don’t have anything against MySpace.com, if it is used properly and responsibly – but as I was reflecting on the true meaning of Christmas, it struck me that Christmas is not about MySpace.com, spiritually speaking. Rather, it’s about GodSpace.com – making God the center of our lives, allowing the Lord of the universe, Jesus Christ, to come into our hearts and into “MySpace,” so that the Lord can begin to transform our lives and build communion and community with us.
There are only two ways we can respond to God’s gracious gift: With a “yes,” accepting and opening the gift; or with a “no,” rejecting the gift and never opening it.
In the gospel of John, we hear some people who say “yes,” and others who say “no.” First, the people who say “no” -- In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God... The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world. He was in the world…but the world did not know him. -- John 1:1, 9, NAB
The world rejected the light of Jesus and refused to accept or know him. But now, listen to the Good News of those who accept the gift and say “yes” to the Lord: But to those who did accept him he gave power to become children of God… And the Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. – John 1:14, NAB
This Christmas: Are you making room in the inn for the Lord? Are you giving birth to Jesus? Are you following God’s star?
Let’s end by watching a special Christmas video that shows us the true meaning of Christmas:
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