Homilies

CHRISTMAS: MASS DURING THE NIGHT (The Christmas Story)

OUR GOSPEL TODAY brings us to the first Christmas, a story that has been told over and over again. And one bishop has said, “No matter how many times we hear these Christmas readings we remain each year deeply struck by them again and again.  There is something about the atmosphere of this holy night which never fails to touch hearts.” And that is true! For us believers, we are not tired of listening to this story, because the story of the birth of Jesus has something to do with us, having saved by Him.

Let us take some important moments of the gospel that we have just heard.

Firstly, we begin with the person of Joseph. At the beginning of the gospel passage, we are told of the decree issued by Caesar Augustus concerning the enrolment of all people in the Roman world. The response of Joseph to it was worth noting. Joseph has been described in the gospels as a ‘righteous’ man. But in this passage, we see another characteristic of Joseph as an obedient man. We have to emphasize the ‘obedience’ of Joseph because we need also to compare it with Mary’s attitude to the words of the Angel. We can conclude that the couple, Mary and Joseph, are both obedient to God, as well as to human authorities. This is also something that we shall reflect regarding our status. We are both citizens of this world, and of God’s kingdom. With that, we are called to be good citizens in both: in this world, and in the kingdom of God.

Secondly, we shall reflect on the ‘mystery’ of the birth of Jesus. The gospel narrates, “While they were there, the time came for her to have her child, and she 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.” The scene of the birth of Jesus is in opposition to the grandeur of the palaces of the kings in his time. He was not born in the grandness of the palace, but in the poverty of a stable. If we think of it, it was not fitting to the “Wonder-Counselor, God-Hero, Father-Forever, Prince of Peace” as described by the prophet Isaiah in the first reading. The place was not fitting to a “Savior” of the world, as described in the Psalm today. But again, it is a mystery. And St Paul, in his Letter to the Philippians, explains it: “Though he was in the form of God, Jesus did not regard equality with God something to be grasped.” Indeed, it is something that we must grasp or understand. At the moment of His Incarnation, Jesus has already shown to us what does it mean to save us. At the beginning of his Incarnation, he has already offered some sacrifices, and that sacrifice continued until His death on the Cross.

Thirdly, the gospel ends with an account of an Angel bringing good news to the shepherds. He says to them, “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 Christ and Lord.” Indeed, we will never be tired of listening this Christmas story because it is a ‘good news’ for us. Certainly, almost all people are looking forward to Christmas because it is something special. It is a time of the year which changes the people’s mood. But for us, Christians, we see (and we must see) Christmas in a different light. Christmas is about Jesus the Savior. Christmas is about us and about our salvation. And that makes the birth of Jesus as a “Good News” for us.

Lastly, we reflect further on Christmas as mystery. Pope Francis has once described Christmas as a ‘mystery of sadness and of hope”. It is a mystery of sadness because it placed Jesus in a manger, “because there was no room for them in the inn.” He was rejected and was regarded by others with indifference. But Christmas is also a mystery of hope because Christ’s light shines out. Christ was born in order to give us life and love. And we are reminded, brothers and sisters, that the protagonists in this celebration is Jesus himself, not ourselves. Therefore, while we may think of what gifts we should have for ourselves, we should also think of people who are marginalized in the society, the people who may be rejected and regarded with indifference. As much as possible, we shall share also something to them. That makes Christmas then more meaningful. 

MERRY CHRISTMAS, EVERYONE!

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