Wrapping the Christmas message

Homily for the Nativity Year C 2015

Isaiah 52:7-10; Hebrews 1:1-6; LK 2:1-14

Introduction

Good morning and welcome to this Christmas celebration.  Giving gifts is one of the typical ways people celebrate Christmas.  Even in Uganda when I was growing up, although our parents did not have much, it was at Christmas that they bought us new clothes and new school uniform; it was at Christmas that we shared food and drink with our neighbours, even our Muslim neighbours.

But I have noticed that here in America, people don't just give gifts; they make the effort to wrap the gift well.  Perhaps this is because they want to show their love, not just by what the gift contains, but also by how they present the gift.

That is why I would like us to reflect on the meaning of Christmas, by looking not just at the Christmas message, but also at how the gospels presents it.

Scripture and Theology

Luke's gospel, from which we have just read, tells the Christmas story as witnessed by the shepherds.

·        It is to the shepherds, that the angel announced the "good news of great joy that will be for all the people, [that] in the city of David a savior has been born for you who is Christ and Lord."

·        It is to the shepherds, that the angel gave directions on how to find the Savior, "an infant wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger.”

·        It is to the shepherds, that the multitude of angels sung and praised God saying: “Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

But why the shepherds, why these poor men, some of whom were known to be thieves? Why not announce the Saviour's birth to the priests down at the Temple or the political leaders at City Hall or the traders on Main Street?

·        Can you imagine the shock these poor shepherds received, when not one angel, but a multitude of angels appeared to them?

·        Can you imagine these uneducated men trying to find this one infant in a crowded city, much like New Orleans during Mardi Gras time?

Luke's gospel tell us that the shepherds actually made it down to Bethlehem.  And just like the angels had described, they found "Mary and Joseph, and the infant lying in the manger"; he was born not at the teaching hospital but in a dirty cowshed.  But regardless of the poor conditions of his birth, the shepherds went about sharing this breaking news about the birth of the Saviour, news that they had heard and now had seen with their own eyes.

Doesn't this story of the shepherds remind you of the Easter story?  That when the Lord rose from the dead, he first appeared to simple women and to humble fishermen, people who were not considered important in society?  Perhaps the similarity is not by accident – perhaps the Lord is simply being consistent in the way he operates; choosing to work with the poor and lowly.

In fact the Catholic faith we profess every Sunday when we recite the Creed, hinges on these two great mysteries of Christmas and Easter: that the Son of God became man and that the Son of God redeemed man.  Only Christmas and Easter are celebrated not only with great solemnity, but also for a whole eight days, an Octave – it is like a week's worth of tailgating.  And yet, those who were chosen to be witnesses to these two great events of our salvation, were the lowly, shepherds for the Christmas event and fishermen for the Easter event.

And so, reading and reflecting on the story of the shepherds tells us what, for the Christian, for the Catholic, Christmas is really about:

·        That the Saviour and Lord of the world is born.

·        That his birth brings Good News of great joy to all people.

·        That all people upon whom God showers his favour, all the ends of the earth have seen the saving power of God.

Christian Life

And so, one might say that all our Christmas celebrations and symbols are the wrapping paper containing this simple Christmas message.

·        The Christmas bells and carols, the wreaths and mangers, the lights and stars, are our way of professing that the child born into this world is God's Son, our Saviour.

·        The mistletoe and poinsettia, the holly and trees, express our belief the in eternal life, that this new born baby came to bring about.

·        The Christmas gifts and cards, the meal and drink, even Santa Claus reflect our joy that the birth of this infant brings glad tidings to the poor.

And so the point of our Christmas celebration and festivity is really the simple message that the Saviour of the world is born, a message first delivered to humble shepherds, and yet a message of great importance for us and for the world.  Let me suggest how we could to live out the Christmas message in three ways: by conversion, by compassion and by consideration.

The Lord's birth invites us to conversion.  In calling the Jubilee year of mercy, Pope Francis is inviting us to approach the fountain of mercy that this new born infant came to bring for the world.  When the angels sung "peace on earth to those on whom his favour rests," they were singing about us, upon whom God has showered his bountiful mercy.  But for this favour to benefit us personally, we must experience conversion of heart and life, leaving behind whatever separates us from God, and turning to him, who alone can save us in Jesus.  Has the Christmas spirit inspired you to pick an activity of the Jubilee of Mercy, perhaps a pilgrimage, regular confession, going through the Holy Door?

Secondly, the Lord's birth invites us to compassion. As we tap into the Christmas treasury of mercy for ourselves, we must share the Christmas cheer with others, especially those at the bottom of society.  Think of the children who are attacked inside the womb and those like the infant Jesus attacked outside the womb!  Think of the immigrant and the homeless, who like the Holy Family, cannot find a place to lay their head.  Think of the poorest social and economic classes of our society, who like the shepherds and their smelly sheep, struggle to scrape together a living.  Is there one thing that the Christmas spirit inspires you and me to do, so that we can show compassion to others?

Thirdly, the Lord's birth invites us to be considerate of all people.  Our country faces a crisis as we experience terrorist attacks and racial tensions, and as we go through an election cycle to choose leaders who can guide and lead us.  The Christmas message should inspire in us a Christian response to this crisis; a response that is considerate and civil, reasonable and sensible.  If we are to live out the Christmas message of joy and peace for the world, our discourse and actions must be inspired by God's truth, by courtesy, by fairness, rather than by falsehood, hatred and prejudice.  Today at Christmas dinner, how will the Christmas spirit inspire what you and I say, especially when talking with family members whose views I don't agree with?

Conclusion

My friends, the Christmas message of the Lord's birth needs wrapping.  God wrapped it in the gospel story of the shepherds and the manger.  God invites us to wrap this message too, not just in our Christmas Mass, celebrations and festivities, but especially in the way we live the Christmas spirit in our lives, particularly through conversion, compassion and consideration for all people.