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Christmas wonder

Funeral, Sacrament-based, Holy Day, Holiday, Special Occasion - Sample homilies to be adapted for your use

Holy days/feasts: Solemnity of the Nativity of the Lord (Christmas): Mass at Midnight Readings: Isaiah 9:1-6; Titus 2:11-14; Luke 2:1-14 CERTAIN IMAGES inspire wonder. They’re powerful beyond the simple contents of the scene. Think of the photo of the New York firefighters planting a tattered flag in the rubble of the World Trade Center towers. That image is likely to touch every heart. Certain images are powerful because they speak to a deeper place in us than words alone can do. In the nativity scene we have such an image: a serene new mother, a concerned father, and a vulnerable newborn child. Beleaguered travelers, they’re forced to take refuge in a stable, and the child is lain in a manger—a food trough. Their rude surroundings leave them barely protected from the elements, open to any and all who come their way. And many come their way: shepherds, townspeople, angels, and kings. They come to see what there is to see. And we come here on this special occasion, to celebrate this birth, and to give our attention over to this scene of the child in the manger, the one who becomes bread for us all, the one who inspires wonder. Why do the angels sing? Why have the magi traveled so far to lay their gifts before this child? Why do the townspeople gather and the shepherds bow? What is going on in this mother’s heart? This father’s worried dreams? There are many ways to respond to wonder. Jesus encountered them all in his public ministry. Some people would marvel at his works, but that’s all they would do, marvel. “Oh, my! Did you see that! Wasn’t that something?” and they would go on with their lives unchanged. And there were some who wanted Jesus to perform wonders for their entertainment as you’d get a dog to jump through a hoop. They wanted “wonders on demand.” And then there were those who viewed the working of wonders as a kind of litmus test to tell who has God’s favor. If you make some magic for us, then you must be OK. If you can’t or won’t, you must not be worth listening to. Jesus knew that the purpose of wonder is to open our hearts. It’s to help us to see that there is more to life than we have come to expect. There are, coursing through human life, elements of the divine." Jesus knew that the purpose of wonder is to open our hearts. It’s to help us to see that there is more to life than we have come to expect. There are, coursing through human life, elements of the divine. Why does this particular scene inspire wonder? It’s because we have two realities captured in this one human moment. Luke tells us, “This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” And we hear in John’s gospel, “The Word became flesh and lived among us.” We have on the one hand a very mundane and earthy reality—a vulnerable child in poor circumstances. And yet this same child of poverty is also the Word who was with God from all time and who indeed is God. What is the appropriate response to wonder? It is to do as the shepherds did and fall on our knees. To do as the kings did and lay our gifts before him. To give all our attention and to open our hearts. To stand wordless before this scene of wonder and let the truth of it seep into us, our hearts, our minds, our bodies, our souls. This scene is an invitation and a promise. The invitation is to leave our pursuit of mastery behind and instead enter into mystery. To be as vulnerable as this child and these parents. To be as open as these shepherds and as generous of heart as these kings. To praise like the angels and pay attention like the townspeople. The resulting promise is that we will meet God. We will discover not only that Jesus is God, but that we, too, can share in God’s life—not only in the afterlife, but right here and right now. And so here's my invitation to you in days to come. It’s an invitation I hope to take up myself. It’s an invitation to holiness. • Open your heart to the wonder of this scene in the manger. • Pray daily, perhaps before each meal with your family or friends. • Nurture your relationship with Jesus by paying attention to his presence in your day. • Read the gospels. • Worship weekly. • Avoid demanding signs from God and observe the many that are right before you. Pray, “Lord, give me the eyes to see you at work in my life.” And then start looking around. Love the people you encounter each day. Use your talents for the good of the world. Say a prayer of gratitude. Let us not squander this moment of wonder. Read this homily in Spanish.

Authors Tom McGrath

holy day/feast Christmas midnight mass Isaiah 9:1-6 Titus 2:11-14;Luke 2:1-14

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A great light

Funeral, Sacrament-based, Holy Day, Holiday, Special Occasion - Sample homilies to be adapted for your use

Holy days/feasts: Solemnity of the Nativity of the Lord (Christmas): Mass at Midnight Readings: Isaiah 9:1-6; Titus 2:11-14; Luke 2:1-14 “A people who have walked in darkness have seen a great light.” WHO AMONG US HERE this evening has not walked in darkness? We have known the darkness of fearful world events. We have known the darkness of our own pettiness. We have known the darkness of grasping when we should have held tenderly. We have known the darkness of broken promises—our own and others. We have known the darkness of unfulfilled dreams of our youth. We have known the darkness of disappointment. We have known the darkness of chronic illness. We have known the darkness of loss. We have known the darkness of impatience with others, even those we love. Especially those we love. We have known the darkness of envying what others have. We have known the darkness of giving up on ourselves and giving in too soon. We have known the darkness of feeling empty in a land of conspicuous consumption. We have known the darkness of resting easy with the status quo, even when the status quo means that children go to bed hungry, working families have no health care benefits, and men, women, and children around the world are being oppressed. We have known the darkness of sin and our own limits. But, ah, there is a star, rising in the East. On this night, the light of Christ shines anew. The light of Christ shines in our lives, our homes, our workplaces, and our neighborhoods. The light of Christ shines in the kindness we show one another. In our moments of generosity. In our acts of courage. In our exercise of virtue. And in our acts of wild abandon for the love of God. The light of Christ shines in the eyes of those we love, and in the hearts of those who love us. The light of Christ shines forth from you and me, and from all of us who gather here this evening to become the body of Christ. We live in a mixture of light and shadows. On this day, we are witnesses to the truth that the light has come into this world and the darkness cannot overcome it." We live in a mixture of light and shadows. On this day, we are witnesses to the truth that the light has come into this world and the darkness cannot overcome it. All the darkness in the world can never overcome even the smallest light. And the light of Christ is no small light. May we, in our joy and anticipation and our Christmas hope, dedicate ourselves this year to seek the light. To follow the light daily by the practice of our faith. To let the light of Christ shine through us to everyone we meet. We gather tonight, this glorious night, with our hearts full of hope and our faces aglow in starlight, to celebrate Jesus, the Christ, the light of the world. God has seen us even as we walked in darkness and deemed us worthy of this great outpouring of love: Jesus, God’s Son, becomes human for our sake on this holy night. “A people who walked in darkness have seen a great light.” Let us follow that light where it leads: to our best and brightest selves in love with God.

Authors Tom McGrath

holy day/feast Christmas midnight mass Isaiah 9:1-6 Titus 2:11-14 Luke 2:1-14

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The pope will celebrate a good night’s sleep

13 Dec 2009 - Preaching the News for Sunday

As John the Baptist prepared the way for Christ's coming, "the people were filled with expectation," we hear in this week's "Gaudete Sunday" gospel. Eager anticipation of the celebration of Christmas will be paid off a little earlier this year, at least at St. Peter's Basilica. In a break with tradition, Pope Benedict XVI will celebrate Christmas Eve Mass at 10 p.m. instead of midnight "to stretch out his strength," a papal spokesman said. Father Federico Lombardi said the decision to change the schedule was made two months ago to "ease the [pope's] fatigue at a time when there are many ceremonies and commitments" during the Christmas holidays. Lombardi said there was no reason to worry about the health of the 82-year-old Benedict. Source: A statement from Vatican Information Services

Christmas benedict xvi pope benedict xvi st peters basilica midnight mass

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We need this night

Funeral, Sacrament-based, Holy Day, Holiday, Special Occasion - Sample homilies to be adapted for your use

Occasion: Solemnity of the Nativity of the Lord (Christmas): Mass at Midnight Readings: Isaiah 9:1-6; Titus 2:11-14; Luke 2:1-14 "SILENT NIGHT, HOLY NIGHT . . . " These words have priority of place, as we celebrate the awesome gift of the word made flesh, under a cloak of darkness. This midnight liturgy sanctifies the night—makes the stillness a holy place into which our God comes, here and now, to speak a new word, to show us a new face of love. How does this Christmas liturgy offer us a new word? Well, it would seem a challenge given that the readings are always the same on this holy night. Yet, we are different. We come to this celebration carrying the weight of the usual expectations of the season—the buildup of anticipation fostered by our culture that turns Christmas into some kind of antidepressant. Christmas is supposed to make us feel good, return us to some childlike place of joy and wonder. We know, however, that the reality of our lives is more complex. We make our pilgrimage to Christmas with the joys and sorrows that are part and parcel of the human experience. But it is precisely into the frailty of this human experience that Jesus came. The very foolishness of God becoming human—of taking on all that joy and pain—still astounds us. We need this night, this celebration of God's foolishness, to grow in our gratitude for this mysterious gift. So, let's see what the Word says to us this year, to the people of God in 2006. But it is precisely into the frailty of this human experience that Jesus came. The very foolishness of God becoming human—of taking on all that joy and pain—still astounds us. We need this night, this celebration of God's foolishness, to grow in our gratitude for this mysterious gift. So, let's see what the Word says to us this year, to the people of God in 2006. The structure of the readings may help us to understand where we are in the story of salvation. The prophet Isaiah foretold the coming of the messiah so that when he came, we would know him. How would we know him? Ah, yes . . . prince of peace. Our response, from Luke's gospel, suggests that the promise has been fulfilled. Today, is born our Savior, Christ the Lord. Paul's letter to Titus reminds us that we are living in the age of grace-that we are a new generation of believers who have witnessed what so many generations longed to see. The gospel narrative of Christ's birth in Bethlehem brings its own message from the mouths of the angels, no less. You have nothing to fear. What does all this mean? We believe that God has something to say to each of us and to the church tonight. The Word is alive and active and will do what God needs it to do in our lives. So tonight, we must consider this prince of peace, this Jesus who was born into the ultimate vulnerability of infancy, into poverty and homelessness. What does he have to say to those who would have us seek power and domination over other people, other nations? Can real peace be purchased by fallen soldiers? Isaiah says that when the messiah comes, every boot that tramped in battle, every cloak soaked in blood, will be burned as fuel for flames. The messiah has come. Peace is his gift and his mandate. Tonight, we must also consider what the reality of the Incarnation means for us. How is our Savior born today? How does the Word continue to become flesh in us? In our bodies and spirits? In our words to one another? In the choices we make? It is our mysterious mission to birth him anew in our very lives. That by our loving he might be known and the world might, as Saint Paul urges,reject its godless ways. Tonight, we must consider the angels' words to the shepherds on the hillside: You have nothing to fear! Imagine if we really believed those words? How would our lives be different? How would our world change? It's no accident that the Christ child grew wise and, as an adult about his Father's work, said the same thing to his friends. In the four gospels Jesus says, do not be afraid, not once or twice, but 10 times. It would seem to be a message God wants us to hear. In the stillness of this holy night, may we all taste the peace Christ longs to give. May Christ take on new flesh in our lives beginning today. May we embody the grace in which we dwell and give all our fears to Christ. Then, with the choirs of angels, we can sing, "glory to God in high heaven, and peace on Earth."

Authors Vicki Ix

holy day/feast Christmas midnight mass Isaiah 9:1-6 Titus 2:11-14 Luke 2:1-14

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The feast of light

Funeral, Sacrament-based, Holy Day, Holiday, Special Occasion - Sample homilies to be adapted for your use

Occasion: Solemnity of the Nativity of the Lord (Christmas): Mass at Midnight Readings: Isaiah 9:1-6; Titus 2:11-14; Luke 2:1-14 "THE GRINCH hated Christmas! The whole Christmas season! Now, please don't ask why. No one quite knows the reason. It could be his head wasn't screwed on just right. It could be, perhaps, that his shoes were too tight. But I think that the most likely reason of all may have been that his heart was two sizes too small." How many times have you read that to children in the past few weeks? Then even after reading the poem several times, they still wanted to see the movie. Hidden here in the rhyme and rhythm is a little spiritual gem. The shepherds' hearts were not too small, nor were their sandals, indeed if they had any sandals at all. In the middle of the night, the shepherds saw the light and heard the voice. It takes a simple, humble heart to see the light, to recognize the voice of the angel. And once we see the light in the darkness or hear the voice of the angel, we had better have comfortable shoes because we are compelled to take action. At Christmas time the angel is the symbol of spiritual insight. The gospel stories around the birth of Christ are full of angels. After the visit from an angel, Mary went in haste to visit her cousin Elizabeth. The shepherds dropped everything and went to find the child. Joseph packed his bags, took Mary and the baby, and left for Egypt in the middle of the night. These people are on the move! The angels in these stories don't give any definite answers, maps, or timetables. Mary must have wondered what Gabriel meant when he said that her son would receive the throne of David. The shepherds didn't get an address. How many mangers did they check before they found the Christ child? Joseph was simply told to go and stay there until he was told it was safe to return. There is still some darkness; they don't have all the answers, but they go anyway. The darkness is necessary to appreciate the light. We can't see the stars in the daytime. We don't light a candle to enhance the noonday sun. But we love the glow of candlelight in a darkened room. We can see a bit more but not everything. That's the way it is with spiritual insight; it comes in the darkness in bits and pieces. There is still some darkness; they don't have all the answers, but they go anyway. The darkness is necessary to appreciate the light. We can't see the stars in the daytime. We don't light a candle to enhance the noonday sun. But we love the glow of candlelight in a darkened room. We can see a bit more but not everything. That's the way it is with spiritual insight; it comes in the darkness in bits and pieces. Christmas is the feast of light. It's the mystery of the incarnation: God's self-gift, God's presence deep within us. But the feast of Christmas has been so absorbed by our culture that it lingers in the darkness. Sometimes in all the chaos, we miss the fact that all the things we do at Christmas time—the tree, lights, gifts, and the food we share, are symbols of the light. As followers of Christ in the 21st century, we remember the words of Jesus: "You are the light of the world. Let your light shine before others." We often struggle to be that light in our society. So here's a story. Many years ago I saw a play called Oh! What a Lovely War, which told the story of the horrors of World War I. The play was a series of skits developed from documents and memoirs. Today I remember only this scene. As darkness fell on a battlefield of Europe on Christmas Eve, 1914, the guns became silent. In the trenches, a lone voice began singing "Silent Night." Then another voice joined in, and slowly, one by one it rose to a chorus with enemies all singing together. Then troops from both sides came out to greet one another. They ate together on Christmas Day, sharing food and gifts, and as evening fell, they said good-bye to one another and returned to their trenches. On December 26, it was war as usual. In the darkest hour these men experienced a sense of oneness, unity, communion. What's real here? On one hand the horror, pain, and bloodshed and on the other a brotherhood. Both are real, but at our deepest level, we are one in Christ Jesus. Christmas, the feast of light, comes once a year and calls us to explore that identity. Even the Grinch ended up celebrating Christmas, carving the Christmas roast beast. So celebrate Christmas, and throughout the year pray for an open heart and keep a good pair of shoes handy. You never know where or when the light of Christ will call you.

Authors Catherine Collins

holy day/feast Christmas midnight mass Isaiah 9:1-6 Titus 2:11-14 Luke 2:1-14

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La Maravilla de la Navidad

Funeral, Sacrament-based, Holy Day, Holiday, Special Occasion - Sample homilies to be adapted for your use

Días festivos: Solemnidad de la Natividad del Señor (Navidad): Misa de Medianoche Lecturas: Isaías 9:1-6; Tito 2:11-14; Lucas 2:1-14 CIERTAS IMÁGENES inspiran asombro. Son potentes más allá del simple contenido de la escena. Son potentes porque se dirigen a un lugar más profundo de nosotros que las palabras por sí solas. En la escena del Nacimiento tenemos una imagen así: una madre serena, un padre preocupado y un recién nacido vulnerable. Viajeros atribulados, se ven obligados a refugiarse en un establo, y el niño está acostado en un pesebre—un comedero para animales. Su rústico entorno los deja apenas protegidos de los elementos, expuestos a cualquiera que se cruce en su camino. Y son muchos los que se acercan: pastores, gente del pueblo, ángeles y reyes. Vienen a ver lo que hay que ver. Y nosotros venimos aquí en esta ocasión especial, para celebrar este nacimiento, y poner nuestra atención en esta escena del niño en el pesebre. ¿Por qué cantan los ángeles? ¿Por qué han viajado tan lejos los magos para ofrecer sus regalos a este niño? ¿Por qué se reúne la gente del pueblo y se inclinan los pastores? ¿Qué ocurre en el corazón de esta madre? ¿Qué sueña preocupado este padre? Hay muchas formas de responder al asombro. Jesús las conoció todas en su ministerio público. Algunas personas se maravillaban ante sus obras, pero eso era todo lo que hacían, maravillarse. "¡Caramba! ¿Has visto eso? ¿No es increíble?" y seguían con sus vidas sin cambiar. Y había quienes querían que Jesús hiciera maravillas para entretenerlos, como quien hace que un perro salte a través de un aro. Querían "maravillas a la carta." Luego estaban quienes veían la realización de prodigios como una especie de prueba de fuego para saber quién tiene el favor de Dios. Si haces algo de magia para nosotros, estás bien. Si no lo haces, no vale la pena escucharte. Jesús sabía que el sentido del asombro es abrir nuestros corazones. Es ayudarnos a ver que hay más en la vida que lo que hemos llegado a esperar. A través de la vida humana existen elementos de lo divino. Jesús sabía que el sentido del asombro es abrir nuestros corazones. Es ayudarnos a ver que hay más en la vida que lo que hemos llegado a esperar. A través de la vida humana existen elementos de lo divino. ¿Por qué nos maravilla esta escena en particular? Porque tenemos dos realidades capturadas en este único momento humano. Lucas nos dice, "Esto les servirá de señal: encontrarán a un niño envuelto en mantas y acostado en un pesebre." Y escuchamos en el evangelio de Juan, "El Verbo se hizo carne y vivió entre nosotros." Tenemos, por un lado, una realidad muy mundana—un niño vulnerable en un entorno muy pobre. Y, sin embargo, este mismo niño de la pobreza es también la Palabra que es Dios. ¿Cuál es la respuesta adecuada al asombro? Hacer como los pastores y ponernos de rodillas. Hacer como los reyes y ofrecerle nuestros dones. Darle toda nuestra atención y abrir nuestro corazón. Quedarnos sin palabras ante esta escena maravillosa y dejar que la verdad penetre en nuestros corazones, nuestras mentes, nuestros cuerpos, nuestras almas. Esta escena es una invitación y una promesa. La invitación es a dejar atrás nuestra búsqueda de protagonismo y aventurarnos en el misterio. A ser tan vulnerables como este niño y estos padres. A ser tan abiertos como estos pastores y tan generosos de corazón como estos reyes. A alabar como los ángeles y estar atentos como la gente del pueblo. La promesa resultante es que nos encontraremos con Dios. Descubriremos no sólo que Jesús es Dios, sino que nosotros también podemos compartir la vida de Dios—no sólo en la otra vida, sino aquí y ahora. Esta es mi invitación—una invitación que espero responder yo mismo. Es una invitación a la santidad. Abre tu corazón a la maravilla de esta escena en el pesebre. Reza a diario, quizás antes de cada comida con tu familia o amigos. Cultiva tu relación con Jesús prestando atención a su presencia. Lee los evangelios. Celebra el culto semanalmente. Deja de exigir señales de Dios y observa las muchas que tienes ante ti. No desperdiciemos este momento de maravilla. Read this homily in English.

Authors Tom McGrath

holy day/feast Christmas Homily in Spanish midnight mass Isaiah 9:1-6 Titus 2:11-14 Luke 2:1-14

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