Christmas Mass - Now I See Why Jesus Became One of Us

  

As, Zechariah, the father of John the Baptist, said,“In the tender compassion of our God, the dawn from on high shall break upon us, to shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death, and to guide our feet into the way of peace.”

What was Mary and Joseph doing on this day, just hours before the birth of Jesus on that cold winter night? They were going from door to door in Bethlehem, looking for a place to stay. Knowing full well, it was time for the infant Jesus to be born, they trusted God would provide some place, somewhere where the Child would come into the world. Where would it be? Would it be in an Inn, would it be in the home of family who would have pity on a woman about to give birth? They were disheartened by the coldness of so many who would not let them stay the night, the anguish of waiting. All they wanted was a dry warm place for the arrival of the baby Jesus, but where?

Finally, as the sun disappeared and darkness covered the little town of Bethlehem, a maid servant pointed the young couple to cave used to shelter animals. At least it was dry and it was a place out of the cold wind. There in the cave--- were animals, an ox, a cow and a few sheep. It smelled of hay and animal manure. Joseph found a shovel and cleaned the floor of the cave. He put clean straw in the manger to be used as a cradle. He found wood for a fire and warmth was felt by Mary as She prayed near the flames. She knew it was time.

Just as Joseph went to get some fresh water and was but a stone’s throw from the cave, when suddenly, Mary laid down on her blanket and within a few moments, a miraculous birth happened with no labor pains. Suddenly light filled the cave, as the dawn from on high broke, to shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death.

Shouldn’t the king of heaven and earth be born in a palace for a king? He wasn’t surrounded by the rich and the famous of his time. Rather, He was surrounded by by an ox and a donkey and some sheep. He didn’t have any cute pajamas. Only long pieces of cloth used to swaddle a tiny infant. He was not placed in a crib made by hand. Rather, he was placed in a manger, which is a feeding trough for animals. Oh what poverty. What an example for us!

The birth of the Child Jesus tonight reveals the tender compassion of our God. The tender babe, born during the cold winter night, is the dawn from on high. As He comes forth from His mother’s womb, the dawn from on high, breaks forth upon the world. The tiny infant, who is King, Messiah, the Christ, the Savior and God is seen for the first time by two humble people (His earthly parents), Mary and Joseph, for the first time in a poor stable surrounded by animals. As the shepherds and magi will come to adore the newborn king, the smiling face of the babe shines on those who had dwelt in darkness and the shadow of death. This tiny child will guide our feet into the way of peace. He will walk the face of the earth, proclaiming good news to those who dwell in darkness and freedom for those captive by sin. His good news will lead to His way of the Cross, which is our way of peace, until He suffers His sorrowful death on the Cross. His death will give victory over the reign of death, and bring about, the blossoming of life in the world. His true life is a life, which is everlasting in heaven.

Isn’t Christmas exciting! There was so much preparation for it. Some look forward to Christmas because of the special foods, desserts, cookies. There is the family dinner where we sit around to catch up on what’s going on in the lives of family members. We go to Christmas concerts and Christmas plays. Its exciting to open presents under the Christmas tree. Some of us are able to see grandparents, cousins, and aunts and uncles we haven’t seen for some time. Christmas cards give cheer to friends and family. We try to help the poor, so they too can have a happy Christmas. Most people look forward to coming to Christmas Mass in order to hear the story about the birth of Jesus.

When I was in college, just after my parents divorced, and some of my sisters were married and had their own families, one Christmas, nobody invited me to come to their home. I was afraid to ask anyone. Then I had my pity party. I received no Christmas presents, no cards, and no one called. I thought, “Whoa is me! Poor me. Nobody cares. Nobody loves me.” All of which was not true. Any one who spent Christmas alone knows the depth of longing to be with our family.

Back then, I decided my Christmas would be a happy one. I went to Christmas Mass, I stopped by the grocery store and purchased turkey drumsticks, canned corn, and a potato to make mash potatoes. Then I cooked the turkey legs, and cooked them, and cooked them some more, until they were tough, at least I thought I wasn’t going to get sick from under cooked turkey.

Years later, as I reflected on that Christmas, and a few others like it, I discovered I am happiest not to receive presents or cards or to be even be with family, I am happiest when I give to be with God’s family at church, to receive the gift of Jesus in Holy Communion and to make others happy. I realized, the meaning of Christmas is more than being with our family and I became aware we are never alone. Jesus is always with us. I found out, to send Christmas cards and make phone calls to others and give presents to others gives joy to the heart. For it is in giving, we receive.

More and more non-Catholic churches cancel their “Christmas services” on Christmas day. Josh Carmody, the pastor of New Covenant Christian Church in Fort Dodge, Iowa as well as many other non-Catholic pastors, posted a video on Twitter saying there would be no services on December 25. "Enjoy some time at home with your family.", he said.

Did Jesus come into the world only, so we could spend time with our family? He came as a child and was raised in a family to show us the importance of family. But later, when He was 33 years old, after Joseph died, He left the home of His Mother, and began His public ministry. Even when He was just 12 years old and stayed in the temple, He pointed to His spiritual family, when He said, “Did you not know, I must be in my Father’s house”. He had His spiritual family in mind.

Through baptism, we become a member of God’s family. We are His adopted children. The Trinity (the Father, Son and Holy Spirit) is a family of divine persons. God created the Church not for His benefit, but for our benefit to be part of the Christian family. At church, we come together as a community, as a Christian family, to be present at the Holy Sacrifice, and receive Jesus in Holy Communion who gives graces and gifts we need to live out our lives.

The book of Hebrews states, “Don’t forsake the assembly of ourselves, as in the manner of some.” A Christian who rejects the need to attend church, is rejecting God’s family. As holy and awesome was His birth, and as important as it was, the totality of the life of Jesus has tremendous meaning for us. Our Lord performed miracles, expelled demons, forgave sinners, and then, He went through His passion, death and resurrection for the purpose of allowing us to become members of God’s family. Families gather to eat a meal together. At Church, we gather together as a Christian family to eat the flesh and blood of the Lamb of God at the banquet of the Lord (the Holy Altar). The Last Supper means something to us today, because it is the Mass today and because of it we receive Jesus in Holy Communion. His crucifixion means something to us today, because it’s present on the altar at every Mass today.

Our Lord’s coming as a Child was a prelude to His walking the face of the earth, and then the depth of His love was revealed on the Cross, with the climax being His resurrection, when He conquered sin and death and opened the gates of heaven. As the angel told Joseph, “She will bear a son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.”

There was once a man who decided to stay home and not attend Christmas Mass. His family went to church, but he said to himself, “Why bother. What’s the big deal anyway?” What difference does it make to me?

Shortly after his family drove away in the car, snow began to fall. He went to the window and watched the flurries getting heavier and heavier. “If we must have Christmas,” he thought, “it’s nice to have a white one.” He went back to his chair by the fireside and began to read his newspaper. A few minutes later he was startled by a thudding sound. It was quickly followed by another, then another. He thought someone must be throwing snowballs at his living room window. But, when he went to the front door to investigate, he found a flock of birds huddled miserably in the storm. They had been caught in the storm and in a desperate search for shelter, had tried to fly through his window. “I can’t let these poor creatures lie there and freeze,” he thought. “But how can I help them?” Then he remembered the barn where the children’s pony was stabled. It would provide a warm shelter. He put on his coat and galoshes and tramped through the deepening snow to the barn. He opened the door wide and turned on a light. But the birds wouldn’t come in. “Food will lure them in,” he thought. So, he hurried back to the house for breadcrumbs, which he sprinkled on the snow to make a trail into the barn. To his dismay, the birds ignored the breadcrumbs and continued to flop around helplessly in the snow. He tried shooing them into the barn by walking around and waving his arms. They scattered in every direction—except into the warm lighted barn. “They find me a strange and terrifying creature,” he said to himself, “and I can’t seem to think of any way to let them know they can trust me. If only I could be a bird myself for a few minutes, perhaps I could lead them to safety. . . .” Just at that moment the church bells began to ring. He stood silent for a while, listening to the bells pealing the glad tidings of Christmas and calling the people to Mass. Then he sank to his knees in the snow and said, “O baby Jesus, now I understand,” he whispered. “Now I see why You became one of us.” “As I tried to lead the birds into the safety of the barn by giving them bread, You became one of us to lead us to the safety of heaven. You feed us with spiritual bread (the Holy Eucharist) for the journey home. You came to save us from our sins (through baptism and Confession) and You reveal your love for us and walk with us to our eternal home of heaven.” “Oh thank you, baby Jesus, my Lord, my savior.”

The man quickly got into his car, and drove to the church just in time to go to Confession before Mass, and then he sat with his family and received Holy Communion with them and with tears in his eyes, he said, “You helped me to understand why You came as one of us. Thank you my God, for giving me the best Christmas present. You washed away my sins and now you come inside my heart. Here I am with my natural family, but more importantly, I am now with You and Your family, God’s family.”

If we turn our life over to Jesus, and practice our Catholic faith, no matter what circumstances or difficulties we have in our life, we will have peace and joy knowing God loves us. And if we seek to give, rather than to receive, we allow Him to help us to be with Him forever in the heaven.