Walking with Jesus: Christmas Mass during the Day

For December 25, 2022

Isaiah 52:7-10, Hebrews 1:1-6, John 11:1-18

We have been waiting expectantly for this day. I’ve been sharing with people about past Christmas customs growing up. Listening to how different cultures celebrated these feasts has been special. I’ve enjoyed Christmas Eve celebrations with Italian families enjoying the seven fish treats. I just discovered that these treats symbolize the seven sacraments and the seven virtues — charity, temperance, patience, kindness, justice, fortitude and prudence — which are the aids to help overcome the seven deadly sins — pride, greed, wrath, envy, lust, gluttony and sloth.

Christmas is all about Jesus. What do I value most about Jesus’ life that warrants such a celebration? His birth in a stable in Bethlehem? His profound faith in His Father? His love for Mary and Joseph? His care for the poor and downtrodden? His numerous examples of forgiveness? His fearlessness in standing up to the religious and Roman authorities? His forgiveness from the cross? His complete giving of Himself out of love for each of us?

The bottom line is, Christmas is what each person makes it to be. Do I make it about Christ? Family celebrations? Parties, dinners, decorations, gifts? Is it about my giving or my receiving? Is it about outdoing what I've done before? Do I somehow include space for those who cannot or are not celebrating because they can’t? Does Christmas mean having enough money so I can give special gifts? Do I consider it necessary to spend quiet time in gratitude with the Lord?

Many years ago I went to various churches with friends just to spend time reflecting in front of the manger scene. We visited 10 churches, and all ten were locked up tighter than a drum. And this was in 1982 when times were safer. It’s easy at this time of year to envision the conflict between the sacred and the secular … but do I ever look at this conflict through the eyes of faith? Each of us approaches Christmas in a very personal way. We go back to Christmases past — the Christmases of our childhoods that had an enormous influence on us ... and shaped our present personalities and faith.

Down through the years I enjoy proclaiming the narrative of Jesus’ birth in Bethlehem. Today I want to look at John’s Gospel. No matter what our thoughts are this year, Christmas is important to us. We might be here because we promised someone we would be, but it really doesn’t matter that much. The bottom line, whether I realize it or not, is that God has brought us here in worship so that, once again, He can touch us with His love. That’s why I like John’s Christmas gospel, because he says Christmas is the celebration of the mystery of God’s love for you and me. God made His invisible love visible for me and everyone: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God and the Word was God. … All things came to be through Him and without Him nothing came to be. … He came to what was His own, but His own people did not accept Him. …” [John 1:1,3,11]

What was John thinking about? For John, Jesus is the Word of God, the whole truth about God, the entire revelation of God to us humans. In the person of Jesus, God has taught us all we need to know about human life: God loves us … created the world and all in it in love … and told of His plan of eternal salvation for every person.  Jesus — in His very person, His teachings and His actions — expresses the whole truth about God and our salvation. Later Jesus makes the famous claim: “I am the way and the truth and the life.” [John 14:6] When we see Jesus, we see God the Father; when we know Jesus, we know God the Father. Jesus continues: “No one comes to the Father except through Me.” [John 14:6]

To the end, John shares his experience of the Christmas child as the forgiver of all our wrongs ... and guarantees all a future beyond the grave that seemingly ends everything. Jesus taught that our lives are meaningful because we are totally loved. Thus we are able to live purposeful and meaningful lives because we are loved. I am loved just the way I am, even in my struggles. Jesus taught that all are very worthwhile in God’s eyes, whether we are regular churchgoers, occasional visitors, or even non-visitors. There is a great scene in the manger in which all can participate IF we choose to go that route. I have been privileged to see newborns and it’s an honor to hold them. I can imagine someone visiting the manger and hearing Mary say, “Here, hold the Baby. He is what love is about.” When we see the infant Jesus, we know clearly that our God is thoroughly committed to our simple, suffering human lives. We know that God is most compassionate, approachable, and loving. What holds me back?

Let Go and Let God love you: That’s what God is about.

So I reflect on:

• It’s here, the Savior has arrived! I look at the moments of birth I have experienced this year. What moments of new birth might I look forward to this coming year?
• I look at my gifts in gratitude and consider what gifts, attitudes, and acts of kindness I can give to my world that will speak of the birth of Jesus in my life.

Sacred Space 2023 states:

“We are invited to take our challenging situations to the Lord in trust. God’s surprising ways are revealed to Mary and to Joseph. Joseph, the righteous man, gives me a message on how to accept Jesus as Savior. Lord, help me see the surprising ways in which You reveal Yourself to me now.”