Paul's Reflections The Feast of the Nativity of the Lord. Year B. Homily 25th December, 2011.

Homily 25th December, 2011. The Feast of the Nativity of the Lord. Year B

(This is an extended version of the homily; a combination of the various versions given at different masses, with some additional passages for deeper thought and reflection)

(painting in a chapel in Bethlehem) other nice holy land photos here:  (click)

 

Children's Prayer and placing of Baby Jesus:

R/ we thank you Jesus.

 

•      On this Holy, peaceful Christmas night,

•      R/ we thank you Jesus.

•      Lord, for becoming human like us..

•      R/ we thank you Jesus.

•      For sharing our joys and sorrows,

•      R/ we thank you Jesus.

•      being born to save us all

•      R/ we thank you Jesus.

•      For making us all God's children

•      R/ we thank you Jesus.

•      For bringing your peace to the world.

•      R/ we thank you Jesus.

•      For giving us the example of how to live with kindness and love for others.

•      R/ we thank you Jesus.

•      For our families, our friends, and our church and wider community.

•      R/ we thank you Jesus.

•      For the many blessings we have received.

•      R/ we thank you Jesus.

•      For you Jesus, who are the perfect gift to the world….

 R/ we thank you Jesus.

We make this prayer through Christ our Lord. Amen.

 

Catholic writer, Fr William Bausch says that the stories we tell and keep re-telling, say a lot about our values and priorities.   that includes the true historical stories that we remember, such as the stories of the birth of Jesus.  

 

Our shared stories, "unite us in a complete and holistic kind of  way . Our shared story is the "bridge to our culture, and our origins…/  Our ability to remember and re-tell our stories, connects  us to all of humanity, to the universal human family. "…story telling doesn't give answers to life, but reveals life's meaning. The human experience is  in many ways  like one big story….   "narrative in form"//… as our lives are played out in -stories , journeys, chapters, myriad paths and roads… some short-cuts.. and some tourist-drives…..     and shared memories……    The shared and remembered stories that you will surely be engaging in over the next few days as you catch up with family and friends…  are what binds, unites, strengthens, expresses, heals and strengthens your bonds and identity.    When people tell seemingly opposing and incompatible stories…  there can be conflict…  but the sharing of stories also provides so many opportunities to go deeper and find common ground, with feelings, thoughts and memories that we have in common…..     Even unfamiliar stories, can connect us through common elements, reactions and emotions…..  

 

That's because all stories replay humanities  oldest story….: that of the journey. We all have a beginning, a middle and end. Stories recount that always. Stories are real. Stories are who we are !!!.

 

Everyone here (tonight/today)  gets the literal meaning of Christmas….  This is what the season is all about……. For the Mass of Christ's nativity Christ'sMass   (Christmas) is the centre and highpoint of the season.  Here we gather as one big family, (and also with close family and friends)… and celebrate Christ….  And give thanks for God's many blessings. And we re-tell the ancient story of our salvation.

 

The Christmas story "is a wonderful account of what this child, Jesus, truly meant (and still continues to mean) to all of humanity. The story of Jesus is about a person who has made an incredible, unique and enormous difference in the world and throughout human history !...   Only the language of poetry and story could hope to try and convey the incredible enormity of the meaning of Jesus birth and his life……. to all of us….  

 

As Christians, we gather again on this annual Feast, to remember and treasure and renew the true Christ and his significance to us.  To recall and cherish his birth in our lives and in the life of the world….  And to foster the Word of God, so Jesus can be born time and time again into our daily lives and actions.

 

Jesus is God made human, God made flesh, who came into the world to share our joys and our sorrows, our graces and temptations… and to make holy all the ordinary, everyday and important events of life and make them opportunities for building up God's Kingdom and peace, love, kindness,  charity, forgiveness and inclusion.

 

If the stories we tell and remember, and re-tell form us in our values and unite us as one human family, then sometimes I wonder…   if the world leaders and their people made decisions  and shared a story of a positive vision for humanity (like the Nativity story always does)….    narratives that  enriched the human story….. then we might not be fighting over

whose national rights take precedence over others…   fighting over which national area or interest-group  has the greater claim or the better right to something…  maybe we wouldn't be measuring out how much we shouldn't be giving to others in need because my needs come first….  the world is crying out in need for people who share in the positive, inclusive and life-giving story of the gospel…  which we celebrate this Christmas.

 

It is so wonderful to be here.  Christmas is about celebrating and giving thanks for the gift of family and friends… and giving thanks to God for the most perfect gift anyone can give to the world…  Jesus… who gave the gift of himself and his life and his love… to save us and walk with us through our life story..  our life journey…..    

 

This Christmas, let us take time to really and truly remember and give thanks for the gift of our families…  our friends…  and the many countless blessings we receive in our daily life and throughout our life journey.  We are so grateful, Lord, for  our family, friends,  and our faith community…and the wider community.. which is a commonwealth established for the common good of all people….(today/tonight) we remember and are deeply grateful for the gift of eachother /  each one of you here..  and all we love and hold dear are priceless, irreplaceable gifts from God…  and Jesus always reminds us … all people everywhere are priceless, cherished and loved children of God.  The world would truly be a different place…  a loving, caring, forgiving and gentle place…   (not a brutal and intolerant place) if the world truly embraced the truth of this and the true meaning of this feast-day …   we are all (all people) unconditionally loved children of God….    even the most forgotten, the most broken.. – especially them…   Jesus was born for ALL….. that we might  all be saved…  all included

 

I do hope it's a time to catch up with family and friends and show how much we appreciate them. 

 

 

I HOPE THIS IS A HAPPY, JOYFILLED, DELIGHTFUL TIME FOR EVERYONE here…..  …   And for those who are not experiencing joy and peace at this time….  this season is just as much for you too…..  for Jesus was born into the world because we NEEDED saving…  because everything was not going right at all…  and the values of the world had gotten distorted….   so Jesus was born right in the middle of the messiness and tragedies of human experience.. to share and walk with us in them….

 

The greatest gift we can give this Christmas is one that reflects the gift of God to the world in Jesus…… a gift that will keep giving all year around….   The gift of ourselves.   When we share with a friend or family member, we are giving them a beautiful gift of caring. When  we listen (really being "present-to") someone with our mind and heart, we are giving them the beautiful gift of really listening. When we give our gift of time by visiting someone who is sick or lonely, we are giving them a beautiful gift of yourself. These are among the greatest gifts that we can give to each other. Gifts to show how much we really care.  Gifts that show how well we have been following the example of Jesus, the greatest gift ever.

 

It is beautiful and a wonderful gesture of the  Christian season  when many people are out there tomorrow….helping out at a various Christmas luncheons and other once-a year Christmas themed acts of charity….. (many of those involved are the same people who tirelessly help out in similar charitable activities all year round too……)  that is wonderful…  //But you know, sometimes I think our modern secular society gets things a little bit confused.. //gets a bit too strictly literal…. //  and tends to cast Christianity and the meaning of Christmas into a rather narrow slot……/// and doesn't see the forest for the trees..//   …. can't see the much more subtle message and invitation of Christmas as well…    and to me,  the subtle message is  like this.. there are others who are taking off Christmas day to rest and be with family and friends and spend some valuable down-time with loved ones… and reviving…….     and then …..after Christmas ….they will go back to work doing charitable work at St Vinnies and at Anglicare, and at the Salvos… (and the like)….. and helping in the local weekly Soup Kitchen and sewing wonderful things for PNG school children and visiting the sick in hospital and at homes…   and helping the next door neighbour with some errands….   And fostering graciousness and care in one's home and the workplace and social settings….…and visiting those who are mourning…..  and so on and so on….  and That.. (to me) is the true message of Christmas…  (the miracle of Christmas experienced every day of the year)…//  and not everyone in society.. even those vaguely familiar with the season…   not everyone sees that…  

 

May we give the gift of our-self by how we show love and care to everyone around us today and the 366 days of the coming year….   

 

May the Christ-child… who shows us that God is with us along the story of each of our lives….   bless you deeply this Christmas, with peace and love… and may that blessing flow out to everyone you meet and fill the world with his heavenly peace….         

 

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REFERENCES:

•      FR. PAUL W. KELLY

•      William Bausch, 

•      Cathy Whannell.

•      James F. Colaianni Jr.