Christmas 2024
Love Freely Given, Hope Renewed, and Joy that Transforms Even the Darkest Night
Midnight Mass: Is 9:2-7; Ti 2:11-14; Lk 2:1-14
Dawn Is 62:11-12; Ti 3:4-7; Lk 2: 15-20
Day Is 52:7-10; Heb 1:1-6; Jn 1:1-18 or 1:1-5,9-14
According to the tale, a weary traveller arrived in the village on a snowy night decades earlier. With no place to stay, he was welcomed into the humble home of a widow and her young son. The traveller shared stories and songs by the fire, filling the modest home with warmth and laughter. Before leaving at dawn, he placed a simple wooden box on the table and told the widow, "Open this only when your heart feels heavy, and it will remind you of the greatest gift of all."
For years, the widow kept the box untouched, until a particularly harsh winter left her without food or firewood. In desperation, she opened the box. To her astonishment, it contained gold coins, enough to sustain her and her son for the rest of their lives. But more than the wealth, the note inside resonated deeply: "This is a reflection of a greater treasure—love freely given, hope renewed, and joy that transforms even the darkest night."
The villagers believed the traveller to be an angel, and each Christmas, they marvelled at how simple acts of kindness and hospitality could carry divine mystery.
Christmas is finally here. All four weeks of Advent, we have been waiting and praying for the coming blessings of Christmas. And now, Christmas is here. Today, the angels bring us the good news of great joy for all the people, for to us is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. This good news of great joy is for all the people of God. As people of God, we have a claim to the joy and the peace that the birth of Christ brings to the world. But how do we personally enter into this "great joy" of Christmas? Christmas rings out "joy to the world," yes, but how do we make this joy our own? This is an important question, for, even though God has declared joy to the whole world, there are still many among us who do not flow in this joy, many among us who do not know how to claim this joy and make it their own personally.
In Isaiah’s prophecy, we hear the words, “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6). This prophecy speaks of a divine ruler who brings peace that transcends human understanding. Yet, tonight, we must grapple with a hard question: Where is this peace in a world fraught with war and injustice?
The birth of Christ is not the promise of immediate, worldly peace. Rather, it is the promise of a peace that begins within our hearts and radiates outward, transforming individuals and, eventually, societies. Jesus’ mission was not to overthrow empires by force but to conquer hatred with love, to dispel darkness with light, and to overcome sin with mercy. This is the peace that surpasses all understanding (Philippians 4:7) and the peace that our fractured world so desperately needs.
Imagine the scene of Christ’s birth. Mary and Joseph, a humble couple, find no room in the inn. They are pushed to the margins, giving birth in a stable. This setting mirrors the plight of so many today who are displaced, marginalized, or living in fear. Consider the families in Gaza and Israel who face the constant threat of violence, or the refugees fleeing political oppression across the globe. Christ’s birth speaks directly to these realities.
God did not choose to come into a sanitized, peaceful world. He entered a broken one, just like ours. His arrival in a humble manger signifies that God is present in the messiness and pain of human existence. The shepherds, considered outcasts, are the first to hear the good news, reminding us that God’s kingdom is for the least, the lost, and the lowly. This should challenge us to ask: How are we being called to bring the light of Christ to those on the margins of society?
The Challenge of Christ’s Peace
The angels proclaim, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth, peace to those on whom his favour rests” (Luke 2:14). But this peace is not passive. It demands action. As followers of Christ, we are called to be peacemakers. This means standing against injustice, speaking out for the oppressed, and working tirelessly for reconciliation.
In the context of the war in Palestine and Israel, this means rejecting the narratives that dehumanize “the other” and striving for a vision of peace rooted in justice. It means praying not only for peace but also for the courage to be instruments of that peace. Political unrest and societal divisions call for the same courage. We are reminded of Pope Francis’ words: “Peace is not merely the absence of war but a work of justice” (Evangelii Gaudium, 218).
Finding Hope in the Darkness
This holy night also reminds us that darkness does not have the final word. The Gospel of John declares, “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it” (John 1:5). Even in the face of war and turmoil, the birth of Christ assures us that God’s light cannot be extinguished. This light is not just an abstract concept, but a living reality embodied in every act of love, mercy, and forgiveness.
Consider the stories of individuals who have chosen reconciliation over revenge, even in the direst circumstances. These are glimpses of the Kingdom of God breaking into our world. They remind us that hope is not naive but courageous—a defiant proclamation that God’s promises are true.
The Call to Incarnation
We are also called to live incarnational lives as we celebrate the Incarnation. Just as God took on flesh and entered into human history, we are called to embody God’s love in the here and now. This means being the hands and feet of Christ in a world that aches for healing. It means recognizing that the Christmas story is not just about what happened 2,000 years ago but about what is happening today, in and through us.
What does this look like? It might mean advocating for policies that promote peace and justice. It might mean providing tangible support to those affected by war and unrest. It might mean reaching out to someone who is lonely or estranged. Whatever form it takes, it requires us to be courageous witnesses to the Gospel.
Tonight, as we gaze upon the manger, let us remember that the child lying there is Emmanuel, God with us. He is with us in our joys and in our sorrows, in our struggles and in our triumphs. He is with us in the midst of war and unrest, whispering the promise of peace and inviting us to be co-creators of that peace. Let us leave this sacred celebration not only with hearts full of gratitude but also with a renewed commitment to be bearers of Christ’s light in a darkened world. For unto us, a child is born, and through Him, the world can be transformed. The message of Christmas is clear to us today, "This is a reflection of a greater treasure—love freely given, hope renewed, and joy that transforms even the darkest night."
Happy and Joyous Christmas 2024
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