Word to the Wise
Thursday, December 25, 2008 - The Nativity of the Lord - Christmas Day
[Isaiah 62:11-12; Titus 3:4-7; Luke 2:15-20]When the angels went away from them to heave, the shepherds said to one another, "Let us go, then, to Bethlehem to see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us." So they went in haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the infant lying in the manger. When they saw this, they made known the message that had been told them about this child.
When I was a kid, still living at home, and my sister had married, there developed a Christmas morning ritual involving movies to be taken by my brother-in-law which required considerable bright lighting! We had to wait till all of that was set up before we could come into the living room and claim our treasures! Needless to say, my two younger brothers and I were vocally impatient. Of course, the movies still exist with all the holding of hands over the eyes against the lights, etc. etc. I dare say there are many families with similar Christmas rituals! The one thing we did not do was to go first "to Bethlehem to see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord had made known to us!" I guess it could be argued that Midnight Mass was the expression of that! On Christmas morning, the dash is not to the crib scene (which may be somewhere under the packages or safely up on a mantel), but to the tree and the gifts! This Christmas, I offer the humble plea that we show some of the awe and curiosity of the shepherds and at least make a silent if not a vocal acknowledgment of the one whose birth is being truly celebrated BEFORE we engage in the happy mayhem of gifts, hugs, food and drink, rounds of visits, etc. etc. Is it possible that a family could pause before all of this and first make the few steps across the living room (or wherever the tree is) to Bethlehem and "see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us." What a wonderful tradition that could be! It is really opening the most important gift first! To all my beloved congregation, not only here in the USA, but in the (so my Webmaster, Craig Baker, tells me) 16 or more countries where these words seem to reach, I wish you a holy and blessed Christmas and Happy New Year! I will remember you all at Mass on Christmas Day! AMEN
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