We are at the eve of Christmas. It is almost here. I am sure there are some of us who have last minute shopping to do and the last errands to run before Christmas day is here. If your experience has been like mine the time has slipped by and we cannot believe that the day is almost here. We now fall into the traditions of the year when we slip gently (or not so gently) into the time-honored blessings within our families.
“Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.” (Lk 2:14) The words of prayer the angels proclaim in Luke’s gospel are words that rest in our hearts as Christians. We hear these words and are reminded of why we celebrate, why we give thanks and why we share the blessings of life with one another.
Christmas Eve and day are some of the greatest blessings for parish priests. It is extremely busy and the duties of the day often keep us away from our own families and yet we also see the glory of God’s holy people on full display. I, along with my brother priests in parishes, see the great possibilities that God places in our lives. We see families gathered and searching for holiness and hopefulness in their lives. We see young and old dressed in their Christmas finest seeking to bring the very best to give honor and glory to God. We see the smiles and embracing of good cheer and community of the possibilities of the family of God gathered in prayer and worship. We see churches overflowing with blessings.
We also experience the great dedication and love given by the volunteers and staffs at parishes around the world. The hard work of preparing and making ready for the celebration of the birth of Jesus our Savior and Redeemer is done by many people and is a blessing beyond all measure.
But there is an even greater blessing that we share…it is the continuing of Christmas in our lives. As a parish priest, we witness the numerous blessings that follow Christmas. Admittedly, we worry and fear for those who choose not to attend Mass and the celebration of the Eucharist throughout the year. We struggle with how to engage the seekers and doubters in a deep and profound conversation with God and his holy people. Yet, even in this, we continue to witness the grace and blessing of our Heavenly Father’s Christmas gift, his Son Jesus Christ, in the life of the world.
The poet Christine Rodgers, in her Christmas poem O Radiant Dawn, begins with this question “What could possibly come from this?”
We see Jesus, in his mother’s arms, surrounded by the heavenly host and the earthly wonder and as we sit and share our Christmas day and ponder God’s Word made flesh, “What could possible come from this?” Can true peace and blessing begin to grow in the world? Can true love and mercy flourish in our hearts and the hearts of all? Let us together pray as we celebrate the joyous coming of our Savior Jesus and know that our God is here with us in our journey because as Rodgers writes in the last line, Jesus has come so that through his coming as man in his passion, death and resurrection it is he “who would buy back the entire world.”
May God bless you with a holy and happy Christmas
Fr. Mark