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Christmas Homily - Midnight Mass -
2004.
AND THE WORD WAS MADE FLESH (genuflect).
by
Father James
Six of the most important words we shall ever hear.
This is the 1st of 3 masses which a priest can celebrate today. A custom
that originated in Jerusalem and the only day of the year which keeps
the old custom of celebrating it's Feast at midnight.
The 1st of the 3 Masses was celebrated at a very early hour in the
morning in Bethlehem. This Mass celebrates the Birth of Jesus.
The 2nd Mass was celebrated later, normally at dawn, in the Church of
the Resurrection in Jerusalem. This Mass commemorates the Adoration of
the shepherds.
About midday a 3rd Mass was celebrated. This Mass celebrated the
eternal generation of The Word and the dignity of the Son of God.
Mary, she who was without sin, gave birth to the saviour. In darkness
the light was born. The Church celebrates Christmas on December 25th,
the time of the year when the days become longer.
The Hand of God brought about the Birth to call the Faithful and
provide Redemption to those who would accept God the Son.
The birth of our Redeemer brought not only salvation into the
awaiting world but also a Divine Peace. Therefore be preachers of peace
As St. Paul says, in Romans 10, preach the Gospel of Peace and live in
the Peace of Christ with one another.
In 2004 the Bethlehem Community has been Blessed with many great
graces. The most outstanding one being the celebration of the Mass many
times a day within the community.
2005 will be even more eventful in the Order and in the world.
We must, to coin a phrase, "Be born again" and this is the time for
it to happen. Our rebirth will be with The Christ Child and must be one
in which our whole life is dedicated to God in service of our neighbor.
First to our fellow community members and then to all souls.
You by the Grace of God are all good faithful people. The Eternal
Father gave His only Son to us for our redemption. Not only did
Our Lord
become confined to a Human body with all limitations. He also agreed to
suffer The Passion.
He came among us teaching and then allowed himself to be sacrificed
to save our souls. Even for the souls of those who did not recognize or
accept Him.
We know that this life on Earth is but a moment long before we, in
God's Mercy, will spend Eternity loving and serving God.
There is one particular thought and exercise I want to leave you with
to take to heart and to meditate on during this beautiful Christmas
season.
Our Lord gave His Life for mankind and scripture tells us that there
is no greater Love than for a man to lay down his life for a friend.
Think of St. Maximillian Kolbe.
Now, if by God's Grace you have lived the life you are called to,
then unless there is a chance that you could be going to hell, a place I
suggest you try and avoid, you will be going to Heaven, even if
eventually. My point here is that in these circumstances it would be a
time to rejoice.
The scriptural line I want to look at is, "love thy neighbour as thy
self". Which really follows on from the commandment. What we need to do,
starting now and continuing to work on throughout the rest of our life,
is to love our neighbour.
The world says I WOULD help you but I just do not have the time.
Now,
if one of our cars breaks down; what happens? We immediately drop
everything - whatever it is we are doing - no matter what it is; except
during MASS of course. We may even call upon others to assist and take
them away from whatever they are doing.
OR
If, we break an arm or a leg.
NO matter WHAT we are doing, we have to stop and seek the attention we
need, FOR AS LONG AS WE NEED IT.
Please realize and
meditate on this fact; that you would stop everything if you had to. So
that you could deal with the situation. Some of you have already had
that experience.
I am asking, you and me - all of us to make a decision -NOW- to make
time for others. Fellow members, relatives and other people who may be
in need.
This human contact, this love of God, this sign of Christianity is
very necessary to our growth and most loved by God.
BE there for others. Say YES instead of NO or MAYBE. Give the time.
We all know that we have to be there for our children. To invest our
time in their future. So we also need to invest our time for all other
souls.
The Eternal Father has given us TODAY His ONLY SON in THE INFANT
JESUS. Let us accept Him with open arms and RESPOND to His great LOVE by
reflecting HIS Love in the way WE RESPOND TO OUR FELLOW MAN.
AND finally, make your Christmas confession during the season. Saint
JEROME wondered what to give to the Divine Infant so he prayed and asked
the Infant who replied, "GIVE ME YOUR SINS".
So my dear friends open your heart to the, "WORD MADE FLESH". +
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