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Homily, Christmas, Mass at Night ● 2023 December 25 ● ● Isaiah 9:1-6 ● ● Psalm 96 ● ● Titus 2:11-14 ● ● Luke 2:1-14 ● ●
She
was eager to share what she had learned, her knowledge, with a grown-up
relative whom she pulled into the room up to the statues, pointing out:
o
This 1 is the sheep.
o
This 1 is the shepherd
o
This 1 is the angel.
o
This 1 is Joseph
o
This 1 is Mary.
And,
then, between Joseph and Mary, she points to the crib, asks: do you know this 1
?
The grown-up says,
“you tell me”. And she says: This 1 is breakable à fragile.
We read in Philippians,
ch. 2 that …. “Though Jesus that he was in the form of God did not deem
equality with God, something to be grasped that it was. So it was to us that He
humbled Himself obediently accepting even death, death on a cross.”
The Gospel of
Christmas is about introducing us to the one of whom the angels sing: “Glory to God in the highest. But it's also
been introducing us to the humility of God present in a human person who is
fragile, breakable”
What is calling to
situations of fragility or breakability?
I suggest there
are two responses, in gospel terms: “service”
and “forgivenesss/repentance”
[__02.01_service_]
Every year you so
many of you respond generously to our
“Giving Tree” Project, starting in November and leading up to Christmas. You bring
gifts for both grownups and children for whom life and security are fragile.
I myself must
realize that I have lived a relatively comfortable life and have never doubted
that there'd be enough food and gifts in our home, not just on Christmas, but every
day.
And while my
siblings and I joke around humorously that my parents kept the heat too low in
the winter time and that we were cold, this is truly an exaggeration. It is a
way to laugh at my parents careful in their spending.
We did not live
fragile lives as children and my parents insulated us not just with heat, but
with love keeping us from breaking down.
As a priest, I
have been inspired by your solidarity with the poor, to assist in The Giving
Tree to give back. And now that we are really here at Christmas, we can ask
ourselves: who else is fragile in my life or your life?
For whom can I
make room at the inn?
Is there somebody
in my class on my school bus in my family, for whom I am called to make room at
the inn?
One response to
fragility is service.
[__02.02_forgiveness_]
Another response
to fragility is forgiveness and repentance. Jesus comes among us as the
incarnate Lord through whom “service” is rendered: washing the feet of his
disciples, replenishing the wine at Cana, and feeding the hungry crowd. But he
also comes with a greater gift, which is the forgiveness of our sins.
He forgives us not
because we are strong, but because we are weak and fragile. Here's one example
in my life that I remember. When I was first ordained a priest, I was serving
here at O.L. Lourdes with our pastor Monsignor Joe Petrillo, from whom I learned
much about our ministry.
We had a good
working collaborative relationship, but I must admit we did not see eye-2-eye
and agree on absolutely everything all the time.
In one instance, I
felt compelled to tell him what was wrong and kind of to tell him off.
I realized that I
had overstepped my bounds. I really didn't want to apologize, because after
all, I was right.
But eventually, I
realized that our relationship as brother priests and co workers in the
vineyard was more important than and being proven correct. The relationship was
fragile.
[__03__] Many of us have relationships that are fragile.
Or some of our closest loving relationships are fragile. They're breakable and
they need nourishment. They need insulation and climate control.
Going to
confession as a Catholic going to confess is the way we speak about what is
fragile in my life or in your life, but also a way to be strengthened and love
of God and love of neighbor.
Forgiveness is
something to pursue because we are fragile, and also by cleansing and purifying
our hearts, we have the strength, both to ___ forgive those who trespass
against us,
And ____ encourage
others to follow the gospel and to do the right thing.
[__04__] Knowing that I am fragile breakable, I may
sometimes withdraw from encouraging other people to do the right thing because
I know I don't do the right thing!
Why should I
encourage other people but being forgiven when having a pure heart we can speak
about doing the right in a charitable loving way.
Yes, we are
fragile, we are fragile temples of the Holy Spirit. But still we're temples of
the Holy Spirit.
We receive
Communion, the incarnation of God in the flesh and the body of Christ, not only
for our own nourishment, but also to give Christ away by our own actions of
service, and our spreading of God's message of forgiveness.
[__06__] Several
months ago, my father and mother bumped into an old friend who also told them
that he had some connections at a local hospital with doctors. And he felt very
strongly that my mother and father should call him if they had any health
issues or needed a referral to find the right doctor. This was a nice offer.
Life and Health are fragile. So my parents were pleased to make this
connection. I was pleased they made the connection. My father expressing his
faith in both his personal access and medicine, “Well, I guess this means I'm
going to live forever.”
Well,
unfortunately, in the physical realm, all of us have limited time spans and
lifespans. But by accepting Jesus as your Savior and my Savior and following up
in service and forgiveness, and by repentance, we can be aware of a life beyond
this world.
So even though our
we have a life that is fragile and breakable, we can keep eternal salvation and
security in mind. We can live forever.
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