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 After
the four-week
preparation that is the
season of Advent, the
season of hope and
expectation, we arrive
upon the season of the
Nativity of our Lord and
Savior; the birth of Our Lord Jesus Christ. Many of us will attend the evening
Holy Mass and will hear the words of the Holy Gospel so familiar to all of us.
“In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that the whole world should be enrolled. This was the first enrollment, when
Quirinius was governor of Syria. So all went to be enrolled, each to his own town. And Joseph too went up from Galilee from the town
of Nazareth to Judea, to the city of David that is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David, to be enrolled
with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child.”
“While they were there, the time came for her to have her child,and she gave birth to her firstborn son. She wrapped him in swaddling
clothes and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.”
“Now there were shepherds in that region living in the fields and keeping the night watch over their flock. The angel of the Lord
appeared to them and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were struck with great fear. The angel said to them,
‘Do
not be afraid; for behold, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For today in the city of David
a savior has been born for you who is Messiah and Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find an infant wrapped in swaddling
clothes and lying in a manger.’” (Luke 2:1-14) [NAV]
Indeed, we have heard these words many times, not only in church but also in movies and on television during Christmas seasons. Yet,
thinking that we have heard it all before, we may sometimes miss the important living message of these lessons.
If we focus on each part of these Holy words we find lessons for us today. The Gospel reading begins in grand style. A census is
ordered by the most powerful man that anyone
at that time in history could think of; a man most had never met nor even knew what he looked like:
Caesar Augustus. Whatever the Roman emperor ordered everyone had to listen. But God has devised this
very situation to bring about a most
important aspect into the life of humankind! Joseph and Mary
must go to Bethlehem, the city of David. Joseph, and Mary, are from the “house
and linage” of David. In contrast to Caesar, Joseph and Mary are not of earthly significance, living
merely a common life style
in an obscure part of
the world. Yet, Jesus is
to be “King of kings and Lord of lords.” God is pointing out to us that this small newborn child is to be born of great
significance to the whole world. God’s Will overpowers the greatest of world powers
always.
It was time for Mary to give birth, yet with so many having traveled to Bethlehem for the census register, the couple were unable to
find a place where travelers
could lodge. All of the inns were
full and there was no
room. For the sake of privacy, the Holy Family chose a place where the animals
were kept, where there would be warmth and safety: a stable. There, Mary gave birth to her “first-born” son, Jesus, Our Lord and Savior
and placed him in a manger, a place from which animals fed.
This reminds us of what Jesus would later say to those seeking to follow Him: “The foxes have lairs, the birds of the sky have nests,
but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.” (Luke 9:57-58)
How difficult and
fearful it must have
been for Mary and Joseph
when her time to give
birth came and trhere
was no place for themn!
Yet, what a beautiful sight to come to the manger and
encounter the small and beautiful Christ Child!
When we allow God to truly break into our world and into our lives, we are opened not
only to times of beauty, but also times of hardship and difficulty. Jesus had nowhere to lay His head as a small child but He is
lovingly and carefully wrapped in a manger.
Then, He is later rejected and treated as an outcast!
And still later, He is wrapped in the glory
of God!
An angel appears to lowly shepherds out in the fields. As might be expected, “they were very much afraid.” The first message they
hear is, “You have nothing to fear!” This message serves to remind us that when we are in contact with God,
we surely have “nothing to
fear.” We may not be bale to see or feel the assurance and comfort in the moment, but Truth and Love from God is
always present. When we
are with God and have nothing to fear, He breaks into our lives and wraps us in His warmth and
safety and loving care!
When the shepherds hear the good news of the Messiah and Lord, they go to see the “breaking in” of God into our human world. When
they do see the Christ Child, the promised Messiah and Lord, they
go and began to spread the news to others.
This also is a lesson to us. We go to church and hear this same message of the good news. Not only do we hear this message proclaimed
during the Christmas season, but each and every mass when we gather to hear the Word of the Lord. At mass we encounter the living
Christ who broke into the world on that first Christmas morning and continues to break into the world every time we receive Him in
Holy Communion. Like the shepherds, we can take this a step further! We can proclaim the message of Christ Jesus in our lives every
day. In every thought, word and action we can reflect that which is Jesus breaking into our lives and thus changing the world for the
better. Share the
Good News!
We of St. Jude the Apostle Parish wish everyone a truly joyous Christmas as you gather in your parish churches and in
your homes to
celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. We extend to you our best wishes and prayers for a New Year filled with
the
joy, peace and love
of Jesus Christ. |
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