Sunday:       Christmas Mass during the night.
Date:         December 24, 2001
Year:         A
The readings: [Is. 9:2-4, 6-7; Tit. 2:11-4; Lk. 2:1-16]
The message:  I am bringing you good news of great joy.
Prepared by:  CATHOLIC DOORS MINISTRY
Total words:  1488z

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Tonight, many faces are bursting with joy to commemorate the words of the angel of the Lord to the shepherds, "I am bringing you good news of great joy." [Lk. 2:10] What good news did the angel of the Lord deliver? "To you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, who is the Messiah, the Lord." [Lk. 2:11] On this joyful night two thousand years ago, our Saviour to be, Baby Jesus was born in a manger under the stars.

This glorious birth, the incarnation of God in human form, united all the future centuries into one moment in time. While Jesus was born for the salvation of God's people of the days of the Old Testament, He was also born for us. As God came in physical form into the lives of His people two thousand years ago, He continues to come into our lives today through the Holy Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist. Who would have ever imagined the greatness of God's love, a love that set aside His almighty power so that He could be with His people then, now and forever? What great love God has manifested!

As we gaze at the manger that has been set up in our Church, we are reminded of the circumstances surrounding the birth of Baby Jesus. Because there was no room in the warmth of the inn, Baby Jesus was born in the open under the stars and the chill of the night. This makes us wonder, why did Jesus choose such a poor environment to be born in? Surely, as our King, as the King of kings, He deserved better! But this is what Jesus wanted! This was His way of teaching us that the Kingdom of God belongs to the poor, the humble, the obedient, those who suffer, etc...

Thanks to the humble birth of the our Lord, the shepherds were provided with the opportunity to visit and adore the Infant Jesus. Had Jesus been born as the Son of a worldly king and queen, surrounded by famous people and riches, surely, the shepherds would not have been allowed to approach Him. But this was not the case. Jesus wanted to be with His people. That includes you and I.

The joy that Jesus has brought into the world, it has never ended! While this great joy is remembered every year on Christmas Day on a very large scale, it is also remembered every day of the year. It is remembered through our love for our neighbours, our charitable deeds, our goodness, our gentleness, and our effort to keep the peace in our families, our community and in the world.

The coming of Baby Jesus into the world has given us a new hope. Prior to His coming, the people hoped for His coming. Now that He has come, our hope is for the everlasting life that awaits all those who persevere in their living faith. Our hope is in the ongoing beatific vision of God in our presence.

This hope is progressively being implemented through our union with the Church Sacraments. Through the Sacrament of Baptism, we receive the heavenly gifts of a new birth, the indwelling Holy Spirit and our inheritance into the Body of Christ. Through the Sacrament of Reconciliation, we receive the permanent forgiveness of our sins. Through the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist, we receive the life of Christ in us. Through the Sacraments, we have received a new birth so we can be continually healed and nourished with life giving food, the Body of Christ. Had Jesus not come, none of this would have been possible. Thank you Jesus for coming into our lives. We adore you Jesus, now and forever.

During the next twenty-four hours, I have no doubt that all shall be rejoicing. The human spirits shall be filled with an outpouring of joy and peace. The eyes of the little ones shall glitter as they open their Christmas gifts. Families and friends shall gather around the table to feast on great foods. Holy music shall be heard from every home. Christmas lights shall blink on the Christmas trees and outside on the houses. These are moments that shall always be remembered.

Let us value these moments! May our hearts be soaked with the richness of these blessed moments so that they may be a stepping stone of love that will be manifested throughout the year.

These moments would not have been possible if the grace of God had not appeared, bringing salvation to all, training us to renounce impiety and worldly passions, and in the present age to live lives that are self-controlled, upright, and godly, while we wait for the blessed hope and the manifestation of the glory of our great God and Saviour, Jesus Christ. It is He who gave Himself for us that He might redeem us from all iniquity and purify for Himself people of His own who are zealous for good deeds. [Tit. 2:11-4]

Tonight, in our hearts, we feel that there is something different here. Baby Jesus, although invisible, is really present here with us. So is the Blessed Virgin Mary, Saint Joseph, many of the saints and endless angels. All are celebrating the birthday of Jesus. Surrounded by the flowing love of God, we are united as one within the invisible Mystical Body of Christ.

During the First Reading, we heard, "For a child has been born for us, a son given to us; authority rests upon his shoulders; and he is named Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." [Is. 9:6-7] In these few words, we perceive that the fullness of the Holy Trinity was pleased to dwell bodily [Col. 1:19, 2:9] in our Lord Jesus.

These Sacred Words remind us of the Words of Jesus to Philip, "Whoever has seen me has seen the Father." [Jn. 14:9] Indeed, in Jesus we have found the infinite love and goodness of the invisible Father who created us and longs for the day when we shall all be united in His eternal Kingdom.

Christmas Day, the birthday of Jesus, embraces many mysteries. It gives a special meaning to the word love. It shines in joy and peace. It fulfills the promises of Divine mercy. It opens many doors to the gaining of spiritual knowledge and understanding of the grace of God. Let us reflect upon these things.

On this night, let us also remember the many who shall not be celebrating Christmas. There are thousands and thousands of children who live in countries that are torn by war, natural disasters, poverty and hunger. For them, Christmas shall be just another day. As our society grows older, there are many seniors who live alone in loneliness, forgotten by the world. There are those who are sick in the hospital, some having no one to visit them.

Also, there are the prisoners who lack the love of God, these having been forgotten by the Christian community that claims to promote love but that has turned its eyes in the opposite direction. Many of these prisoners shall be locked in their cells on Christmas day because many guards have chosen to take time off to be home with their families. For these prisoners, being locked up is not a joy, but a punishment, a punishment because of Christmas. While the birth of Jesus should be a day of rejoicing for all, for many it shall be a day of loneliness, sadness and suffering.

And finally, let us not forget the thousands who have lost loved ones on September 11 th. For many children, Christmas shall have a void, their homes being without their fathers or their mothers. Many shall remember their spouses who have suddenly been snatched away. For many parents, there shall be emptiness without the presence of their children, some who were still in their tender years, others who had just recently married. All will be remembered on this Christmas Day.

To shine in the spirit of Christmas, the love of Christ that we will not be able to give to those who have departed from this world, let us take this love and give it to a stranger who is in need of such love. Let us make that little extra effort to reach out to the forgotten ones. Such an act, the Lord Jesus shall never forget... for such is the true meaning of Christmas.

As we continue with the celebration of the Holy Mass, let us remember the words of the angel of the Lord, "I am bringing you good news of great joy." [Lk. 2:10] Let us celebrate this good news with all our hearts, with all of society, with those we know and those who need to know about the blessed hope that we have in Jesus. Amen.

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The readings...

[The readings were taken from the New Revised Standard Version of the Bible (C) 1989 Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Church of Christ in the United States of America.]

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First Reading...

"The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who lived in a land of deep darkness - on them light has shone. You have multiplied the nation, you have increased its joy; they rejoice before you as with joy at the harvest, as people exult when dividing plunder.

For the yoke of their burden, and the bar across their shoulders, the rod of their oppressor, you have broken as on the day of Midian.

For a child has been born for us, a son given to us; authority rests upon his shoulders; and he is named Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

His authority shall grow continually, and there shall be endless peace for the throne of David and his kingdom. He will establish and uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time onward and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this." [Is. 9:2-4. 6-7]

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Second Reading...

"The grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all, training us to renounce impiety and worldly passions, and in the present age to live lives that are self-controlled, upright and godly, while we wait for the blessed hope and the manifestation of the glory of our great God and Saviour, Jesus Christ.

He it is who gave himself for us that he might redeem us from all iniquity and purify for himself a people of his own who are zealous for good deeds." [Tit. 2:11-4]

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Gospel Reading...

"In those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration and was taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. All went to their own towns to be registered. Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because he was descended from the house and family of David. He went to be registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged and who was expecting a child.

While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in hands of cloth, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.

In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, 'Do not be afraid, for see - I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: to you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, who is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger.

And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying, 'Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace among those whom he favours!'

When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, 'Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us.' So they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the child lying in the manger." [Lk. 2:1-16]

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