Hodie Christus natus est.

There are many, many books that describe the Christmas story.  But no Christmas story holds a candle to the original masterpiece found in Luke’s gospel.  In 320 words, the evangelist Luke tells us the story that is ageless, that needs to be told again and again, and needs to be remembered, for it is the story of our salvation.

“Joseph too went up from Galilee from the town of Nazareth to Judea, to the city 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 in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.”

We gather today to honor and worship the infant wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying a manger, the one announced by the angel as the Savior, who is Christ and Lord.  We worship Him who gives meaning to our lives.  The power of God comes to us as a tiny infant.

The first Scripture reading from the prophet Isaiah proclaimed:  “The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light:  upon those who dwelt in the land of gloom a light has shown.  You have brought abundant joy and great rejoicing.”

This is a wonderful, wonderful way of describing the Christmas mystery.  The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light.

We are indeed a people who wait in joyful hope not because the darkness is over, but because the Light is with us now, and the Light will overcome the darkness.

We are well aware of the darkness in which we live:

 The massacre that is taking place in Syria that has destroyed the once thriving city of Aleppo, the darkness of violence in which there are too many streets in our cities that are not a safe place to walk, the brokenness experienced in too many family lives, and who of us would not say that there is darkness in our spiritual journeys.

In our world there is both darkness and light.  We know that the darkness isn’t over.  But we gather as a people of hope and promise because the light of Christ overcomes the darkness of life.

God’s gift to us is the Christmas mystery  --   Hodie Christus natus est.  Today Christ is born. Hodie.  Today.  You see, for all its uniqueness, Bethlehem is not an isolated experience.  Christ is born in the stable of Bethlehem but Christ is also born in every child born of God’s love.

In each child I have the privilege of baptizing, Christ is born again.  

It is good for us to remember who planted the seeds of faith within us.  It is also good to remember who brings us and who to we bring to listen again to the Christmas story. 

Who first held you and shared with you the Christmas story and who holds you today with love, encouragement, and affirmation as you live now the wonder and the mystery of Christmas.

A story:  In World War II a soldier was on duty Christmas morning.  It had been his custom to go to Church every Christmas morning with his family, but now, in the service on the outlying districts of London, this was impossible.  So, with some of his soldier buddies, he walked down the road that led to the city as dawn was breaking.  Soon they came upon an old, gray, stone building over whose main door were carved the words, “Queen Ann’s Orphanage.”  So they decided to see what kind of celebration was taking place inside.  In response to the knock, a matron came and explained that the children were orphans whose parents had been killed in one of the many bombings that took place in London.  The soldiers went inside just as the children were stumbling out of bed.  There was no Christmas tree in the corner.  There were no presents.  The soldiers moved about the room wishing the children Merry Christmas and giving them whatever presents they had in their pockets.  The soldier noticed a child alone in the corner -- looked a lot like his nephew back home.  And you, little guy, what do you want for Christmas?  The lad simply replied:  Will you hold me?  The soldier, with tears in his eyes, picked up the little boy and held him in his arms very close.

The Christmas mystery continues when in our journey of faith we are held by people who love us and we, in turn, hold others in their faith journey.  In my 48 years as a priest, I am most often in the sanctuary presiding and preaching.  I have been richly blessed in my priesthood.  But I must confess that I was filled with joy yesterday when I was merely in the pews.  I felt held by our school children as they led an inspiring Christmas prayer service.   Is it not a most precious for you and for me when our children teach us the faith lessons that we have taught them with our deepest love and faith.  The students of St Joseph’s School touched my soul.

As was illustrated so beautifully by the soldier in World War II, we also need to share the Christmas mystery with the poor and the needy in our midst.  We can never be a gated community.  We are taught in the original Christmas story that the birth of the Savior was first announced to shepherds – folks who live on the margins of society.  These shepherds are God’s kind of people.  These shepherds are God’s beloved just as the children in that orphanage without a Christmas tree and without Christmas presents are God’s beloved.

We are to hold with great love our own children.  We also are to hold with great love all children.  They are God’s beloved.

Have a blessed Christmas.