Dec 25., 2023 / Features, Homilies, Soul Food
Story
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The story of Christmas opens with history, an actual census ordered by Caesar Augustus, during the time when Quirinius was governor of Syria. It closes with a tale of an angel telling shepherds of the nightwatch to go see for themselves “an infant wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger.” The story of tonight is bookended by the truth of history and the truth of heaven. It starts with people moving to be enrolled because of a political decision and ends with the heavenly host rejoicing over God’s decision to enroll himself into our history.
Quirinius we will not dispute. But when we hear of heavenlies talking at night, proclaiming, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests”, we wonder if Christmas is just some made up story we tell each other to distract or numb ourselves from the heartbreak of this world.
And yet, the evangelist Luke, the story teller, takes pains to bookend the Christmas story with accounts from history and from something that is more than just fantasy.
The wood of the manger foreshadows the wood of the cross. The birth in a stable at the margins of the city anticipates the death on a hill outside the walls. The swaddling cloths that wrap the infant prefigure the strips of burial linen in the empty tomb. The light of the Nativity is not without the darkness of the Passion.
Mary’s tears are of happiness and sorrow. The Child has her eyes. Her tears are his as well. On this night, the stain of her blood on the earth is the same stain from the blood of the Lamb of God, the very stain which marks us for deliverance.
Soon after, this family will be on the run, living as refugees in fear, fleeing to Egypt to escape the murderous wrath of a delusional king.
So much for fantasy, this story.
We are here tonight not just because of the inertia of tradition. We gather not out of obligation. We are here because we believe the story.
We are here because this Child is true. And we believe his light to be the one light that shines in this “land of gloom”, the only light that outlasts the darkness outside.
We do not deny that the darkness disheartens us. We confess how lost and afraid we are. We’ve had our share of delusional kings and their murderous greed in this country. We have witnessed how hatred and bigotry continue to shed the blood of the innocent. We have been distressed by the brazen distortion of truth and justice by those in power. The callousness terrifies us.
Despite all this however, we will not let fear and desolation take hold. We will still celebrate this night of Christmas because we know it is amid terrifying darkness that God comes to us.
And so before the wood of the manger and cross, we will dare to believe again in him who stays with us in the dark. We will dare to believe in him who is true. We will love again because only love can endure the night.
Like the Christmas story, our own life stories are bookended by the truth of history and the truth of heaven. All throughout our lives, there will be enrollments to keep us moving from place to place. And angels as well, telling us not to be afraid, urging us to please go see for ourselves this infant wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. There will be tears of happiness and sorrow, swaddling cloths of tenderness and loss, moments of gladness and silence. At the close of our stories, perhaps we will be caroled too by some heavenlies proclaiming glory to God in the highest, and peace to all on whom his love rests.
Wishful thinking and fantasy? Not really. We know the story. And we believe God’s story.
Homily delivered by Fr. Jose Ramon (Jett) T. Villarin SJ
Christmas Eve Mass
Cenacle Retreat House
24 December 2023
