~Christmas Vigil Mass~
December 24, 2013
Our Lady of Fatima and St. Patrick’s parish
Tonight we remember
the ancient Christmas story. A story of
how Joseph and Mary made their way to Bethlehem, about how no place could be
found at the inn for Mary when it came time for her to have her child…and how
this child was laid in the straw of a manger – rapt in swaddling clothes. And we remember those famous first visitors
of the holy family – the shepherds keeping watch in their fields…how an angel
appeared to them (angels inspire awe and fear – you know). And how the angel said to them: Do not be
afraid; for behold I proclaim to you news of great joy. For today in the city of David you will find
a savior has been born for you who is Christ the Lord (...) and suddenly there
was a great multitude of angels praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the
highest, and peace to his people on earth.”
We sense the inherent joy in the biblical passage, we insert ourselves
in the scene and perhaps we allow ourselves to relish this joy, because we are
spectators to it on this night or perhaps we are nostalgic for Christmases
past. There is something magical about
this night, the children know it (with all the sugar pulsing through their
veins) but we feel it too, at least on some level. For others it can be only a bittersweet time
of year. But just as we remember the
ancient Christmas story, the shepherds, the manger, Jesus the little infant in
the crèche, the angels – there is more to the story. Did you notice what a strange gospel we read
from tonight? It was not the familiar
one that we’ve heard often and even look forward to. Instead it was a seemingly unending family
tree: Abraham became the father of
Isaac, Isaac the father of Jacob and so on for about 14 generations. What a strange gospel for such a celebratory
night! What can it (from Matthew’s
gospel) possibly have to tell us that we don’t already know from the more
familiar reading of the Christmas story?
(By the way, that familiar Christmas story from Luke is read at midnight
Mass.)
It tells us how
Jesus, born the son of God and son of Mary, came from a true human family, a
lineage. This may seem of passing
importance but not for the Jews for whom Matthew was writing. For them it was important to see Jesus’ lineage
and I might suggest it could be for us too.
For one reason in particular, that Jesus’ family tree was not without
its bad apples, ruffians, adulterers, murderers. The sweet infant we peek in on at the manger
scene, bathing in a serendipitous afterglow of Virgin birth indeed had a historical
family with some serious misfits. But
isn’t it part of God’s good news that He can use what seems like only
misfortune and heartache to produce new life and hope. Surely this is a message many of our hearts
need to not only hear but also experience this Christmas. We are not forgotten by God – no matter how
far we may have wandered. Even to the
heart enduring the most bitter resentment or shrill discontent there is hope in
Christ.
When we look at the
family tree of Jesus its too easy to just hear middle-Eastern names like Salmon
and Jesse, Obed and Boaz and pass quickly by them – they fail to register as
significant after the first dozen or so – somewhat like the barcode of a toy
flashing across the checkout line or the dull hum of the code as we punch in on
our credit or debit cards after one of many Christmas purchases – after awhile
we’re punchdrunk with it all, we fail to notice. So I wonder if it would be ok to wonder
whether Salmon ever had a falling out with his inlaws, Did Jesse ever have to
overlook an offence or mend a fence after a row with his grandmother or
mother. How did Obed first learn that
disobedience had consequences or how to smile at life even when it kicked him
in the teeth? When did Boaz first
experience what it was like to be betrayed and how did it feel to till the
grounds of forgiveness? And when was it
that he first began to look after his elderly father Salmon when he started
forgetting who he was. All of a sudden
the lives depicted in this long list take on a shape not unlike that of our own
and we see some of their difficulties – and some of our own. Christmas is not a magic pen that eliminates
these tensions like a Tide stain remover.
Instead its message seeks to put us into contact with one who can help
us deal with these daily and sometimes dramatic dealings…and his name is
Emmanuel – God with us (…) or as the gospel says, “Jacob the father of Joseph,
the husband of Mary. Of her was born
Jesus who is called the Christ.”
This Jesus, though
a king in his own right, does not insist on us coming to him crawling on hands
and knees, doing him obeisance. Instead
he appears on this holy night as a simple babe, of whom no one should be afraid
to encounter, to approach, and to worship.
This Jesus broke bread for us and called it his body, he has called us here
each Sunday to eat and be nourished for the rough road of the spiritual
journey. Tonight once again, through the
priest’s hands, he breaks bread and pours wine, reminiscent, recalling,
reengaging in the moment on the cross when he gave his all for us (…) Your
mercy Lord, I will sing forever (psalm response). This is the fulfillment of the words from the
prophet Isaiah ‘you shall be called my delight and your land espoused…for
the Lord delights in you.
The Lord delights
in you. Maybe not in everything you are
doing or have done. He certainly doesn’t
delight in sin and bitter resentment and despair…and these we should turn
towards him and the help that is around us, we should never give in to
despair. The Lord delights in you. And that is why He has given you his
son. Jesus, the way, the truth and the
life.
Alleluia! Tomorrow
the wickedness of the earth will be destroyed: the Savior of the world will
reign over us.
That’s a piece of
good news you can hang your stocking on!
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