The Nativity of the Lord (Christmas)
It is the greatest love story – the story of Christmas. There is a God. There is humanity. And there is a little child. As the gospel says, “For today in the city of David a savior has been born for you who is Christ and Lord” (Lk 2:11).
It may be the greatest love story, but it wasn’t the most magnificent birth. It was a cold wintery night. His parents sought for a room, but finally, had to give birth to him in a stable. The only place they could lay him in was a manger. There were other children born that night. Some were born in palaces, others were born in homes, others were born in warm places. But that night all roads led to the manger. The night sky lit up. Angels appeared to poor shepherds singing, “Glory to God and peace to people of goodwill” (Lk 2:14). The angels led them to the manger. A star appeared. It led wise magi from different parts of the world to the manger. They brought him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Because in that humble, poor, cold manger lay the Saviour of the world.
Today, I look at all of us gathered in this church. We have spent the last four weeks preparing for this day. We have decorated, shopped, baked, prepared, we prayed, and finally, all roads have led to the manger. Here we are – at the manger. Here Word is made flesh. Here is the one born for us, Christ the Lord. Here we behold the Saviour of the World. He has come to save us. Like the shepherds, we do homage. Like the magi, offer him our lives. It is the greatest love story. It is Christmas.
The Altar – A Christmas Manger
Since we could not be at that first manger, let me reflect on our manger. Just this last Sunday, the Fourth Sunday of Advent, at Mass, the offertory prayer read, “May the Holy Spirit, O Lord, sanctify these gifts laid upon your altar, just as he filled with his power the womb of the Blessed Virgin Mary.” The reference is to Christ in Mary’s womb and the Christ on the altar. Again, the preface for this Eucharist reads, “For in the mystery of the ‘Word made flesh’ a new light of your glory has shone upon the eyes of our mind, so that, as we recognize in him ‘God made visible’, we may be caught up through him in love of things invisible.” The connection between Christmas and the Eucharist is so integral that in every sense of the word, every Eucharist is a Christmas. The Eucharist is as deep a love story as Christmas.
That first Christmas, there was nothing about the child that made him look like the Saviour of the world. He was like every other child – little, innocent, helpless, powerless. But those who were led to the manger saw in him the “Word made flesh”, the “God made visible”. What did you expect to see when you came to Church today? There is no child in the manger. There is only humble bread. There is only simple wine. But the same power that filled the womb of the Blessed Virgin Mary,” fills the bread and wine we lay on the altar. That first Christmas, the child that the shepherds and the magi beheld was the “Word made flesh”, the “God made visible”. This Christmas, this bread and wine we behold is the “Word made flesh”, the “God made visible.” Here is our manger. Here is our Christmas.
The Eucharist – “Word Made Flesh”
The child grew. He grew in grace and wisdom. He became an adult. He began the work of saving humanity from its own inhumanity. He did this with humility, with tenderness, with empathy, with kindness, gentleness, goodness and love. Most of all, he did it in peace - without violence, without force, without condemnation, without demeaning people. He did something unique before he departed the world. He took bread, gave it to his friends, and said, “This is my body.!” Then he took wine, gave it to his friends saying, “This is my blood. Do this in memory of me.” It was the greatest love story.
You came here today to celebrate Christmas. What did you expect to see? There is no baby in the manger. Only, bread becomes Body. Only, wine becomes Blood. “Word is made Flesh,” “God is made visible.” We have been led to this manger. We have come to this Eucharist. Here we adore the “Word made flesh”. Here we do homage to the “God made visible.” The Eucharist is Christmas.
Christmas Every Sunday
Having reflected on the Eucharist as Christmas, I would like to make an appeal. As Catholics and as a Christmas people, I am asking that we rediscover our Eucharistic identity and our Eucharistic life.
Over the last few decades Catholic worship has been in decline. Too many Catholics have disconnected and alienated themselves from the Eucharist. Many have been alienated by the Church. But mostly for many Catholics the Eucharist does not have the centrality that it should have. And this is the appeal that I am making this Christmas – that Eucharist is not merely of celebration of convenience but that we bring the Eucharist to the very center of our existence. Life each week should flow from the altar and each week we bring it back to lay it on the alter again. Every Eucharist deserves to be celebrated like Christmas. After all, it is the greatest love story.
This Christmas Day all churches are full. If we celebrated each Sunday Eucharist like Christmas, if we reclaimed our Catholic identity, if we reclaimed our Eucharistic life, churches would look like this every Sunday.
This Christmas Eucharist is the celebration of the greatest love story. It is the celebration of the great joy, peace, love, and goodwill. Let us make it last for the rest of the year. I wish you a blessed Christmas all year long. I wish you the blessed Eucharist all year long.
- Fr. Satish Joseph