21-Dec-2016 Dear Friend, Christmas is real, it is now, it is today. We are not only remembering and re-living an event that took place centuries ago but we believe that it is happening once again. God entered into our world that first Christmas day and once again God wants to enter into our own personal world, if we will let him in. We know from our experience that we are most relaxed and at ease when we feel at home and comfortable with people, situations and events. At Christmas God wants to be with us. His name is Emmanuel, God-with us. Are we at home with God? Have a Christ-filled Christmas! -Fr. Jude Sun Ref. Christmas: ‘Today a Savior is born to us! He is Christ the Lord! 25-Dec-2016Isaiah 9: 1-7; Titus 2: 11-14; Luke 2: 1-14;
In the first reading the prophet reminds his people that in the darkness of the deportation of the Israelites into exile, the announcing of the birth of the Messiah shines out as a great light. His coming will dispel the darkness of despair, fear and helplessness and fill them with new hope and happiness. The coming savior will rescue his people and the night will be made radiant by the coming of Jesus. The names given to this child: Wonder-Counselor, Mighty-God, Eternal Father, Prince-of-Peace, spell out what a great gift awaits us if only we accept him into our hearts. The Christmas StorySomewhere in the north of Holland there is a church where all those who entered used to bow in the direction of a whitewashed part of the church wall before settling in the pews. Nobody knew why. They had been doing this from generation to generation, and no question was ever asked. Then one day the Parish Council decided to clean the walls. While doing this they discovered some traces of a painting under the whitewash on the wall. Very carefully they started to peel off the chalk and they uncovered a centuries-old painting of Jesus on the cross. Nobody remembered that picture. There was no description of it to be found: the painting had been lost from human memory. It must have been painted over centuries ago. But the sign of respect had remained. Now they finally knew why they were bowing their heads before sitting down. The sign had been there but its meaning was forgotten. Nobody knew the story of the origin of the sign, nobody could tell its tale. –Do we know the meaning of the Christmas story? Do we understand the signs and symbols of Christmas or is it an empty celebration?Joseph G. Donders in ‘Praying and Preaching the Sunday Gospel’ The Gospel describes in simple terms the Christmas story of the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem. Yet this gospel contains elements of high contrast and uses signs to announce the beginning of a new era with the birth of Jesus Christ. By mentioning Caesar Augustus, Luke contrasts the mighty Roman Empire with the kingdom of God. Caesar Augustus, seen as the inaugurator of peace and the great world benefactor, is contrasted with a helpless new-born who will be the Prince of peace and the Savior of the world. For this Savior of the world there is no place in the world. Mary and Joseph only find room for their son in a stable where animals live. By mentioning the manger, Luke wishes to symbolize that Jesus is born to be the sustenance of the world. The swaddling clothes connote the protection and care that the helpless infant needed and also his solidarity with the poor and simple people of his day. The manner of his birth did not meet the expectations of those who awaited him. He did not come to live up to their expectations but in fulfillment of his Father’s will. His arrival was not sensational, not heralded with much fanfare, but only announced to the simple shepherds. Shepherds were considered destitute and lived on the outskirts of the towns. By these contrasting signs and events the gospel highlights how different God’s ways are from men and how while Jesus was born one of us, yet his coming turned the values of the world upside down. To come to the stable, to experience his coming, are we ready to accept him on his terms and values? Are you willing to share your son for a moment?This is a first-person account from a mother about her family as they ate dinner on Christmas Day in a small restaurant miles from their home. Nancy, the mother, relates: We were the only family with children in the restaurant. I sat Erik in a high chair and noticed everyone was quietly eating and talking. Suddenly, Erik squealed with glee and said, "Hi there." His eyes were wide with excitement and he giggled with merriment. I saw the source of his merriment was a man with a tattered rag of a coat, dirty; his pants were baggy and his toes poked out of would-be shoes. His hands waved and flapped. "Hi there, baby; hi there, big boy. I see ya," the man said to Erik. Erik continued to laugh and answer, "Hi, hi there." Everyone in the restaurant noticed and looked at us and then at the man. Our meal came and the man began shouting from across the room, "Do you know peek-a-boo? Hey, look, he knows peek-a-boo." My husband and I were embarrassed. We ate in silence; all except for Erik, who was running through his repertoire for the admiring skid-row bum. We finally got through the meal and headed for the door. My husband went to pay the check and told me to meet him in the parking lot. The old man sat poised between me and the door. As I drew closer to the man, I turned my back trying to side-step him. As I did, Erik leaned over my arm, reaching with both arms in a baby's pick-me-up position. Before I could stop him, Erik had propelled himself from my arms to the man's. Suddenly Erik in an act of total trust, love and submission laid his tiny head upon the man's ragged shoulder. The man's eyes closed, and I saw tears hover beneath his lashes. His aged hands, full of grime, gently cradled my baby's bottom and stroked his back. No two beings have ever loved so deeply for so short a time. I stood awe struck. The old man cradled Erik for a moment, and then his eyes opened and said in a firm commanding voice, "You take care of this baby." Somehow I managed, "I will." He pried Erik from his chest unwillingly, longingly, as though he were in pain. I received my baby, and the man said, "God bless you, ma'am, you've given me my Christmas gift." With Erik in my arms, I ran for the car. My husband was wondering why I was crying and holding Erik so tightly, and why I was saying, "My God, my God, forgive me." I had just witnessed Christ's love shown through the innocence of a tiny child who saw no sin; a child who saw a soul, and a mother who saw a suit of clothes. I was a Christian who was blind, holding a child who was not, I felt it was God asking - "Are you willing to share your son for a moment?" when He Shared His for All Eternity. He comes to us as a child, no condemnation, no judgement, no expectations, just love!Anon Come to the Stable“A legend from Russia” is a poem by Phyllis McGinley about Christmas. The poem begins as the old grandmother, Babushka, is about to retire for the evening: ‘When out of Winter’s rush and roar came shepherds knocking at her door.’ They tell her of a royal child a virgin just bore and beg the grandmother to come and adore. Babushka is goodhearted, but she likes her comfort, and so her reaction is to go later. “Tomorrow,” she mutters. “Wait until then.” But the shepherds come back and knock again. This time they beg only a blanket: ‘With comforting gifts, meat or bread, and we will carry it in your stead.’ Again Babushka answers, “Tomorrow.” And when tomorrow comes she is as good as her word. She packs a basket of food and gifts: ‘A shawl for the lady, soft as June, For the Child in the crib a silver spoon, Rattles and toys and an ivory game……but the stable was empty when she came.’ –Is that sometimes our own story? Not empty stables, but empty lives. Like Babushka in the story we say, “Tomorrow not today; another time not now” we’re too busy, or too blind; we like our comforts too much, and care about others too little. And so opportunities pass us by. We find the stable empty, our lives hollow, our lives wasted.Albert Cylwicki in ‘His Word Resounds’ The first cribIt was St Francis of Assisi who assembled the first crib in a cave on an Italian hillside in the year 1223. His aim was to make the Christmas story come alive for the people of the locality. His idea was to show them how close it was to them and their lives. And it seems that he succeeded. On Christmas Eve the friars and the people assembled with candles and torches around the crib. Francis spoke to the people, who were mostly farmers and shepherds, about God’s Son coming among us to teach us that we too are children of God. The shepherds and farmers got the messages: God had time for simple folks like them. At the end of the vigil they all returned to their homes, full of peace and joy, feeling very close to God and to one another.Flor McCarthy in ‘New Sunday and Holy Day Liturgies’ I want to wish you personally all God’s wonderful blessings which his coming assures us of. As you re-live the Christmas story, may you experience the joy of Christmas, the renewed hope that He comes to bring and the love that is the heart of Christmas! May Christmas be the beginning of a new life for us! Fr. Jude Botelho botelhoj...@gmail.com PS. The stories, incidents and anecdotes used in the reflections have been collected over the years from books as well as from sources over the net and from e-mails received. Every effort is made to acknowledge authors whenever possible. If you send in stories or illustrations I would be grateful if you could quote the source as well so that they can be acknowledged if used in these reflections.These reflections are also available on my Web site www.NetForLife.net Thank you.
