December 24/25, 2004: Christmas Homilies

Father Jeffrey Lawrence sends you blessings for a Joyous Christmas and a Happy, Healthy and Holy New Year!

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CHRISTMAS EVE + JESUS CHRIST IS ABOUT TO BE BORN
Mass of 7:30 PM

God bless you all for coming out to worship with us this Christmas Eve at St. Paul’s. I wish you a Merry Christmas… a joyous, holy, and peace-filled Christmas.

Welcome home to children back from school, from the Service, from your homes in distant cities. Welcome back to parents, grandparents, beloved family members and friends who have over the years moved away from Danville but have come home for the holidays. Welcome also to first-time visitors. We hope you will all experience not just the blessings of Christ’s Nativity, but also the warmth of our parish Church.

This is Christmas Eve. In just a few hours, the Christ child will quietly enter the world. Just like a blanket of snow muffles the sounds and hides the ground, so too does the Messiah’s holy disguise as an ordinary baby let Him slip into the world undetected.

About this time 2,000 years ago, Mary and Joseph were trudging around Bethlehem looking for a place to stay. Sadly, as we all know, there was no room at the inn where travelers usually lodged. Imagine how you would feel if you were Mary: exhausted on your feet and ready to deliver your baby. Or if you were Joseph, worried about your wife in that condition and powerless to fix the situation.

Yes, it would be easy to fret or curse the innkeeper for turning the Holy Couple away. But really, we have to smile and rejoice. God, who is everywhere, is watching over his precious Mary and Joseph. He has a Plan—a plan with a capital “P”!

I don’t mean an “Oh no! No room at the inn! Now what do we do?” kind of plan. I mean an amazing, perfectly-conceived plan that goes back to the very beginning of creation. Why, even before that!

That Gospel that we just heard—that genealogy with all those funny-sounding names. . . that family tree that twists and turns with an occasional illegitimate child, a wife stolen in adultery, plenty of political intrigue, and all the rest—through all of this, God knew what He would accomplish. All of this, from Abraham down to poor Mary and Joseph, footsore and anxious, was part of the Plan.

Tonight, on Christmas Eve, the moment is at hand for the climax: Jesus Christ is about to be born! And all of us must adore Him. Not because it’s the “law,” but because it’s our joy and our salvation.

Tonight, we crowd into this church in Danville, an obscure town of Illinois—a blip on the earth’s crust like Bethlehem was. . . to worship. But even more important that worshiping Him at Holy Mass on Christmas Eve is to worship Him always and everywhere—because remember, God is everywhere.

St. John Chrysostom, the great saint and doctor of the early Church, wrote a beautiful little meditation 1,600 years ago on just this point. He says: “It is possible while sitting in your workshop stitching leather to consecrate your heart to God. It is possible for the person standing over a pot cooking to make fervent and frequent prayer though it is not possible to enter a church. For God takes no thought of place. This alone He requires of us: a mind and soul that loves the things of God.”

Of course, dear children in the Lord, there is nothing more valuable or more holy than participating in the Holy Mass, allowing God’s Word to soak into your heart, receiving His Body and Blood in Holy Communion—the Bread of Angels! But that is not where the story ends until the next time you come to Mass! Oh no, that’s the springboard to sanctify your everyday life.

Would a good mother only want to snuggle with her child at meal time—and then only once a week? Of course not! So too must we turn our minds and hearts often to our beloved Lord—and let His comfort touch our souls and a smile cross our lips. Because as much as we can humanly adore Jesus, that love doesn’t hold a candle to the love that He has for each and every one of us—God’s beloved children in the world. . . each of us formed in His very image and likeness.

It really isn’t all that hard to bring Jesus into more of your life. It just takes cultivating some little habits—especially praying. When you wake up in the morning, greet Jesus! Take a few seconds to smile, thank Him for another day, and ask Him to bless you and your endeavors.

Remember Him at meal time with grace—or at least a whisper of thanks for providing your daily bread.

Let your last “good night” be to Him before you turn in. Thank Him for His blessings, and tell Him you’re sorry for yours sins and shortcomings of the day. Ask Him to forgive you, bless you, and keep you through the night.

You see? You don’t have to memorize long prayers. Just talk to Him, just the way a child would talk to His Mommy or Daddy. Just love Him with simplicity and trust.

How blessed we are on this holy Christmas Eve that Jesus will soon be here once again!— so we have a chance once more to start over to love Him and cherish Him.

May God pour out His abundant blessings on you and all your loved ones this Christmas. Praised be Jesus Christ—now and forever. Amen!

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CHRISTMAS AT MIDNIGHT + 11:59

In the Name of Jesus Christ and His Blessed Mother, I welcome you to St. Paul’s on this most holy night as Christmas is nigh: the midnight hour at which the Holy Infant came into the world two thousand years ago.

I extend special greetings to all of you—children, parents, grandparents and beloved family members and friends—who have returned to Danville this Christmas. . . and to first-time visitors, too. May you be truly blessed on this joyous night as we celebrate Our Lord’s birth.

I find it breathtaking that just a moment before—at 11:59 p.m., if you will—the world had no inkling of what tremendous change lay ahead. Imagine turning back the clock a mere one minute before a huge earthquake. . . before the announcement that you just hit every single number of the lottery. . . before hearing the doctor say that it’s cancer—or “Congratulations, Mrs. Jones, you have a brand new, healthy son!”

Sixty seconds ago, you suspected nothing. Now, your world is forever changed.

And that’s just how it is with the coming of Jesus. As the prophet Isaiah puts it so beautifully, “The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light.” Yes, in Jesus, God has offered mankind His most precious gift, for this Jesus is our way out of sin, out of despair and misery. . . our way to the truth. . . our way to eternal life. Sixty seconds ago, the world waited. And now, He’s here!

But look in that crib! He’s so small—so helpless looking! Who could possibly have guessed the huge plan that God has in store for such a tiny one over the next few short years?

But then again, isn’t it funny: can’t we really say the very same thing about our own lives? Who could possibly guess the important work that God still has planned for you over the course of your life that’s still ahead?

There’s a beautiful little story about two orphans, a boy and a girl, from Germany, who were living with their uncle and aunt. All through Advent the boy had been saving his money for a gift to the Christ-Child, but on Christmas Eve, he gave the money to his little sister so that she could present a gift to the Babe in the manger.

The aunt and uncle had already gone to Midnight Mass, and the children were getting ready to follow along, when an old lady with a cane knocked at the door. She was cold and hungry. Even though the children were eager to get to church, they invited the old woman in, gave her coffee and bread, and warmed her before the fire. Then, they hurried off to church, with their unknown guest following behind them.

In that German village, as in many others, it was the legendary belief that the angel rang the church bells after Midnight Mass for the one who offered the best gift to Christ. That’s why the children had been saving up. So when Mass was over, the priest called for the gifts. The children’s uncle offered a chest of gold, but the bells did not ring. The local poet read a beautiful poem to the Christ-Child, and still the bells did not ring. Jewelry and precious cloth and other treasures were offered, but the bells were still silent.

At last comes the turn of our little friends. Meekly and with apologies they tell the priest they would like to give a lot of money or something very precious, but they could not, because they had given their savings to the old lady. Then they told how they had taken her in and fed her. While they were telling their childish story, the bells began to ring. Everyone was overjoyed that the simple kindness of these little ones had been the most precious gift to the Infant Christ.

That young boy and girl would never have guessed that their gracious hospitality could ever have been so important. And the same goes for us: a small kindness here, a word of thanks, a little smile, a bit of patience, a gentle word of encouragement, holding our tongue instead of losing our cool—any of these tiny, insignificant deeds might have huge consequences. . . perhaps even eternal consequences. Each of these is a ray of glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ. Each of these could just turn another person’s life around for the better. Each of these is potentially a jewel in our heavenly crown.

Incredible! We cannot remind ourselves too often that even the smallest kindness done out of love is precious in the eyes of the Lord.

Actually, this kind of love is not awfully hard to spread. Begin with those closest to you: your husband or wife, your children, your parents, your brothers and sisters, your family and friends, your classmates, your fellow workers—the people you see all the time. Extend them countless small kindnesses without counting the cost—just like the children in my little story.

Lots of times, though, there are terrible problems in our families and closest relationships. Some of these may go back many, many years. These situations also call for love—in fact, they call for bold and persistent love. They call for a love that’s not quite so easy to offer at first. It’s an amazing kind of love—the kind that Christ Himself was asked to give. It’s Christmas love.

You mustn’t be afraid. Trust Jesus and take the bull by the horns. Let go of the past hurts. Forgive those who have hurt you. Make up with them, if you can. Throw your arms around them and tell them that you’re sorry for the things you’ve done and beg for the chance to make a new beginning. Beg the Lord on your knees with tears and prayers to bless you in your efforts. And if you don’t succeed right away, keep trying.

Don’t be too proud or stubborn to let God’s gentle love melt icy hearts. How quickly this life passes by. It might already be 11:59. There’s not a single second to lose.

Christmas is a holy and grace-filled time for new beginnings—new beginnings in divine love. Before you leave Mass today, I invite you to come up here and kneel at the foot of the manger. Promise beautiful Jesus that things are going to be different, starting here and now. Ask Him for His guidance and blessings. Ask Him for a heart that loves as He loves. I promise you, He will not refuse you.

God bless you, one and all. May the true peace and love of Christmas fill your hearts to overflowing. Amen.

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CHRISTMAS DAY + CHRISTMAS & CHANGE
Mass at 9:00 AM Christmas Day

Peace and blessings to all! Our King and Savior, Jesus Christ, has been born in the City of David!

I wish you all a Merry Christmas—a joyous, holy, and peace-filled Christmas!

Welcome home to children back from school, from the Service, from your homes in distant cities. Welcome back to parents, grandparents, beloved family members and friends who have over the years moved away from Danville but have come home for the holidays. Welcome also to first-time visitors. May you experience not just the blessings of Christ’s Nativity but also the warmth of St. Paul’s Church.

I don’t know about you, but Christmas is one of the main time-measuring tools I use in my life. I remember my first puppy of so many Christmases ago—well before Maggie. . . my first Christmas when I was in love. . . the Christmas when I first went to Rockefeller Center to see the Rockettes. . . my first Christmas as a priest. . . my first Christmas after my Mom died. It seems that each Christmas marks off another year of changes—sometimes huge, sometimes not.

This is my 54th Christmas. Some of you may smile and say, “Aw, he’s just a kid!” Others are probably thinking, “Ewwww! That’s ancient!”

I feel pretty much like I did at 19 or 20, except for a few more aches and pains. . . a few more pounds. . . not being able to bend over the same way or stay up quite so late at night. . . but oh yes, a lot more peace, patience and life-experience. . . wisdom, perhaps. I definitely feel that I am not just aging, but also growing.

How about you? Do you feel that your life has been purposeful. . . one of continual, and in the main, positive, change—or do you feel that somehow, you’re stuck in a rut?

One of the great mysteries of Christmas is that while life may throw change at us—and often much too fast for comfort!—the Lord Himself, and His love, are unchanging and constant. As the Scriptures remind us: “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever” (Heb. 13, 8).

Our Savior—there in that manger… newly-born into the world—came to teach us this comforting truth: no matter what upheavals in life we may undergo, and no matter how rocky things may get, Jesus Christ is always our anchor—our safe haven. We can always turn to Christ and rely on Him to help us cope and survive and yes, even thrive. Again, the words of the Scripture assure us: “God is our refuge and our strength, a very present help in trouble” (Ps 46, 1).

Recently, I was talking to a man who lost his wife after 38 happy years of marriage. His daughter was pressuring him to sell the house and move in with her, but the poor man couldn’t begin to think of giving up both a wife and home all at once. So for days, he just wandered through the rooms of the house, letting memories tear at his soul. Finally, one day he knelt down beside his bed and asked God to help him, to assure him that death wasn’t the final separation between him and his wife. He wasn’t sure if he actually heard a voice or not, but the words came clearly to him: “I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in Me, even though they die, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this?” (Jn 11, 25). The man practically sprang to his feet in joy and said, “Yes! I believe!” And from that day forward, he felt a peace come into his life, comforting and assuring.

His experience teaches a valuable lesson that we can all profit from: when changes come and things look hopeless—whether because of death, illness, or any other kind of major setback in life—remember to turn to God, because He has promised: “I will never leave you or forsake you” (Heb 13, 5).

Christmas, you see, isn’t really about a jolly Santa in a bright red suit. . . or a reindeer with a shiny nose who might have run over Grandma. . . no, it’s about our God who loves us so much, for real, that He set a plan into motion to save us and bless us with divine grace and life.

There. Look in that crib. All these promises, all this love, come from Him. . . from Jesus Christ, whose joyous birth we celebrate today!

May the blessings of Our Newborn Savior overflow in your life and bring you great joy and peace always!