The Nativity of Our Lord Homily – Year B
Reading:
Isa 9:2-7
Titus 2:11-l4
Lk 2:l-l4
1st Reading – Isaiah 9:1-6
1 The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: to them that dwelt in the region of the shadow of death, light is risen.
2 You have multiplied the nation, and have not increased the joy. They shall rejoice before you, as they that rejoice in the harvest, as conquerors rejoice after taking a prey, when they divide the spoils.
3 For the yoke of their burden, and the rod of their shoulder, and the sceptre of their oppressor, you best overcome, as in the day of Madian.
4 For every violent taking of spoils, with tumult, and garment mingled with blood shall be burnt and be fuel for the fire.
5 For a CHILD IS BORN to us, and a son is given to us, and the government is upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called, Wonderful, Counsellor, God the Mighty, the Father of the world to come, the Prince of Peace.
6 His empire shall be multiplied, and there shall be no end of peace. He shall sit upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom: to establish it and strengthen it with judgment and with justice, from henceforth and for ever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this
Responsorial Psalm – Psalms 96: 1-2, 2-3, 11-12, 13
R. (Luke 2:11) Today is born our Savior, Christ the Lord.
1 Sing to the LORD a new song;
sing to the LORD, all you lands.
2A Sing to the LORD; bless his name.
R. Today is born our Savior, Christ the Lord.
2B Announce his salvation, day after day.
3 Tell his glory among the nations;
among all peoples, his wondrous deeds.
R. Today is born our Savior, Christ the Lord.
11 Let the heavens be glad and the earth rejoice;
let the sea and what fills it resound;
12 let the plains be joyful and all that is in them!
Then shall all the trees of the forest exult.
R. Today is born our Savior, Christ the Lord.
13 They shall exult before the LORD, for he comes;
for he comes to rule the earth.
He shall rule the world with justice
and the peoples with his constancy.
R. Today is born our Savior, Christ the Lord.
2nd Reading – Titus 2:11-14
Beloved:
11 For the grace of God our Savior has appeared to all men;
12 Instructing us, that, denying ungodliness and worldly desires, we should live soberly, and justly, and godly in this world,
13 Looking for the blessed hope and coming of the glory of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ,
14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and might cleanse to himself a people acceptable, a pursuer of good works.
Alleluia – Luke 2:10-11
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
10 I proclaim to you good news of great joy:
11 today a Savior is born for us,
Christ the Lord.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel – Luke 2:1-14
1 And it happened in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus, so that the whole world would be enrolled.
2 This was the first enrollment; it was made by the ruler of Syria, Quirinius.
3 And all went to be enrolled, everyone into his own city.
4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem: because he was of the house and family of David,
5 to be enrolled with Mary his espoused wife, who was with child.
6 While they were there, the time came for her to have her child,
7 and she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him up in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.
8 And there were in the same country shepherds watching, and keeping the night watches over their flock.
9 And behold, an Angel of the Lord stood near them, and the brightness of God shone around them, and they were struck with a great fear.
10 And the angel said to them: Fear not; for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, that shall be to all the people:
11 For, this day, is born to you a Saviour, who is Christ the Lord, in the city of David.
12 And this shall be a sign unto you. You shall find the infant wrapped in swaddling clothes, and laid in a manger.
13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly army, praising God, and saying:
14 Glory to God in the highest; and on earth peace to men of good will.
Homily
Christ’s Cause for Santa’s Claws?
“A saviour has been born … wrapped in
swaddling clothes and lying in a manger” (Lk)
Christmas 2005, Cahal Milmo revealed shocking statistics in The Independent entitled ‘The Cost of Christmas’. In UK, £30 billion was spent to celebrate Christmas. Britons spent £4.2 billion on cosmetics at Christmas while Britain’s aid budget for the developing world was £4.14 billion in 2004. The average that an adult spent on celebrating Christmas was £813 while the precipitate annual income of an Ethiopian is £50. I am unsure of detailed statistics in other world famous cities. However, gauging from personal experiences of celebrations in cities like Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai, Rome and Milan – the ‘cost of Christmas’ worldwide is perturbing.
Living in any city, you’re likely to be bombarded with posters of Santa Claus in supermarkets and the blasting of ‘Jingle Bells ‘from Christian residences. For a moment, at least, could we substitute the Child Jesus for Santa and silently reflect on that first Christmas night?
Mass at midnight is meaningful because, according to gospel imagery, the Bridegroom’s second coming will be at midnight (see Mt 25:6). And,’ as with Advent, Christmas celebrates both, the first and second comings of Christ. This is well expressed in the second reading where Paul instructs Titus on both comings (w. 11, 13). If we perceive Christmas in terms of both comings of Christ, then, our Christmas celebrations will probably dovetail with what we celebrate at Mass.
The reading from Isaiah (ch. 9) is a coronation anthem. Every new king was welcomed with the hope that he would be the ideal king. The joy of coronation was expressed in two symbols: (a) the joy of harvest, and (b) the joy of victory in war. The new reign would usher in three freedoms: from war, want, and oppression. In the original use of the anthem, the birth of the son (v.6) referred to the newborn king who was hailed as God’s son (see Ps 2:7). In Christian perspective, the son is Jesus in whom all promises find fulfillment. Jesus’ salvation, too, is freedom from want, war and oppression.
Luke’s gospel details of Jesus’ birth are not meant to be historical records but they symbolically proclaim the mystery of redemption, namely, Jesus saves. Moreover, here is a King who will care for the least in a very special way. In 1st century Palestine, shepherds belonged to a despised trade very much like tax collectors and prostitutes. The ‘good news’ given to them first has deep meaning. Indeed, Luke’s gospel is, first and foremost, for the poor.
Christmastime, we’re called to choose between crusading Christ’s cause or getting ensnared in Santa’s claws. Multinational corporations have today man formed the generous St Nicholas into a gluttonous Santa whose claws reach deep into our pay-packets and pant pockets to ‘shop till we drop’. But, if you must retain Santa for your children’s sake, clip his claws, and catechize your kids about the centrality of The Christ Child and his cause to comfort the afflicted.
The beasts at Jesus’ manger were overjoyed to have a godly guest in their midst. “I’ll take the holy family for a joy-ride!” brayed the donkey. “And, “I’ll ‘gift him my eggs!” clucked the hen. The cow mooed, “He will never lack milk as long as I live!” The shaggy sheep said, “With my wool, his mother will make him a coat!” Last, the little lamb said, “I’m ready to die for him. Lamb chops will please his parents at his birthday feast!”
Poetess Christina Rossetti wrote: “What can l give Him, poor as i am? if i were a shepherd, I’d bring Him a lamb; if I were a wise man, l would do my part; yet what I can, I give Him – give my heart!” Will I gift Him my heart? Heart gifted, we’ll be able to sing “a new song to the Lord” mentioned in the psalm (96) as collaborators of Christ’s cause. Have a hearty Christmas!