Dec. 25, 2021: Christmas
Dec. 25, 2021: Christmas
How many of you wish that this was a “White Christmas”? We certainly could use some snow in this 70 degree Christmas weather! Recently I watched for the first time the 1954 movie, “White Christmas” featuring Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye, Vera-Ellen, and Rosemary Clooney. The movie begins during World War II with the backdrop of a bombed out city in Europe. The American troops were being entertained with song and dance by two of their soldiers played by Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye. A powerful moment arose when Bing Crosby sang, ”I’m dreaming of a white Christmas, just like the ones I used to know. Where the tree tops glisten and children listen to hear sleigh bells in the snow.” The soldiers became silent as they dreamed of a day when the war would end and they would return home to celebrate Christmas with their families.
We too dream this evening when we can all return to normal lives after suffering two years of virus outbreak. We dream of a happy marriage and family while persevering through financial and emotional challenges. We dream of restored cities and communities after a series of devastating natural disasters. We all yearn for a world of peace and harmony. We are, as Prophet Isaiah said, “people who walked in darkness.” Just as at the time of the birth of Jesus when Israelites dreamed of a Messiah who would free them from the whims of the Roman and Herodian powers, we too dream of the Messiah to come and set us free. Through the holy prophets, God shared with us His dream of a day when swords will be beaten into plowshares, when wars will be no more, when “the arrogance of man will be brought low and human pride humbled,” (Isa 2:17), and when all men and women will live as brothers and sisters.
Today God has awakened us from those dreams. The angels appeared to the shepherds and proclaimed, “I proclaim to you good news of great joy: today a Savior is born for us, Christ the Lord. For today in the city of David a savior has been born for you who is Christ and Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find an infant wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger.” Since the fall of Adam and Eve, our communion and life with God was not possible. On our own, we cannot not save ourselves from our fallen condition, hopelessly destined to be eternally separated from God who created us. St. Paul wrote, “O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?” Then he added, “God has made the whole world prisoner of unbelief that he may have mercy on all.” It is God himself who planned before time began to send the Second Person of the Trinity to us as a little child to be born of a Virgin in a little town called Bethlehem, in Hebrew meaning “house of bread.”
Recently the creators of the mini series “The Chosen” released a Christmas special at the local movie theaters. The presentation concluded with a short film on Mary and Joseph’s travel from Nazareth to Bethlehem. Unsuccessful at finding a place to rest, they were given a stable where livestocks were kept. There were animal droppings on the floor, and St. Joseph took time to clean the area to lay a blanket for his wife to rest. He also cleaned out the feeding trough of the animals to place his child once he’s born. In a symbolic way, the stable represents our soul–sometimes messy, stinky, and disheveled–a place unfit for the Divine Guest to stay. Many times we are unprepared to receive Him in us; we’re too worldly, too preoccupied, and uncharitable. Yet, Christ Child comes, unannounced and unmerited, to be born in us and to stay with us. The feeding trough or manger from which we feed on are often godless ways and worldly desires, as St. Paul wrote. Despite that, Christ Child rests himself in our manger, meaning our hearts, to say to us that, “I am your True Food, I am your True Life, and I am your True Way.” We humbly kneel before the Christ Child as did the Wise Men and the poor shepherds to adore and love Him. The arms of Christ Child are extended toward us. He is reaching out to us to carry Him and be His love in the world, as we are His hands, His eyes, His fee, and His Heart.
Recently a ten year old boy named LaSall from Zachary embraced the call from the Christ Child. As he was eating dinner one night with his family, LaSall asked his parents if he could order pizza for the folks at homeless shelters. That led him to creating a 501c3 nonprofit charity called “LaSall’s One Backpack At A Time.” He wrote on his Facebook, “I want to change the world one backpack at a time.” Just yesterday, he brought 64 backpacks stuffed with personal care items for homeless men, women, and children staying at St. Vincent de Paul’s Bishop Ott Shelter. LaSall has answered the call like the Wise Men to return home changed with a different purpose. We are called not only to worship the Christ Child but to make Him loved.
As we depart this evening our Christmas work begins: to find the lost, to heal the broken, to feed the hungry, and to bring peace among people. God’s plan for our world is fulfilled on this night. God who loved us so much that he sent his only Son, to teach and to redeem his sons and daughters. I wish each of you and your precious family a very happy celebration of the most holy birth of the Child Jesus. -Fr Yi
