Lk 2:1-14 The Nativity Of Our Lord

Christmas Eve 2013
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In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that the whole world should be enrolled...So all went to be enrolled...And Joseph too went up from Galilee from the town of Nazareth to Judea, to the city of David that is called Bethlehem...While there, the time came for Mary to have her child, and she gave birth to her first-born son.

The King of kings.  The Son's birth is as revolutionary to our understanding of God as the Copernican revolution is to our understanding of the Sun. 

I know I can be overwhelming, so today I surrender to you.  I know I can be a bit scary, so today I come to you weak and defenseless.  You are well aware I am infinite, but today I come to you small, easy to behold and to hold.  You know I am mighty; but today, I make myself vulnerable to you.

Shift happened.  And boy did it alter - jolt - our understanding of the Almighty and our relationship with Him.

What we once thought was important has changed.

"The grace of God has appeared, saving all and training us to reject godless ways and worldly desires and to live temperately, justly, and devoutly in this age, as we await the blessed hope, the appearance of the glory of our great God and savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us..."  (Titus 2:11-14)

Silent night.  Yesterday, Pope Francis sent out the following message:  "Christmas celebrations are often full of sound.  It would be good for us to make room for silence, to hear the voice of Love."  Where do we hear the voice of love?  In a whisper.  How do we hear it?  Intimately.  In close proximity.  Where?  In the place we first met. 

We find the Lord in a cave, where we first met.  Like the first man, the Lord too was born in a cave.  But what Jesus delivers inside the cave no man - ancient or modern - could ever deliver:  He gives us God.  Emmanuel.

The Lord was born in a time of relative stability.  Finally, there was a government - an empire - that could enroll "all the world."   The population census was what prompted Joseph to set off from Nazareth for Bethlehem.  As you can see, even the Romans had a hand in fulfilling Jewish prophecy: “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah,
out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel,
whose origins are from of old, from ancient times" (Micah 5:2). 

God Almighty chose a small town, a small family and a small frame.  By choosing a cave, He made Earth - his home - even smaller.

How can this be?  It is God's equivalent to Copernicus' revolution!  The Lord changed this up and made man's head spin!  God did not come from heaven to earth to make the earth spin.  He came down from heaven to earth to be a Father, a brother, a son, a friend.

Shepherds completely oblivious.  They had lots of work to do.  There was no time to waste.  Shepherds are hard working people. 

This morning I ventured out to get my haircut at Supercuts.  As I drove out there, I had a profound "awareness:"  Nothing has changed. 

Star date December 24th, 2013, Christmas Eve:  No strange activity.  All roads appear to be the same; the cars are eerily similar to those seen before.  Shops are open.  Stores are open.  Business as usual. You would never know it was Christmas! This reminds me of the first Noel. 

As I took my seat and waited to be called, I noticed there was nothing new, except for the hair stylist.  As she worked on my hair, she asked me if any family members were coming into town.  I said no.  There was a pause.  She then asked me if I was going to get together with friends over the holidays.  "I'll try," I said, "but I have to work today and tomorrow." 
"Oh, I'm so sorry to hear that.", she said.  "That's awful." 
"It's okay.", I said,  "I love what I do."  
Again, there was a pause.  Finally, she asked:
"Do you have a family?"  I replied, "No, I don't."    
That was it.  She was done.  I could sense profound sadness. 

Now her problem wasn't that she ran out of questions.  The problem was that she never imagined she was speaking to a priest.  Before I left, I told her I hoped to see her at Church today or tomorrow.  "What Church do you go to?" she asked.

"All Saints," I said, "I'm the priest." 
She smiled.

Go into the cave.  It's not enough to peek our head into the cave.  We need to throw ourselves in there to understand Him. So observe the scene.  Take it all in.  Learn from the One and only One.  Otherwise, we will miss the moment and continue doing what we have always done:  Bark up the wrong tree; live for the wrong things; chase after the wrong dreams, etc. 

St. Paul reminds us:  "Love is patient, love is kind." It is not flashy or dashy, but very simple and dignified.  It does not boast; it whispers.  It is neither pompous or arrogant, but meek and humble. 

Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to those of good will.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!