Homily – Fr. Michael Casagram – Midnight Mass 2023

+THE TIME CAME FOR HER TO HAVE HER CHILD                        Midnight Mass 2023

A recent Garfield Cartoon read: “So Santa spends all year making toys and presents. Then gives them all away one night. I don’t understand his business model but I love the big guy!” There is a real way in which none of us this night, can begin to understand God’s business model in what we are celebrating here this Holy Night. A God who has created the whole universe will all its galaxies, the sun and moon, the stars and our fertile earth with all its beauty, then decided to take on our human flesh and be laid in a manger.

Our God who created the whole of our universe that we can hardly begun to explore, decided to be born of a humble maiden betrothed to Joseph. We have glamorized it, but what must it have been for the two of them to travel from Nazareth to Bethlehem to be enrolled, when they knew Mary was soon to give birth? “She wrapped him in swaddling clothes,” we are told, “and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.”

This is truly a sacred night, a night that has changed the whole of history. When God’s eternal Word took on our human flesh it was that we might in turn, share in God’s very own divine life. The whole of the Old Testament and all that God has revealed through the Patriarchs and Prophets came to fulfillment on this night as this little child was wrapped in swaddling clothes. The story of God’s chosen people has been long and painful.

As the prophet Isaiah reminded us: “the people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; upon those who dwelt in the land of gloom, a light has shone.” With all the blessings the chosen people had received, still they had found themselves caught in the power of darkness, in the land of gloom because of sin and the power of evil in our world. And if we are honest the influence of darkness and evil are still having terrible effects in our own day.

One can hardly avoid hear about or seeing the devastating effects of war in Gaza, the awful loss of human life especially among the very young. Then the growing number of migrants all over the world who are fleeing from violence, hunger or oppression. And the number poor and abandoned in our own cities cannot be overlooked if we are really honest about what is happening in our society.

In the midst of all this “a child is born to us, a son is given us; upon his shoulder dominion rests” and we know he is a “Wonder-Counselor.. Prince of Peace.” For as St Paul just reminded us: “The grace of God has appeared, saving all and training us to reject godless ways and worldly desires” so that we might “live temperately, justly and devoutly in this age.”

The Child born two thousand years ago, is now being born in each of our hearts as we turn away from all forms of selfishness and become the loving brothers and sisters we were destined to be. What Christmas reminds us of each year is just how deeply God is in love with the human family, giving us ever anew his only begotten Son for the salvation of our world.

This Eucharist manifests this constant and ever new love of God as these fragile wafers of bread and cups of wine become the very Body and Blood of God’s beloved Son. They make present not only the Son’s self-emptying love in taking on our flesh but the total gift of himself in dying for us on a cross. It is a love beyond all telling. Christ giving his whole life away on a cross is like Garfield’s Santa who gave all his presents away one night. And the design is that we might love and give ourselves over entirely to so gracious a God.

May each and all of you have a very blessed and joyous Christmas!

Isiah 9:1-6; Titus 2:11-14; Luke 2:1-14