This morning’s Herald-Sun had an editorial on Christmas Eve. “It’s a time for religious observances and for focusing on what is important – family and friends.”
Mary with Jesus Christmas Click to enlarge pic
What is important is more than family and friends. It is Jesus, born for us, as Savior and redeemer.
Christmas comes, at a time, an antidote to community stress and burnout. (Paris and San Bernadino but the ongoing carnage in Syria).
Most priests try to find their best sermon so as not to loose the opportunity of fuller churches.
This year I was given a kind of gift – a homily.
I had just finished a day of retreat at Surrey Hills in Sydney, for the Sisters of Blessed Mother Theresa, the Missionaries of Charity.
At the end the sisters thanked me and gave me a card to Blessed Mother Theresa plus a letter to their Co-workers. In it I found the Christmas Story which is my homily for today.
Fabio, an 8 year old boy, is sitting in front of the Christmas Crib and looking at Jesus.
Fabio falls asleep and dreams.
In the dream the baby Jesus asks Fabio three things: “Fabio, will you give me three gifts?”
He already loves Jesus and Christmas and immediately thinks that he will be asked for his new mountain bike or computer games.
But he is a generous kid and says back to the baby: “Ask whatever you like and I will give it to you.!”
Fabio, will you give me the last school exam that you did?”
But that one I FAILED!” says Fabio.
“Fabio that is the one I want and promise me that, everything that fails in your life, you will always give it to me.”
Fabio is relieved.
The second gift that I want you to give me is you special glass for milk”.
Fabio feels embarrassed. “But Jesus it is BROKEN.”
“I want it. And promise me that you will give me all that is broken in your life.”
“Will you do that?” Fabio promises it willingly.
The third gift that I ask from you is the answer you gave your mother when she asked you how the glass was broken?
Fabio started to cry. “This I cannot give you Jesus. I told a lie saying that it dropped from my hand but, in reality, I was in a temper and smashed it on the floor.”.
The baby Jesus looked at him: “I want you to give me this lie, and all the lies of your life. Will you do that?”
“Yes, Jesus, I will always give you my lies.”.
Fabio then wakes up and his heart is filled with great peace and joy.
He knows that today a Saviour has been given to us, born into our hearts and into our world.
He takes all our failure, brokenness and deceit: everything that we think is not good enough – ourselves – to give to God.
No wonder we celebrate and come to church, for nobody can do this except the incarnate word of God. The child Jesus we praise and glorify.
He is love come down from heaven and men and women lifted up to God.
All that is failed, broken and dishonest in our lives manages to surface at the end of the year and is sometimes addressed in New Year resolutions.
