Home for Christmas
(A Christmas Story 2008)
Dec. 25, 2008, Christmas Day
Isaiah 52:7-10 Hebrews 1:1-6 John 1:1-5, 9-14
To the churched and unchurched[1]
gathered in a temple not built by human hands[2]
Second reading from Hebrews
Brothers and sisters: In the past God spoke to our ancestors many times and in many ways through the prophets. In these last days He has spoken to us through his Son whom He has made heir of all things and through whom He first created the universe. This Son is the reflection of God’s glory. He is the exact likeness of the Father’s being. He sustains all things by his powerful word. When He had cleansed us from our sins, He took his seat at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.
The Son was made greater than all the angels, just as the name which God gave Him is greater than theirs. For God never said to any of his angels, “You are my Son; today I have begotten you.[3]” Or again, “I will be his Father, and He shall be my Son.” And again, when He leads his firstborn into the world He says, “Let all the angels of God worship Him.[4]”
The Son was made greater than all the angels, just as the name which God gave Him is greater than theirs. For God never said to any of his angels, “You are my Son; today I have begotten you.[3]” Or again, “I will be his Father, and He shall be my Son.” And again, when He leads his firstborn into the world He says, “Let all the angels of God worship Him.[4]”
The word of the Lord
Thanks be to God
Alleluia, alleluia.
A reading from the holy Gospel according to John
Glory to you, Lord.
Thanks be to God
Alleluia, alleluia.
A reading from the holy Gospel according to John
Glory to you, Lord.
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came to be through Him, and without Him nothing came to be. What came to be through Him was life, and this life was the light of the human race. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world came to be through Him, but the world did not know Him. He came to what was his own, but his own people did not accept Him. But to those who did accept Him He gave power to become children of God, to those who believe in his name, who were born not by natural generation nor by human choice nor by a man’s decision but of God. And the Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us, and we saw his glory, the glory as of the Father’s only Son, full of grace and truth.
The Gospel of the Lord.
Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
Introduction
The three Masses of Christmas
Christmas is the only day in the liturgical calendar which has three different Masses assigned it: Mass at Midnight, Mass at Dawn and Mass during the Day. Each has its own scripture readings.
Mass during the Day
Mass during the Day
The Mass during the day is the oldest of the three. It originated in Rome in the early fourth century and was celebrated at St. Peter Basilica. It seems to mark the very origins of the celebration of the Feast of Christmas. Because the gospel for the Mass during the Day is St. John’s prologue about the Word which was in the beginning and which became flesh, it is also called the Mass of the Divine Word. (Jn 1:1-18)
Mass at Midnight
The Mass at Midnight, which originated in the fifth century, was celebrated in the Basilica of St. Mary Major to which relics of the crib were brought in the seventh century. The midnight tradition seems to be an interpretation of a passage from the Book of Wisdom, “While all things were in quiet silence and the night was in the midst of her course, thy Almighty Word, O Lord, came down from Heaven from thy royal throne.” (Wisdom 18:14-15) Because the gospel for the Mass at Midnight has a heavenly multitude of angels praising God and singing “Glory to God in the highest,” it is also called the Mass of the Angels. (Lk 2:1-14)
Mass at Dawn
The Mass at Dawn was the latest of the three to appear. Celebrated first in the sixth century, it originated in a request from the Byzantine Governor in Rome that a Mass in honour of St. Anastasia (martyred on December 25 ) be celebrated on December 25 and in the church dedicated to her. That Mass was then 'fitted in' at dawn. When Rome ceased to be part of the Byzantine Empire, the tradition of the Dawn Mass remained, but its text was altered into a second Mass of the Nativity.[5] Because the gospel for the Mass at Dawn has an angel appearing to the shepherds and announcing the birth of the Savior in the city of David, it is also called the Mass of the Shepherds. (Lk2:15-20)
The simple (non-theological) gospel readings for both the Mass of the Angels (Lk 2:1-14) and the Mass of the Shepherds (Lk2:15-20) are for the ears of children. Those gospels require nothing more than to be heard, and immediately the child in us is filled with imagery and delight. Those two gospels are also for the eyes of children, for they are painted upon all Christmas cards which are in tune with “the reason for the season.”
On the other hand, the profound (theological) gospel reading for the Mass of the Divine Word is for the ears of adults. “The Word which was in the beginning and which was God” is not easily painted on a Christmas card. It requires more than just hearing; it requires hard work.
The simple (non-theological) gospel readings for both the Mass of the Angels (Lk 2:1-14) and the Mass of the Shepherds (Lk2:15-20) are for the ears of children. Those gospels require nothing more than to be heard, and immediately the child in us is filled with imagery and delight. Those two gospels are also for the eyes of children, for they are painted upon all Christmas cards which are in tune with “the reason for the season.”
On the other hand, the profound (theological) gospel reading for the Mass of the Divine Word is for the ears of adults. “The Word which was in the beginning and which was God” is not easily painted on a Christmas card. It requires more than just hearing; it requires hard work.
The heresy of verbalism
Through the years, many storms over words have nudged me (priest and preacher) to unearth a precious nugget in the Prologue of St. John. That nugget says to me that the Word of God isn’t a word anymore; It is now flesh and blood! It is now a Babe lying in a manger!
In my book, that nugget lays an axe to verbalism[6]. That’s the bad habit we have of putting too much stock in words. Verbalism is living by words and dying by words. What’s worse yet, it is making others, as well, live and die by words. It was verbalism which burned St. Joan of Arc at the stake. (1412-1431) The Inquisitors put her to death as a heretic for not having the right words to their theological questions. Verbalism is as good a heresy as Nestorianism, Monophysitism or Pelagianism, for it denies our bottom line that the Word of God isn’t a word anymore (and much less is it a steady flow of words); It is now flesh and blood! It is now a Babe lying in a manger!
In my book, that nugget lays an axe to verbalism[6]. That’s the bad habit we have of putting too much stock in words. Verbalism is living by words and dying by words. What’s worse yet, it is making others, as well, live and die by words. It was verbalism which burned St. Joan of Arc at the stake. (1412-1431) The Inquisitors put her to death as a heretic for not having the right words to their theological questions. Verbalism is as good a heresy as Nestorianism, Monophysitism or Pelagianism, for it denies our bottom line that the Word of God isn’t a word anymore (and much less is it a steady flow of words); It is now flesh and blood! It is now a Babe lying in a manger!
Verbalism alive and well
After Mass, one of the faithful is angry because I did not recite the words of consecration over the bread and wine exactly as found in the Roman missal. She threatens to leave the parish if I do not conform to the prescribed liturgical words. She complains to the pastor of the parish, who directs me to recite the words exactly as they are chiseled into the Roman missal. Another one of the faithful complains that I shortened the reading of the prescribed gospel and omitted the recitation of the Nicene Creed at Mass on a very hot Sunday morning. My nugget from the Prologue wells up in me: the word of God isn’t a word anymore (and much less is it a steady flow of words); It is now flesh and blood! It is a Babe lying in a manger!
If verbalism is alive and well in the faithful that’s because it is alive and well first in the institution of the church. Fr. Roy Bourgeois, a Maryknoll priest of 36 years and a courageous Catholic voice for peace and non-violence, is the founder and leader of the School of the Americas Watch (SOAW). Its job is to watch over the School of the Americas (SOA) which trains South and Central American police forces in the techniques of torture, repression, and counter-insurgency. Bourgeois also publicly supports the ordination of woman.
On October 21, 2008, the Vatican sent a letter informing the Maryknoll community that Fr. Bourgeois has 30 days to recant his public words supporting the ordination of women, or he will be automatically excommunicated. The church, which did in St. Joan of Arc, might frown today on burning heretics at the stake, but she still excommunicates them! Again, my nugget from the Prologue of St. John wells up in me: the word of God isn’t a word anymore (and much less is it a steady flow of words); It is now flesh and blood! It is a Babe lying in a manger!
If verbalism is alive and well in the faithful that’s because it is alive and well first in the institution of the church. Fr. Roy Bourgeois, a Maryknoll priest of 36 years and a courageous Catholic voice for peace and non-violence, is the founder and leader of the School of the Americas Watch (SOAW). Its job is to watch over the School of the Americas (SOA) which trains South and Central American police forces in the techniques of torture, repression, and counter-insurgency. Bourgeois also publicly supports the ordination of woman.
On October 21, 2008, the Vatican sent a letter informing the Maryknoll community that Fr. Bourgeois has 30 days to recant his public words supporting the ordination of women, or he will be automatically excommunicated. The church, which did in St. Joan of Arc, might frown today on burning heretics at the stake, but she still excommunicates them! Again, my nugget from the Prologue of St. John wells up in me: the word of God isn’t a word anymore (and much less is it a steady flow of words); It is now flesh and blood! It is a Babe lying in a manger!
Christmas doesn’t like words
There’s something about Christmas that doesn’t like words. At this time of the rolling year especially, we remind ourselves that when the fullness of time came and God wanted to reveal something very comprehensive and wonderful about Himself, God did not say something; God did something: God did not beget a Bible; God begot a Baby! God did not deliver a sermon; God delivered a Son.
Like our Christmas God, we, too, should be leery about words. We should be leery about the doctrinaire approach of religion which puts too much stock in the right answers from the catechism, and in the careful recitations of creeds, and in the exact mouthing of prescribed liturgical prayers or formulas. Christians should be leery about preachers who have God down pat with a steady flow of words.
Like our Christmas God, we, too, should be leery about words. We should be leery about the doctrinaire approach of religion which puts too much stock in the right answers from the catechism, and in the careful recitations of creeds, and in the exact mouthing of prescribed liturgical prayers or formulas. Christians should be leery about preachers who have God down pat with a steady flow of words.
Christmas likes stories
There’s something about Christmas that likes stories. At the end of the day, what are stories but words made flesh and blood. At this time of the rolling year, the gospel readings at Mass tell one story after the other: Once upon a time, there was an old priest, Zachariah by name, offering incense before the altar of the Lord in the temple. (Lk 1:5-25) Once upon a time, the angel Gabriel appeared to Mary and told her not to be afraid, for she has conceived of the Holy Spirit. (Lk 1:26-38) Once upon a time, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph and told him not to fear to take Mary as his wife. (Mt 1:18-25) Once upon a time, a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that the whole world should be enrolled. (Lk 2:1-14)
At this time of the rolling year, not only scripture but also the media has an irresistible urge to speak not with words but with stories. Every year it features classical favorites like Amahl and the Night Visitors, Miracle on 34th Street, and especially Dickens’ A Christmas Carol. The evening news, too, searches for a story bearing tidings of good news to balance off fast-departing 2008 with its heap of bad news about an economic meltdown, a bailout battle for bankrupt businesses, and a scandal about the Governor of Illinois auctioning off the senate seat vacated by the President-elect.
At this time of the rolling year, not only scripture but also the media has an irresistible urge to speak not with words but with stories. Every year it features classical favorites like Amahl and the Night Visitors, Miracle on 34th Street, and especially Dickens’ A Christmas Carol. The evening news, too, searches for a story bearing tidings of good news to balance off fast-departing 2008 with its heap of bad news about an economic meltdown, a bailout battle for bankrupt businesses, and a scandal about the Governor of Illinois auctioning off the senate seat vacated by the President-elect.
A Christmas story 2008
When editors find a gem of a Christmas story, they anoint their newspaper with it. Such a gem of a story graced the Houston Chronicle for Dec. 3, 2008. Philip Wattenbarger, his wife, Elizabeth and their three daughters are an outdoor bunch. Last summer the family embarked on a cross-country road trip -- a month-long tour of the national parks -- in their 32-foot Coachmen travel-trailer. They rafted in Colorado Springs, hiked in the Grand Tetons, and by early August they reached a campsite in Yellowstone.
Wherever they go, their cats Fluffy and Tiger (both from the pound) go with them. The family has a method: the cats are allowed out of the trailer unfed at campsites. After the cats get the lay of the land and are hungry, they return for dinner. One day Tiger returned, but Fluffy did not! For days, the frantic family searched nearby woods and looked up tall trees for their beloved tabby. But the Wattenbargers are pragmatic people: a housecat on the loose among bears, bobcats, coyotes and wolves isn’t long for this world. Heart-broken they called off their search and returned to Houston.
One day 79-year-old Shirley Armstrong, who spends part of the year living along the western edge of Yellowstone, noticed a stray cat lurking at her door. From her winter home in Arizona, Armstrong said, “It was getting cold and snowy, so I started feeding her. She wouldn’t come to me, but she would eat.” After a month or so, Armstrong borrowed a trap from the West Yellowstone police and caught the cat. The tag on its collar said “Fluffy.” Below that was a phone number. The plot thickens! Armstrong happened to have a neighbor (a retired flight attendant) who could fly for free. Mind you, the neighbor offered to chauffeur the cat back to Houston! The Wattenbargers met the flight attendant at Bush International Airport and were overcome with joy to be reunited with Fluffy.
Wherever they go, their cats Fluffy and Tiger (both from the pound) go with them. The family has a method: the cats are allowed out of the trailer unfed at campsites. After the cats get the lay of the land and are hungry, they return for dinner. One day Tiger returned, but Fluffy did not! For days, the frantic family searched nearby woods and looked up tall trees for their beloved tabby. But the Wattenbargers are pragmatic people: a housecat on the loose among bears, bobcats, coyotes and wolves isn’t long for this world. Heart-broken they called off their search and returned to Houston.
One day 79-year-old Shirley Armstrong, who spends part of the year living along the western edge of Yellowstone, noticed a stray cat lurking at her door. From her winter home in Arizona, Armstrong said, “It was getting cold and snowy, so I started feeding her. She wouldn’t come to me, but she would eat.” After a month or so, Armstrong borrowed a trap from the West Yellowstone police and caught the cat. The tag on its collar said “Fluffy.” Below that was a phone number. The plot thickens! Armstrong happened to have a neighbor (a retired flight attendant) who could fly for free. Mind you, the neighbor offered to chauffeur the cat back to Houston! The Wattenbargers met the flight attendant at Bush International Airport and were overcome with joy to be reunited with Fluffy.
Conclusion
Home for Christmas
Christmas isn’t for preaching truth. That tends to put us followers of the Prince of Peace at odds with Jews, Muslims, Buddhists and anyone else who has a religious truth other than ours. Christmas isn’t even for preaching morality. That tends to fill us with the self-righteousness of the Pharisee who at prayer in the temple gave thanks that he was “not like the rest of men -- greedy, dishonest and immoral.” (Lk 18:11)
Christmas is for telling stories. For what are stories but words made flesh and blood? When we have a lot of shepherds and sheep, oxen and ass, stable and straw, kings and coffers, and a multitude of angels singing "Gloria in excelsis Deo," then, indeed, we have a lot of flesh and blood. Then, indeed, we have a story.
Christmas is for telling stories. Like the story about the Wattenbargers who lost a beloved cat which a compassionate 79-year-old lady found starving in the winter cold. Like the story about an equally compassionate flight attendant who turned herself into a Santa Claus when she volunteered to chauffeur Fluffy back to Houston, so that the tabby could be home for Christmas.
[1]] By the “the unchurched” is especially meant not those who have left the church but those whom the church has left!
Christmas is for telling stories. For what are stories but words made flesh and blood? When we have a lot of shepherds and sheep, oxen and ass, stable and straw, kings and coffers, and a multitude of angels singing "Gloria in excelsis Deo," then, indeed, we have a lot of flesh and blood. Then, indeed, we have a story.
Christmas is for telling stories. Like the story about the Wattenbargers who lost a beloved cat which a compassionate 79-year-old lady found starving in the winter cold. Like the story about an equally compassionate flight attendant who turned herself into a Santa Claus when she volunteered to chauffeur Fluffy back to Houston, so that the tabby could be home for Christmas.
[1]] By the “the unchurched” is especially meant not those who have left the church but those whom the church has left!
[4] Revelation 1:5
[6] If verbalism isn’t in the dictionary, it should be. That’s how language grows.
