In the sharp December air of a Roman winter we crossed the Tiber and walked swiftly to the Basilica of St Paul outside the walls. The monks chanted, "Rex Pacificus. The King of Peace has shown himself in glory. All people now desire to see Him." It was Christmas Eve. The everlasting message of love, of healing and of sanity was once again proclaimed across the world: "Those who have ears to hear, let them hear."
Mary listened deeply in her heart and all the world was raised. Christ became one of us. Christ became all of us. The Son of God entered our demented inn and shared our pain and sorrow and frustration. He became like us in all things except in the self-chosen madness of our selfishness and our sin. He comes to save. He comes to heal.
On this most holy night we all are welcome. "Oh come let us adore Him, Oh come let us adore Him, Christ the Lord." We will sing: "O come all ye faithful .. ." We know from the Gospel story that we, the unfaithful, are as ever (dare we say it?) more welcome still. Even before the Bethlehem manger we must never forget the lost coin, the lost sheep and the lost child. We ask ourselves: "Why did He come?" The answer is written clear amid December stars: "I have not come to call the just but sinners to repentance!"
Splendour of the Father's Light,
Star of Hope, forever bright
Listen to the prayers that flow
From your servants here below.
Now your Church each circling year
Celebrates that love so dear,
Love that brought you here alone
For the guilty to atone ...
The Scripture readings and the inspiring songs were messages of hope, of life restored, of happiness made new and of a world redeemed. In Christ we get grace to build from Bethlehem a civilisation of love. Each of us is called. Will we with Mary (and with Joseph too) say our grace-filled "Yes" to what God asks here and now? Only in His will can we find lasting peace. The shepherds hurried away and told everyone what they had heard and what they had seen. Will our lives tell aloud the saving news? Our forgiveness, our amendment, our sharing with Christ's poor, our reverence for one another will echo more wonderfully than carols, or chant or the joyful bells of Christmas. It is a deep reality that, by the healing grace of Christmas, our personal lives can be as shining stars leading all who share our lives to the abiding presence of the redeeming Christ.
Each day from this Blessed Christmas can we not, in fidelity made new, offer the gold of love, the fragrant incense of sincere prayer, and the costly myrrh of self restraint, of pardon freely bestowed and a generous sharing of the gifts so lavishly bestowed by Christ? The festival is not a time for empty sentiment, for transient emotion, or for ignoring the truths Christ has come to teach us. "Speak Lord, Your servant is listening."
Christmas is a time for stillness and for listening in the deep places of the heart. Jesus, Eternal Truth (with so much to teach) accepts the total silence of infants. Mary is still in faith. No words of Joseph are on record. Mary kept all these things deep down in her heart. Who could be closer to the new-born Christ than His ever Virgin Mother? Oh come let us adore him, Christ the Lord. We all too seldom listen to conscience, to one another, to Christ. Let this holy day awaken, recall, and bring to us healing, joy, and peace. Alleluia! Alleluia!
Let us pray: Almighty God, Your Son, born for us today, fills us with the shining light He brings to all. Let the light of faith in our hearts shine in all we say, and in all we do. We make this prayer through Christ Our Lord. Amen. F. MacN.