And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory of his father's only son, full of grace and truth.
Christmas Eve, for many of us is a time for nostalgia, a time for looking back and remembering precious moments shared with family and friends. My own childhood memories carry me back to our family church in the Eastern Townships. Going to Midnight Mass was a special treat. First of all it meant staying up way past my bedtime. Leaving the house in darkness and heading into town in the crisp cool night had a magical qualty.The church would be filled beyond capacity with extra chairs in the ailses and the back of the church. Our family's pew was in the back left hand side. Dad explained that we always sat there because my maternal grandfather had started sitting in the back of the church after he was removed from the choir for singing too loud. Dad and I would belt out the carols with gusto in a micheveous tribute to Grandpa . Mom would try to
fein disapproval but would eventually join us in our merriment.
The scent of pine mingled with incense, the twinkling of the candles, the glow of the lights on the Christmas tree all added to the feeling of anticipation - something special was about to happen. There was a point in the service when the church lights were dimmed and the congregation sang Silent Night by candlelight. By that time I was usually pretty sleepy but Dad would gently squeeze my hand and we would join our community as we welcomed the Christ Child.
The short drive home seemed to take forever as I snuggled into blanket in the back seat of the family car. My stocking would be hung on my bedpost and a snack of milk and cookies awaited Santa downstairs. Before long I would off to sleep.
Many Christmases have come and gone since then. My parents died some time ago. My own children live far away. Life has taught me that Christmas can be a time of lonliness, isolation and despair. Family breakdown, physical and mental illness, econmic downturn all can make for a less than idylic Christmas season.
Tonight many of us will return to home and family. There will be an over abundance of food and Christmas trees laden with gifts. For countless other Montrealers it will be a very different Christmas.In some homes there will be no presents, no festive meal. In the neighbourhood where my husband and i live just east of here, near the Berri Metro, Street kids will spend the night sleeping in shop doorways. Tonight outside the doors of this cathedral homeless men and women will huddle on our porch, taking shelter from the elements. This will be their Chrismas memory.
If the truth be told the poor and the homeless of our city live much closer to original Christmas story than most of us. A poor peasant couple, complying with the demands of an oppressive regime journey to Bethlehem. The young woman is about to give birth. They are homeless, poor and hungry. She gives birth in the night in a stable amongst the
animals.
The Nativity of Jesus is a story of struggle, pain, and suffering. It is also a story of faith, courage, and love. God's word becomes flesh and dwells among us not in a palace or a temple but in a stable. The eternal word takes on our humanity with all of its messyness. Born of a woman Jesus comes into the world through pain, flesh, and blood. He is born homeless and in poverty. He will face scorn and rejection. He will die the death of a convicted criminal.
Why would God choose to break through into human history in this way? The only answer I can possibly comprehend is love. The eternal, steadfast love of God is incarnated in the person of Jesus. The love of God for all people is demonstrated in the intersection of the human and the divine in the person of Jesus.
While many were anticipating the Messiah to appear as a great warrior or a king, Instead God's promise of salvation is fulfilled in the womb of a peasant girl. Jesus is the ultimate outpouring of God's love for all people as his son takes his place among the poor and the rejected. God's embrace extends beyond cultural norms and expectations to reach out to all of humanity.The birth of Jesus becmes an ivitation to both receive the love of God and to be agents of this love in the world.
We gather tonight to celebrate God's gift of love to all humanity. Through the birth of Jesus everyone of us, every human being, regardless of race, gender, social staus or sexual orientation is called a child of God. We gather here tonight ,as the Body of Christ, witnessing to God's eternal love breaking through this time in history as it has done throughout time. The best way for us to celebrate Christmas, to witness to God's love personfied, incarnated in Jesus is to be the embodiment of that love..
The most valuable gift we have to offer the Christ Child is ourselves. When we extend ourselves in love and service to our neighbour we extend the embrace of God's love into a hurting world. We also need to be open to receive God's love as we encouter Jesus in our families, our communities, our workplaces, and on our city streets. If Jesus first came to us as a homeless peasant, if he revealed himself among the marginalized and the rejected, is it not possible they have something to teach us about the love of God.
A few weeks ago a young Muslim man came to me and asked me to explain to him the One who is my God. After a short pause I responded that my God is Ultimate Love. An all encompassing, eternal love that extends beyond human comprehension. My young friend simply nodded and smiled.
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
Jesus is the Word and that Word is Love.
Merry Christmas
