Christmas Night Mass Homily

[This is still in draft form, so please forgive my infelicities of thought and style.]

After the passage of countless centuries from the creation of the world, when in the beginning God created heaven and earth and formed man and woman in his own image, and very many centuries from the time when after the flood the Almighty had set his bow in the clouds, a sign of the covenant and of peace; in the twenty-first century from the migration of Abraham, our father in faith, from Ur of the Chaldees; in the thirteenth century from the departure of the people of Israel from Egypt under the leadership of Moses; in about the thousandth year from the anointing of David as king according to the prophecy of Daniel; in the one hundred and ninety-fourth Olympiad; in the seven hundred and fifty-second year from the foundation of the City of Rome; in the forty-second year of the rule of Caesar Octavian Augustus; while the whole world was at peace, Jesus Christ, eternal God and Son of the Eternal Father, desiring to consecrate the world by his most gracious coming, having been conceived of the Holy Spirit, and when nine months had passed after his conception, is born as man in Bethlehem of Judah from the Virgin Mary: the Nativity of Our Lord Jesus Christ according to the flesh. (Christmas Proclaimation)

Throughout the world, on ‘this holy night’ (cf. Opening Prayer), parishes gather together to hear the Christmas proclamation and celebrate the great feast of Our Lord’s birth. Individuals and families make their way out of the cold and darkness, into the warmth and light of our Christmas celebration. It’s no coincidence that we gather in the darkest time of the winter to hear how the true light of the world came in our midst.
The Door of Humility
And as we think of millions who gather, like us, to celebrate this feast, let us turn our minds in a particular way to the City of Bethlehem, where Christian memory has preserved the place where Christ was born of Mary twenty centuries ago. A church has stood on that spot for the past 1,700 years, and beneath the Church is the grotto itself, the cave-stable where the Word of God came into this world. The spot is marked a silver star set into the floor, with a Latin inscription: Here Jesus Christ was born of the Virgin Mary. But to reach that that star, to go into the grotto one must first get into the Basilica of the Nativity itself. The main entrance of the Church is called the Door of Humility – and is less than 4½ feet high! It’s not possible for anyone – no matter how great or good – to get to Christ’s birthplace without bending down! Of course, it was God Himself who bowed down first, coming among us in poverty to share our condition.
The Mind of a Child?
Because God has bowed down, to come among us, let us too bow down in humility and spend a little time at the crib. Have you ever seen little children being brought to look at the crib? They’re fascinated by it – the angels, the shepherds, the Kings, the animals, Mary and Joseph, and at the heart of it all, the baby Jesus – so small, and yet the centre of attention. Christ tells us that we must be like little children (cf. matt 18:3), and this is – I think – especially true at this Christmas celebration. Children are filled with wonder and joy at Christmas. The Christmas story is one that a child can grasp. But it’s not just a children’s story. It’s not just something for children to wonder at. Our wonder and joy should be just as great as that of the smallest child learning about the crib for the first time. Our adult faith should be continually astonished that our God has come among us in such humility – as a small baby, in a cave, wrapped in swaddling clothes, laid in a manger, cared for and dependent on a carpenter and his young wife. We who have seen something of life should renew our amazement and joy this night – because God Himself has come among us, has put Himself at our mercy, has come to show His love and win our love in the greatest humility. If anything, we should be even more astonished than the children!
Not a Children's Story
This is no fable or fairy story. There is no history or life more real than that of the little child, born in poverty, coming into a world of darkness. There is still much darkness and poverty in the world – in the Bethlehem of today, and in so many other places. There is a darkness and poverty in the corners of our own lives too. And yet, the true light has come into the world and we are invited to welcome Him.
Venite Adoremus
Come let us adore Him. Let us take the time to truly worship Him this evening. Let us be joyful and grateful this night. If we do not take the time to adore the child in the manger, we cannot know God or His peace. True peace and true communion are offered to the world through that little child. If we bow down and worship Him, turn our hearts and minds to adoration of Him, we will know that God is truly among us. If we worship Him in His innocence and humility, we will become what we worship. God has come among us as a child, has shared our life and our struggles so that we might have a share in His life, His peace and His glory.

Introduction to Creed
Let us stand for the Profession of Faith – and because it is Christmas, we genuflect at the words “and was made man” in honour of God's humility in coming among us.

Prayers of the Faithful
With joy and confidence in the power of God who came among us as a man, let us make our prayers for the Church and the World:

We pray for the Church throughout the World – that the faith and joy of Christians everywhere may be renewed.

We pray for peace in the world – between nations and peoples, and within families – may the Infant Jesus bless us with His peace.

We pray for all those who suffer – from poverty, ill-health, and despair – through the power of the Holy Spirit and the help of those around them, may this season bring them hope.

We pray for our own intentions – I offer this Mass this evening for all our parishioners – especially for those who find it difficult to celebrate this Christmas.

We pray for our dead – especially those who died during the past 12 months – May the Lord welcome them all into His presence.

Let us Pray
Lord God, you sent your Son among us as our Saviour. May our celebration of His birth deepen our faith and strengthen our hope. We make this prayer through Christ our Lord.

On the Road to Bethlehem

I happened to be reading GK Chesteron's Irish Impressions recently, and was very stuck by something he wrote:

The Irish Catholics, like other Christians, admit a mystery in the Holy Trinity, but they may almost be said to admit an experience in the Holy Family. Their historical experience, alas, has made it seem to them not unnatural that the Holy Family should be a homeless family. They also have found that there was no room for them at the inn, or anywhere but in the jail; they also have dragged their new-born babes out of their cradles, and trailed in despair along the road to Egypt, or at least along the road to exile. They also have heard in the dark and the distance behind them, the noise of the horsemen of Herod.

One of the typical Christmas decorations here in Ireland is a lit candle in each window of the house throughout the Christmas season. These are intended to light the journey of Mary and Joseph on their way to Bethlehem. In some parts of Ireland it was the tradition to take the candle from the window on Christmas Eve and place it in the middle of the kitchen floor. The door of the house would be left unlocked as an invitation for the Holy Family to stop for refreshment on their journey. Sigerson Clifford's Kerry Christmas Carol refers to this custom:

Brush the floor and clean the hearth,
And set the fire to keep,
For they might visit us tonight
When all the world’s asleep.

Don’t blow the tall white candle out
But leave it burning bright,
So that they’ll know they’re welcome here
This holy Christmas night.

Leave out the bread and meat for them,
And sweet milk for the Child,
And they will bless the fire, that baked
And, too, the hands that toiled.

For Joseph will be travel-tired,
And Mary pale and wan,
And they can sleep a little while
Before they journey on.

They will be weary of the roads,
And rest will comfort them,
For it must be many a lonely mile
From here to Bethlehem.

O long the road they have to go,
The bad mile with the good,
Till the journey ends on Calvary
Beneath a cross of wood.

Leave the door upon the latch,
And set the fire to keep,
And pray they’ll rest with us tonight
When all the world’s asleep.