An Inspirational Message for the Month of December 2023 – By Charles Schokman
Christmas
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It was in the night that the Shepard saw the most amazing thing. It was seen first by a few, those who kept watch, but then they awoke the others from their slumber. It made them wonder why the night sky was like this, why a new star, why the heavens shimmered, why the earth glowed, eclipsed the normal constellations. As they gathered around the fires, the heavens were a blaze and burned with brilliance-their wonder turned to fear, for they sensed the magnitude of the night, for the world they knew would never be the same.
It seems that we so often meet the divine with fear. Do we fear what we must leave behind, or fear more where we must go? We fear the unfamiliar and find safety in the old or fear more the uncertainty, the doubts that such a future holds? In the angelic proclamation, the shepherds heard the echo of the annunciation that Luke had spoken of a few verses earlier. The fear that our Blessed Mother knew, is now magnified in all humanity; Gabriel’s consoling words are now matched by the consolation of angelic choirs.
The ease, in which the angels speaks the words, fear not! So hard for our human heart to hear! Fear not! Mary bore that word beyond all telling is now the Word borne to all nations, the good tidings told to all peoples. The Word was born amid the night, the Word was born among those dwelling in darkness, and the Word was born wrapped in swaddling clothes, wrapped in frail humanity that is ours.
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The liturgy at Christmas is referred too the ‘Mass of the Angels’, for-as we see-the Word is heralded to the earth below. We see the shepherds fear and wonder at their greeting; but more importantly they respond and go to the place where the child is found.
In the shepherd’s story, at the edge of time, where one day bids farewell and gives way to the promise of a new day, where heaven meets earth, do we sense the new possibility that demands of us a journey. It demands from us the leaving behind our places of safety and journeying to Bethlehem, to the manger. It is hardly a place of prestige, power or privilege, but rather we are journeying to a place of weakness, of lowliness and want.
Could we have ever thought that the manger held not the feed of cattle and beasts, but the Paschal Lamb who, on harsher wood, would shed his blood for us? The fear the shepherds hard at first gives way to the promise of this child, to believing and proclaiming the good news, the Word made flesh who dwelt among us. Our celebration tells us that this day is no ordinary day; this day escapes beyond the limits of day itself. Christmas is never yesterday, something to be done, nor ever will it be a tomorrow, something yet to happen, but it is today. For today salvation has come, hodie Christus natus est., Christ is born this day.Isaiah’s prophecy is made clear. In darkness a light has shone, a child is born; the Son has been given to us. Let us re-call the prophets promise:
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Wonder-counsellor. What is more assuring?
Mighty-God. What is loftier?
Eternal- Father. What is more caring?
Prince-of-Peace. What is more promising?
Christmas knows no limit, it has no day or night nor does it have a yesterday or tomorrow. Christmas tells us the boundless love of God that brings salvation to all. In his letter to Titus, Paul wrote, ‘God’s grace has been revealed, and it has made salvation possible for the whole human race and taught us what we have to do…’Like the shepherds we have to journey, like the Magi we must leave our placid lands and follow the star to distant shores.
The Christmas message is clear: the Salvation promised is ours. The unbounded love of God calls us to himself. We are saved by our surrender to love. Our free loving sets us free. Paul reminds us, ‘He sacrificed himself for us in order to set us free from all wickedness and to purify a people so that it could be his very own and would have no ambition except to do good.’ In words uttered by the angels in the slumber of our nights, we, like the shepherds, must trust the promise, must allow the harsh light of day to rob us of the promise. We must allow the Word of God to be born in us, born in our world, born in our times.
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We may be forgetful, but this day cannot be forgotten. Times and seasons may pass us by, this day remains unmoved. Our sins and failings dim our vision of God’s love, this day rings out in the coldness of human hearts with the warmth and welcome of a love that never fades, never grows cold, and never refuses the call to
do good. Salvation has indeed come, hodie Christus natus est, Christ is born this day.
Courtesy of Fr. Christopher Silva (Sri Lanka)
