CHRISTMAS MIDNIGHT
St. Luke’s account of the birth of Jesus has a somber, almost detached opening. Where are the angels, wise men and moving stars, to get us ready for what is about to happen? The birth event itself is brief: there is a census, people have crowded into the town, there is no room at the inn, so the newborn is laid in a manger. It is as if Luke is a newspaper reporter narrating observable events and not an evangelist proclaiming the opening scenes that will lead to our salvation.
The references to places and historical figures can be a little distracting, they seem so matter of fact. But Luke has embedded his Christian leanings in them. The child is born in “the city of David,” as the Scriptures anticipated (Isaiah 1:3; Jeremiah 14:8). There were powerful figures ruling the world Jesus was born into, the Roman Empire; at that time the rule of Caesar Augustus and Quirinius. By being so specific Luke is showing how God can even use mighty rulers to accomplish God’s plans. To the casual eye it would seem that Rome had sway over people’s lives, and of course, in so many ways, it did. The rulers could move a population around for the sake of a census. But with the eyes of faith we can see God’s hand at work, using the powerful to accomplish what God has in mind for us. Remember, for example, that Paul’s arrest brought him to Rome where he could preach the gospel.
Having begun in a seeming disinterested way, Luke now shifts (8- 14) to a more explicit faith proclamation. There are no angels at the stable, but shepherds bring the news they heard from the angelic choir. One would think that a heavenly visitor, like the one at the Annunciation, would have been a comforting and reassuring presence for Mary before, during and after the labors of childbirth. I like how the authors of one biblical commentary put it (“Preaching Through the Christian Year: Year A: Philadelphia, Trinity International Press, 1992). Mary away from home, in a stable and having given birth is, “one angel short, left to ponder these things in her heart” (page 34).
Who doesn’t wish for confirmation when going through difficult times? Am I doing the right thing? If I am, why is it so difficult? Why aren’t I receiving more consolation and support from others? Where is God in all this? How will it turn out? Were those some of the things Mary pondered in her heart as she looked at the child, her husband and surroundings? Earlier she was told she had “found favor with God” (1:30). What the angel told Mary is also spoken over each of us. Jesus is the sign of God’s favoring us; especially when we look around at our circumstances and questions arise. Unfortunately we don’t always get consolation in prayer and daily life. But today’s gospel assures us that God is in the darkness, minus the angels.
There is an on-going debate over immigration in our country. (Cf. “Quotable” below). I also heard on the news this morning that over 12,000 children have died in the Civil War in Syria. There are over 4 million internally displaced people in that country and 2 million have fled the violence and a living in tent cities in neighboring countries. Added to the news report was the suffering of civilians in Sudan and Central African Republic. Displacement and misery blot the map of the world.
Marginality marks Jesus’ birth. His parents could not find a place in the inn for him, so he is born in a stable amid animals. God enters our world as a displaced person to an insignificant family under the rule of arrogant powers. History tells us more about Herod the Great, who murdered his wife and three of his sons and clawed his way to a place of power. Matthew also describes an event known as the “Massacre of the Innocent,” when the wise men came looking for the “King of the Jews,” and Herod attempted to eliminate any threat to his power.
It’s jarring to contrast the jingle bells, office parties and extravagant giftgiving of some with the reality of Jesus’ birth. He was born into a people dominated by a military empire. Gustavo Gutierrez, O.P. says we shouldn’t forget these realities less Christ’s entrance into our world become an abstraction. Into a world of domination and power our Savior was born into lowliness — not as a ruler, but as a servant.
Today Paul summarizes the mystery of the incarnation and challenges us. “The grace of God has appeared, saving all and training us to reject godless ways and worldly desires, and to live temperately, justly and devoutly in this age….” The Letter to Titus appears only at Christmas and is upstaged by Luke’s infancy narrative, which includes the babe, angels, and heavenly hosts in the night sky. Though it is Christmas night, the Titus reading doesn’t even mention the birth. Plus, Paul seems to ruin the atmosphere with his somber warnings about rejecting “godless ways and worldly desires.” Don’t invite him to the office party!
Paul doesn’t make explicit reference to Christ’s birth instead, he announces the “appearance” of God’s grace with Christ’s first coming. Then he reminds us of a second “appearance” when Christ will come again. He calls this second coming of Christ our “blessed hope.” This is an image that inspires a moment and our liturgy today. Our presider will end the prayer after the Lord’s Prayer, “…as we await the blessed hope and the coming of our Savior Jesus Christ.”
Advent wasn’t just about waiting for the birth of the Messiah; it also refreshed our hopeful waiting for Christ’s second coming. We may be celebrating the birth of Christ this day but, along with this, is our hope in the future moment, when Christ will come again.
Last week Joseph was told in a dream that the child conceived in Mary would “save his people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21). Today we hear an even broader proclamation. The angel tells the shepherds that the good news of the savior’s birth “will be for all the people.” Paul also announces this message, “The grace of God has appeared saving all….” God’s grace appeared in the coming of Christ and it is for every one.
Our lives must reflect the grace we have received in Christ’s coming. While grace has been made available for all, will we accept it? Our lives will answer the question; for grace should instruct and redirect our lives. So, Paul calls us to “reject godless ways.” We may offer a Christmas toast with eggnog around the glittering tree. But the real toast we can offer for the birth of Christ, is to make some change in our lives; a visible expression of our “blessed hope” in the one who someday will appear again.
Christians who hear this universal message shouldn’t shrink from taking the effects of Christ’s salvation into their social, economic and political world. We live in hope between the two comings of Christ. Paul says, Christ gave himself to “deliver us from lawlessness” and “to cleanse for himself a people as his own, eager to do what is good.” Then, waiting around trying to remain in a sinless state until “the appearance of the glory of our great God,” isn’t enough. The people Christ came to save are to live out their graced lives in the world; in their factories, farms, offices, classrooms and homes. Wherever we find ourselves we are to live “temperately, justly and devoutly in this age.” And, we are to be “eager [zealous] to do what is good.”
When the holidays are done we will throw out mountains of food. Our curbside garbage bins will be overflowing — where the starving of the world could find a feast. Hunger is close at hand: one in five children in our country go hungry. We who are “eager to do what is good” need to use our creativity and energy so that all will have a place at the table of our bounty, especially this day when, Paul tells us, “The grace of God has appeared, saving all….” Christians are dreamers: we dream of Christ’s second appearance. Paul reminds us we are also doers, “eager to do what is good.”