Lec
# 13- Solemnity of Christmas- Dec 25th, 2012- Fr. Bresowar
My
brothers and sisters in Christ-
Merry
Christmas to all of you! Not happy holidays… Merry Christmas!
Tonight,
we remember once again, the greatest birthday in all of humanity, and we
celebrate because our salvation was born into the world over 2000 years ago in
a cave in Bethlehem. Our salvation, our hope, our beginning and our end. The
prince of all peace, the king of the universe, the glory of our Father, the
pride of our mother,
The Advocate (1 John 2:1); Lamb of God (John
1:29); The Resurrection & the Life (John 11:25); Shepherd & Bishop of
Souls (1 Peter 2:25); Judge (Acts 10:42); Lord of Lords (1 Timothy 6:15); Man
of Sorrows (Isaiah 53:3); Head of the Church (Ephesians 5:23); Master (Matthew
8:19); Faithful & True Witness (Revelation 3:14); Rock (1 Corinthians
10:4); High Priest (Hebrews 6:20); The Door (John 10:9); Living Water (John
4:10); Bread of Life (John 6:35); Rose of Sharon (Song of Solomon 2:1); Alpha
& Omega (Revelation 22:13); True Vine (John 15:1); Messiah (Daniel 9:25);
Teacher (John 3:2); Holy One (Mark 1:24)
Mediator (1 Timothy 2:5); The Beloved
(Ephesians 1:6); Branch (Isaiah 11:1); Carpenter (Mark 6:3); Good Shepherd
(John 10:11); Light of the World (John 8:12); Image of the Invisible God
(Colossians 1:15); The Word (John 1:1); Chief Cornerstone (Ephesians 2:20);
Savior (John 4:42); Servant (Matthew 12:18); Author & Finisher of Our Faith
(Hebrews 12:2); The Almighty (Revelation 1:8); Everlasting Father (Isaiah 9:6);
Shiloh (Genesis 49:10); Lion of the Tribe of Judah (Revelation 5:5); I Am (John
8:58; King of Kings (1 Timothy 6:15);
Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6); Bridegroom
(Matthew 9:15); Only Begotten Son (John 3:16); Wonderful Counselor (Isaiah
9:6); Immanuel (Matthew 1:23); Son of Man (Matthew 20:28); Dayspring (Luke
1:78); The Amen (Revelation 3:14); King of the Jews (Mark 15:26); Prophet
(Matthew 21:11); Redeemer (Job 19:25); Anchor (Hebrews 6:19); Bright Morning
Star (Revelation 22:16) The Way, the Truth, & the Life (John 14:6)
Jesus Christ has come from Heaven, to dwell amongst
us, to destroy sin, to do away with the effects of death, and to open the gates
of eternal life.
Something so incredibly ineffable, unnamable,
triumphant, and glorious; one might expect the King of all the Universe to come
in power and majesty as he certainly deserved to, and yet he chooses, by his
own freedom, to come in an almost inexplicable way, in a paradox that shows the
truest nature of Love, of our God who is Love; he comes through a spotless
virgin, and a righteous man to lead her; he chooses a place that no one would
choose to be born in, and that not even Mary and Joseph knew of.
It was no accident, that there was a census by Caesar
Augustus in those days, it was no accident that Joseph was to lead Mary to
Jerusalem to have their name registered in the great Roman effort, it was no
accident that while she was there she went into labor, and it certainly was no
accident at all that there was no room in the Inn for her and Joseph. It was no
accident that he would be forced out of town, 5 miles south to the hills of
Bethlehem.
All of this was ordained and predestined by the
Word of God, by Jesus Himself from heaven, for it was his desire and that of
his Father and the Holy Spirit, that he would be born in a smelly cave, amongst
moldy hay, a place where the shepherds in the field kept their animal feed; a
place where no woman in her right might would look at and say, “that’s where I
want to deliver my child” It was his intent, to come into the world this way,
so that what was spoken of the prophets might be fulfilled.
“But you, O Bethlehem of Ephrathah,
who
are one of the little clans of Judah,
from you shall come forth for
me
one who is to rule in Israel,
whose origin is from of
old,
from ancient days… And he shall stand and feed his flock
in the strength of the Lord,
in the majesty of the name
of the Lord his God.
And they shall live secure, for now he shall be
great
to the ends of the earth” (Micah 5:1, 3-4)
No, it was no accident that the Wonder-Counselor, God-Hero, the Father-Forever, and the Prince of Peace would choose to come into the world in the least and most humble
of ways, after all, he says,
“Whoever would be great among you
must be your servant.” And he is the servant of all servants.
His way is a paradox to the world, it’s a stumbling
block to what we consider to be traditionally powerful. Yet he shows us true
power. His whole life is about conquering, but conquering not through human
inventions, not through worldly weapons, or manpower, or money, but rather
through humility.
The Great I AM, gave everything that he was, poured
himself out, made himself lowly, despised, and brought to weakness, so that
Love might destroy death. This is true power. And not only that, he shows us
the only true way, so that we might join him and do the same.
Christmas is about Christ and the Mass. That’s why
we are here tonight/today, to celebrate his triumphant incarnation where true
power will destroy that which no one can escape, death, by the weapon of
humility, the cross. We make present on this altar the same sacrifice which won
for us our redemption and then we eat of the fruit of his effort as we offer
ourselves up with him.
What a gift we have been given. What a savior we
have. Let us never take it for granted. Merry Christmas and God Bless all of
you!
