{"id":1743,"date":"2015-12-25T11:50:05","date_gmt":"2015-12-25T16:50:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.renewaloffaith.org\/blog\/?p=1743"},"modified":"2015-12-25T11:50:05","modified_gmt":"2015-12-25T16:50:05","slug":"christmas-homily-2015","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.renewaloffaith.org\/blog\/christmas-homily-2015\/","title":{"rendered":"Christmas Homily 2015"},"content":{"rendered":"

Christmas \u2013 Mass During the Night<\/a>
\nIsaiah 9:1-6
\nTitus 2:11-14
\nLuke 2:1-14
\nDecember 25, 2015<\/p>\n

The grace of God has appeared<\/em> as a little baby laying in a manger.\u00a0 His name is Jesus.<\/p>\n

Today is a time to rejoice.\u00a0 Today a savior is born.\u00a0 Jesus is God visible. Baby Jesus is an image of God\u2019s love for us.<\/p>\n

There is much that goes on for Christmas.\u00a0 There are decorations inside and out.\u00a0 The decorations are beautiful but they are not just decorations.\u00a0 They are symbols of Christmas and what it means for us.<\/p>\n

There are our Christmas lights.\u00a0 On the outside of houses we can see a lot of lights and these displays can be impressive. Here inside church, there are not so many lights but the symbolism is the same.\u00a0 Jesus is the light of the world.<\/p>\n

Also inside here are on our Christmas trees.\u00a0 The trees are also a symbol of our faith.\u00a0 Christmas trees are evergreen<\/em> trees symbolizing everlasting<\/em> life.\u00a0 The trees also can be seen as an arrow whose top points us to the Heaven.<\/p>\n

There are also the Christmas parties.\u00a0 Do you ever talk about Jesus at your Christmas party?<\/p>\n

Of course we shouldn\u2019t forget the Christmas gifts.\u00a0 Well, actually I won\u2019t mind forgetting all the gifts. It can be a lot of work and for people like me who want to avoid having a lot of stuff, gifts can be stressing.<\/p>\n

However, in just the last few days I have had a change of heart about Christmas gifts.\u00a0 I have decided that gifts really are what Christmas is all about.<\/p>\n

I\u2019m still not interested in presents, just gifts.<\/em>\u00a0 What\u2019s the difference?<\/p>\n

Presents are things we give to each other.\u00a0 There is nothing wrong with presents as long as they are given and received in love.\u00a0 When I speak of gifts, I am talking about what God gives us.<\/p>\n

God gives us many different gifts.\u00a0 Here are the altar we celebrate the gift of the Eucharist.\u00a0 The Eucharist is the gift of Jesus\u2019 Body and Blood to strengthen us as his disciples.<\/p>\n

The Sacrament of Reconciliation is a gift for us to receive God\u2019s forgiveness.\u00a0 God doesn\u2019t have to forgive us but He wants to. If you think confession has gone by the way side, think again.\u00a0 I spent twelve days or thirteen hours this month hearing confessions.\u00a0 People want this gift.<\/p>\n

In a world of darkness, Jesus gives us the gift of his light. Jesus helps us to see the world differently.<\/p>\n

In a world where more and more people say there is no one truth, Jesus gives us the real Truth, a Truth that never changes. God\u2019s Word as found in the Bible is a gift.<\/p>\n

Jesus gives us the gift of life, life that begins in our mother\u2019s womb.\u00a0 We receive new spiritual life in Baptism.\u00a0 We see everlasting life only after we have passed from this world.\u00a0 Life is a gift.<\/p>\n

Even faith begins with God\u2019s gift. We make a choice to accept the gift of faith but it begins with God\u2019s initiative of giving us the gift of faith.<\/p>\n

God gives us the gift of his mercy. Mercy includes forgiveness but it more than that. Offering mercy includes corporal works such as feeding the hungry and clothing the naked.\u00a0 Spiritual works of mercy are rooted in consoling those in need.\u00a0 We live in a world of increasing darkness of violence, greed, and power.\u00a0 Jesus gives us light to see God in the darkness.<\/p>\n

All of this comes together in the gift we receive today Jesus<\/em>.\u00a0 Jesus brings us light.\u00a0 Jesus brings us truth in his preaching.\u00a0 Jesus shows us the way.\u00a0 Jesus is mercy incarnate.<\/p>\n

Today is a very special day. We see God\u2019s mercy, his love, today.\u00a0 Today we feel joy as we gaze upon the baby Jesus.<\/p>\n

There is good news!\u00a0 Jesus wants us to have this joy each and every day.\u00a0 This is not easy in a world of increasing darkness.\u00a0 We live in a world full of distractions that can separate us from God.\u00a0 We need help to reconnect.<\/p>\n

To help us all reconnect, we have a gift for you as you leave today.\u00a0 It is a book called Rediscover Catholicism<\/em>. We will give one to each household to help all of us reconnect and\/or deepen our faith.\u00a0 You accept the gift by reading the book.<\/p>\n

Remember today is not centered on presents.\u00a0 It\u2019s all about the gift that Jesus is to us.\u00a0 May our worship today express our thanks to God.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Christmas \u2013 Mass During the Night Isaiah 9:1-6 Titus 2:11-14 Luke 2:1-14 December 25, 2015 The grace of God has appeared as a little baby laying in a manger.\u00a0 His name is Jesus. Today is a time to rejoice.\u00a0 Today a savior is born.\u00a0 Jesus is God visible. Baby Jesus is an image of God\u2019s …<\/p>\n

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