{"id":2757,"date":"2018-12-25T11:35:27","date_gmt":"2018-12-25T16:35:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.renewaloffaith.org\/blog\/?p=2757"},"modified":"2018-12-25T11:35:33","modified_gmt":"2018-12-25T16:35:33","slug":"jesus-is-my-hero-christmas-homily","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.renewaloffaith.org\/blog\/jesus-is-my-hero-christmas-homily\/","title":{"rendered":"Jesus is My Hero! – Christmas Homily"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Christmas \u2013 Mass During the Night<\/a>
Isaiah 9:1-6
Psalm 96:1-2, 2-3, 11-12, 13 (Luke 2:11)
Titus 2:11-14
Luke 2:1-14
December 25, 2018<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Today we celebrate something very\nspecial.  Today we celebrate a\nbirth.  The birth of any baby can bring\njoy and a warm smile to many faces.  The\nbirth we celebrate today brings \u201cabundant\njoy<\/em>\u201d and \u201cgreat rejoicing<\/em>.\u201d  Think of all the traditional hymns that are\nso familiar to us for this celebration. \nSongs like \u201cO Come All Ye Faithful\u201d, \u201cJoy to the World\u201d, and \u201cHark the\nHerald Angels Sing.\u201d  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Like other births, this birth brings us\njoy. It also brings us hope, \u201cFor today\nin the city of David a savior has been born for you who is Christ and Lord<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jesus is the Messiah that the Jews had\nbeen waiting for a 1,000 years to sit on the throne of David.  So, when our Christmas story says, \u201cthe time came,<\/em>\u201d it first refers to the\ntime for Mary to give birth, but it also means so much more in God\u2019s plan.  It is the time appointed by God for the\nbeginning of a new age in our salvation for Jesus is not just messiah, he is\nour SAVIOR<\/em><\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We live in the \u201cdarkness<\/em>\u201d of sin but Jesus brings us \u201ca great light<\/em>.\u201d  Knowing the\nbad things that go on today, we see the world as a \u201cland of gloom<\/em>\u201d but Jesus shines his light up the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We try to live \u201ctemperately, justly, and devoutly in this age<\/em>\u201d but we fall\nshort.  We need a savior<\/em><\/strong> to rescue us from\nour sins.  Jesus is our savior who\ndelivers us \u201cfrom all lawlessness<\/em>\u201d\nand cleanses us of our sins.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jesus is our savior and we celebrate his saving act on Good Friday but today it\u2019s Christmas.\u00a0 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

We see our Christmas scene in a nativity\nscene to the side of our sanctuary.  The\nnativity scene is set in a stable.  So,\nof course, there are animals present. \nMary and Joseph are there.  The\nshepherds are there.  At the center of\nthe scene is our salvation, JESUS<\/em><\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is Jesus who fills our heart with joy\nand hope.  His birth brings us joy<\/em><\/strong>.  Looking at baby Jesus lying in the manger\nalso brings us hope<\/em><\/strong> because we know what comes afterwards.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

He will teach us what it means to be his\ndisciples.  In his teaching, he brings\nlight to understanding what God\u2019s Commandments really mean. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

He will do many miracles so that we know\nhe is the Son of God.  He will die for\nour sins so that we might share in entire life. \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When we look at baby Jesus lying in the\nmanger we are filled with \u201cabundant joy<\/em>\u201d\nand we rejoice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s what brings us here.  Jesus is with us every day.  We have Mass every Sunday to help us see the\nlight in a world with darkness and gloom in it. \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We need the light of Jesus throughout the\nyear but Christmas really brings his light to the forefront.  If you go out in public, you see many signs\nthat it is Christmas.  You see in the\nstores.  You see in the village\ndecorations.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In reflecting on the real meaning of\nChristmas, I will point to two specific types of decorations.  The first is a Christmas tree.  The fact that we use ever<\/em><\/strong>green trees\nsymbolizes \u201ceverlasting life\u201d that Jesus reveals to us in his death and\nResurrection.  We might also think about\nthe shape of the tree as an arrow pointing up to the heavenly kingdom where we\nhope to spend everlasting life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The second decoration are the Christmas\nlights.  We put them on the trees, our\nhomes, and around town to remind us that Jesus brings light to the darkness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In our first reading, Isaiah prophesizes\nabout the coming messiah as the \u201cchild is\nborn to us, a son is given to us<\/em>.\u201d  Isaiah provides a list of names for the\nmessiah, \u201cWonder-Counselor, God-Hero,\nFather-Forever, Prince of Peace<\/em>.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As I reflected this past week on this\npassage, one of these names\/titles began to come to the forefront for me.  It is \u201cGod-hero.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is a \u201chero\u201d?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One might think of superheroes who have\n\u201csuper\u201d powers, like Wonder Woman and Superman. \nIronman has his technology and Batman has all his bat-tools.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Does Jesus have superpowers?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He changes bread and wine into his Body\nand Blood.  Can you do that?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

His gives his life on the Cross so that\nour sins can be forgiven.  I think that\nis very \u201csuper.\u201d  It is through Jesus\nthat all who believe in him are raised to eternal life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Yes, Jesus is super.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But, again, what is a hero?  Being a hero is not defined solely by\nsuperpowers.  The dictionary defines a\n\u201chero\u201d as a person who is greatly admired with brave acts and fine\nqualities.  Jesus is this and more.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Perhaps his finest quality is \u201clove.\u201d  Everything he does is based on his love for\nus.  Jesus came down from Heaven because\nof love.  He taught us to understand\nGod\u2019s Commandments not to get us to do stuff for him.  He did this as what is best for us.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jesus never stops loving us.\u00a0 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now, as I think about all that God has\ndone for me, his teaching and preaching, his Crucifixion for my sins, I try to\nmake God first in my life.  My reflection\nand prayer with these readings for Christmas has led me to know that Jesus is\nmy hero.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jesus, I thank you for everything you have\ndone for me.  Thank you for being my\nhero.  Thank you for being my Savior.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Christmas \u2013 Mass During the NightIsaiah 9:1-6Psalm 96:1-2, 2-3, 11-12, 13 (Luke 2:11)Titus 2:11-14Luke 2:1-14December 25, 2018 Today we celebrate something very special.  Today we celebrate a birth.  The birth of any baby can bring joy and a warm smile to many faces.  The birth we celebrate today brings \u201cabundant joy\u201d and \u201cgreat rejoicing.\u201d  Think …<\/p>\n

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