{"id":8774,"date":"2022-12-25T11:40:36","date_gmt":"2022-12-25T16:40:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.renewaloffaith.org\/blog\/?p=8774"},"modified":"2022-12-25T11:40:36","modified_gmt":"2022-12-25T16:40:36","slug":"christmas-homily-for-2022","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.renewaloffaith.org\/blog\/christmas-homily-for-2022\/","title":{"rendered":"Christmas Homily for 2022"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The Nativity of the Lord (Mass During the Night)<\/a>
Isaiah 9:1-6
Titus 2:11-14
Luke 2:1-14
December 25, 2022<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can find a video of this homily on my website page for my upcoming series, T<\/em>he Greatest Gift: The Eucharist <\/em>at www.renewaloffaith.org\/greatestgift<\/a> (scroll down on that page to find the video).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; upon those who dwelt in the land of gloom a light has shone.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Israel was being overrun by their enemies.  Many were taken away in exile to Babylon.  They lived in darkness and gloom.  God would bring them light.  God would set them free.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We live in a troubled world today.  There is war, violence, and hatred.  We come seeking light in the darkness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

God had allowed the Israelites\u2019 enemies to defeat them because the Israelites had sinned.  This is the \u201cyoke that burdened them.<\/em>\u201d  We are burdened by sin today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

God has a remedy for sin.  \u201cFor a child is born to us, a son is given to us.<\/em>\u201d  In Jesus, \u201cThe grace of God has appeared, saving all.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The birth of Jesus is a wonderful thing.  We celebrate it in part by giving gifts to those we love.  Most importantly, we celebrate Christmas by coming here and recalling what Christmas is all about, the gift of Jesus<\/em><\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mary was pregnant with Jesus living with her husband Joseph in Nazareth.  A census was called.  This would mean they would need to go \u201cto the city of David that is called Bethlehem.<\/em>\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It might seem like rotten timing.  Mary is due at any time.  Who would want to travel then?  Yet, the prophecies had foretold that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem.  God is in control.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Indeed, while they were in Bethlehem, \u201cthe time came\u201d <\/em>for Mary to give birth.  With people travelling for the census, \u201cthere was no room for them in the inn.<\/em>\u201d  Thus, Jesus was born among the animals as depicted in our nativity scene.  He was wrapped in swaddling clothes and laid in the manger. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

One might expect a glorious setting for the birth of the Messiah.  This was not but it was what God intended.  I encourage you to spend some time looking at the nativity scene.  See how Jesus humbled himself for you. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

There was no room in the inn for Jesus.  Do you have room in your heart for Jesus?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Who were the first to be invited to see the newborn king?  It was not royalty.  It was simple shepherds who were the first to hear the \u201cgood news of great joy\u2026For today in the city of David a savior has been born for you who is Christ and Lord.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jesus \u201cgave himself for us to deliver us from all lawlessness.<\/em>\u201d  Yes, He \u201cgave himself for us.<\/em>\u201d  The gift of Christmas is the gift of Jesus. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Recognizing the gift, we are called \u201cto reject godless ways and worldly desires.<\/em>\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Recognizing the gift that Jesus is should lead us to come every week.  At Christmas we celebrate the gift of his birth.  There is more. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why was Jesus born?  To give<\/u><\/em><\/strong> his life for us on the Cross so that our sins might be forgiven.  He gives<\/u><\/em><\/strong> us new life in the Resurrection.  Baby Jesus was laid in a manger.  A manger is a food trough for animals.  He gives<\/u><\/em><\/strong> us his very own Body and Blood to feed our souls for He says, \u201cI am the living bread that came down from heaven; whoever eats this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world<\/em>\u201d (John 6:51). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jesus gives himself to us in the Eucharist.  The Eucharist is the greatest gift.  Unfortunately, it is forgotten by many what the Eucharist truly is. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is not just bread and wine. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

To remind us of what the Eucharist is, the United States bishops have begun a three-year Eucharistic Revival.  I firmly believe this revival is critical to our future.  Knowing all that we receive in the Eucharist will<\/u><\/em><\/strong> lead us to come to Mass every Sunday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To help people understand the Eucharist as the Greatest Gift, starting in January, I will be offering a series of three presentations.  The dates and times are in the bulletin. (see www.renewaloffaith.org\/greatestgift<\/a>)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Each presentation will be around an hour in length for a total of three hours.  I won\u2019t talk that long today.  I offer only the briefest of summaries now.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Eucharist is not just bread and wine.  The bread and wine are changed into Jesus\u2019 Body and Blood.  I can\u2019t explain how except that the Holy Spirit is invoked in the consecration.  I don\u2019t have to know<\/u><\/em><\/strong> how.  I believe<\/u><\/em><\/strong> it because Jesus says so<\/u><\/em><\/strong>.  At the Last Supper, He took the bread and said This is my Body<\/u><\/em><\/strong>.  He then took the chalice and said, the blood of my new and eternal covenant.<\/u><\/em><\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

There is more.  When we celebrate the Eucharist, we are celebrating the sacrifice of Jesus on the Cross for us.  How do we know this?  Because Jesus said, \u201cThis is my Body which will be given up for you<\/u><\/strong><\/em>\u2026the blood<\/em> which will be poured out for you.<\/u><\/em><\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When is Jesus\u2019 body given up for us?  When is his blood poured out for us?  On the Cross.  In saying these words, Jesus brings together the Eucharist and his Crucifixion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It doesn\u2019t end there!<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

If it ended in the Crucifixion, it might seem like defeat.  There is more!  On the third day Jesus rose.  In the Eucharist as the bread that comes down from Heaven, He gives us eternal life. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When you come forth to receive Communion four words are said to you as the minister holds up the host.  Four short but very powerful words, The Body of Christ<\/u><\/em><\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Your response is \u201cAmen.\u201d  The word \u201camen\u201d does not mean thank you.  It has profound significance because the word \u201camen\u201d means \u201cI believe.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When you respond \u201camen\u201d, it is to say I believe it is the Body of Christ.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is Jesus we receive<\/u><\/em><\/strong>.  It is Jesus who gives his life for us on the Cross.  It is Jesus who leads us to the Resurrection. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Eucharist is the Greatest Gift given at the first Easter.  First, Jesus had to be born.  His birth is a gift.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Today, we rejoice with \u201cabundant joy and great rejoicing<\/em>\u201d at the \u201cgood news of great joy<\/em>\u201d proclaimed by the angel, \u201cFor today in the city of David a savior has been born for you who is Christ and Lord.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The Nativity of the Lord (Mass During the Night)Isaiah 9:1-6Titus 2:11-14Luke 2:1-14December 25, 2022 You can find a video of this homily on my website page for my upcoming series, The Greatest Gift: The Eucharist at www.renewaloffaith.org\/greatestgift (scroll down on that page to find the video). \u201cThe people who walked in darkness have seen a …<\/p>\n

Continue reading ‘Christmas Homily for 2022’ »<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","enabled":false}}},"categories":[62,113,82],"tags":[129,1051,24,1047],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pMTPk-2hw","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.renewaloffaith.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8774"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.renewaloffaith.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.renewaloffaith.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.renewaloffaith.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.renewaloffaith.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=8774"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/blog.renewaloffaith.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8774\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":8776,"href":"https:\/\/blog.renewaloffaith.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8774\/revisions\/8776"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.renewaloffaith.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8774"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.renewaloffaith.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=8774"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.renewaloffaith.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=8774"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}