once again, the priests must insist on the need to pray, to
light our soul, to be more and more spiritual. The world, though not bad,
sometimes tends many traps and temptations and leads us in a superficial world
that we cannot find God. We are here this morning NOT because we receive an
order, but because we love and we want to celebrate the central mystery of our
Catholic faith.
We have a beautiful
nativity scene, and on it are Joseph, Mary and baby Jesus. Take a look at our
St. Joseph, if you will…
His face is both serene and quiet. He
is peaceful because he takes care of the Son of God; he is quite tranquil and
yet very serious. Joseph is serene because he has heard the Lord say to his
people: No more shall people call you
‘Forsaken,' (…) for the LORD delights in you[1].
Joseph rejoices and yet he is serene because he knows the very reason this
Savior has come: he has come to die for his people.
Looking at Joseph's face he seems perhaps
a bit sad. I wonder if he is not sad because of how we receive his son, because
of how we follow him… I wonder if Joseph does not ask what Pope Benedict
recently asked: «Does humanity of our time need a Savior? The impression is
that many think that God is foreign to their own interests. It would seem they
have no need of Him; they live as if he did not exist and, worse still, as if He
were an "obstacle" that must be removed so they can be fulfilled.
Even among believers, we are certain, some allow themselves to be drawn by
seductive fantasies and distracted by doctrines which propose false shortcuts
to attain happiness»[2].
However, despite its contradictions,
anxieties and dramas, and perhaps because of them, today's humanity seeks a way
of renewal, of salvation, a Savior, and awaits the coming of the Lord who
renews the world and our lives; the coming of Christ, the only true Redeemer of
man and of all men… Yes: it is true: false prophets continue to propose a
"cheap" salvation, which always ends by causing harsh deceptions, but
we have a good choice, we have faith in the Son of God…And here we are this
morning celebrating Mass and giving thanks, this is the most important activity
of all these days, nothing is bigger than the Mass and receiving the body and
blood of the Lord.
I ask you then this morning: Are you
happy? Are you fulfilled? Are you at peace and filled with joy? What do you
lack? Think about all this at the time of Communion. Think about your
relationship with Jesus Christ. Think about what you need to be a better
Christian, a better father, a better mom, a better brother, etc…
Let us look at the Nativity scene again
and let us hear the words of Saint Augustine: «See, O man, what God has become
for you! Take to heart the lesson of this great humility (…) He, obedient, came
as a mortal man to a poor, tiny place to stay that by dying He might save the
whole humankind…»[3].
Look then, my brother, my sister, to
the humility of God born in the manger. Look to God who is love and see this
day your salvation! Amen!■
[1] Isaiah 62:4
[2] Pope Benedict XVI, Wednesday Audience Address, 20 December
2006
[3] Saint Augustine, Sermo 6.2. In Johannes Quasten, ed., Ancient Christian Writers: The Works of the Fathers in Translation,
Vol. 15, St. Augustine: Sermons for
Christmas and Epiphany, trans., Thomas Comerford Lawler (Newman Press: New
York, 1952), 93-94.
