Preparing for Christmas with our heart

In two days time we shall be celebrating the birth of the Son of God. He who “no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man conceived” (1 Cor 2:9) “became flesh and dwelt among us” (John 1:14).

In his prologue Saint John qualifies Jesus Christ as the One who is “full of grace and truth” (John 1:14). In other words, the little Babe of Bethlehem, “wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger”

(Luke 2:12), is the Eternal Word of the Father, the Second Person of the Most Holy Trinity. The One on whom the Father will openly declare at his baptism in the river Jordan: “Thou art my beloved Son; with thee I am well pleased” (Luke 3:22).

But why is the Father so pleased with His beloved Son Jesus? Because whenever He looks at His Son he continually sees Saint Paul’s hymn in the letter to the Philippians coming true. Even now! “He was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form he humbled himself and became obedient unto death, even death on a cross” (Phil 2:6-8). His obedience is still going on, especially whenever the Eucharistic sacrifice is celebrated on the altars of the entire world.

In the prophet Zephaniah’s words, we Christians “sing aloud, shout! Rejoice and exult with all our heart” (Zeph 3:14) because in the Eucharist the Babe of Bethlehem “the Lord… is in our midst [and] has taken away the judgments against [us].” Thanks to his redeeming presence we “shall fear evil no more” (Zeph 3:15). “He will renew [us] in his love” (Zeph 3:17).

The Eucharistic celebration is the fruitful perpetuation of the great inner joy which Christmas instils in those who accept Jesus as the Lord of their lives. When visiting one of the parishes of Rome in December last year the Pope encouraged the parishioners to prepare for Christmas not just with gifts but with their hearts. Participating in the Sunday Eucharist is the key.

“May the Mass be the focus of your Sunday, which must be rediscovered and lived as the day of the Lord and of the community, a day on which to praise and celebrate the One Who was born for us, Who died and rose again for our salvation, and Who asks us to live together joyfully, to be a community open and ready to welcome anyone who is alone and in difficulty. Do not lose your understanding of the significance of Sundays, and remain faithful to your appointment with the Eucharist. Early Christians were ready to give their lives for this.”

Fully participating in the Sunday Eucharist means celebrating Christmas all year round.