A Five-Minute Christmas Homily
Dear Friends, the homily for the Christmas Masses need not be long because the entire day of Christmas, including the liturgy and carols sung, proclaim the meaning of this holy day. Here’s my short, five minute Christmas homily for Christmas.
A Five-Minute Christmas Homily
Merry Christmas, Church! It’s that great day when the entire world sings the music of Handel – HALLELUJAH!! [Robert sings the first line of the HALLELUJAH! Chorus.] You know this tune with the wonderful word, HALLELUJAH!. Can you sing it with me?
All: HALLELUJAH!
The word comes from the Jewish language, and it means “God be praised” or “Praise the Lord.” It’s the “Great Word” that is so appropriate for this day when we remember in song, Word and Sacrament, at home and in this community of faith, the birth of God’s beloved Son Jesus.
All: HALLELUJAH!
HALLELUJAH!, indeed. GOD HAS NOT FORGOTTEN US! Terrible things are happening in the world today, and terrible things were happening in the world 2000 years ago. And God did not leave us alone to suffer the sins of our graced but fallen world. God became a human being in Jesus so that we would know without a doubt that we are loved and are destined for a heavenly future. Jesus is “Emmanuel,” God with us.
All: HALLELUJAH!
But more than that! The birth, life, death, and resurrection of Jesus, and the sending of his Spirit upon His Church did not happen just to get us to heaven. It happened so that we would bring heaven to earth, at least a measure of it, within our marriages and families, in our neighborhoods and at work, and even in our politics. YES, WE CAN BRING HEAVEN TO EARTH!
All: HALLELUJAH!
Change for the better, both in the world and in our lives, is possible. Wars between nations and the plagues of war – hunger, destitution, and death by the thousands – does not have to be our future. You and I, in Christ, can become the peace that the world is longing for. We can feed the hungry, clothe the naked, welcome the refugee and the migrant, visit the sick, and comfort the dying. It is our joy and our privilege to do so!
All: HALLELUJAH!
Addiction to alcohol, drugs, pornography, gambling, gaming, shopping, and whatever other forms of addiction that afflict us do not have to dominate our lives, destroy our inner peace, or cripple our relationships. Emmanuel is with us; we can find freedom from addictions!
If you struggle with any sort of addiction, God is with you. Help is available through God’s grace, with the support of loving family and friends, and with the assistance of dedicated professionals. You can live addiction free.
All: HALLELUJAH!
Most importantly, because of Christmas, Jesus is Emmanuel – “God with us,” we can stop trying to earn God’s love and the love of others. We can rest with complete assurance in the knowledge and truth that, from the moment of our conception until this very day, we are completely and unconditionally loved by our Divine Lover. We don’t earn it; we can’t buy it; we can’t produce it. We can only open our hearts to God and receive God’s gift of love in Jesus and the Holy Spirit.
Dear Church, it’s Christmas. Let’s join with the entire world, with heaven and nature, too, in singing that “Great Word” that proclaims the joy and hope that fills our hearts.
All: HALLELUJAH!
A Family Prayer from Christmas Day to Epiphany
To Bethlehem we travel with the Magi from the East across the days from Christmas to the Epiphany feast. Give us the courage of the Magi as we begin our search for you. Give us the eyes of the Magi that we might see the star that leads us too. And when we get to Bethlehem on that holy Epiphany Day, give us the heart of the Magi that humbles us to pray.
