Introduction:

Silent Night, Holy Night.

On this holy night, we celebrate the mystery of Christ's birth, God's dwelling among us. He shall be called Emmanuel, which means God is with us.

On this holy night, we celebrate the marriage and unity of God and humanity in the child, born in Bethlehem, born in a manger. As the bridegroom rejoices in his bride, so shall your God rejoice in you.

On this holy night, we join the angels, glorifying God. Glory to God in the Highest, and on earth, peace to those on whom his favor rests.

On this holy night, we give thanks for the special child, born in the world. “For a child is born to us, a son is given us; upon his shoulder dominion rests. They name him Wonder-Counselor, God hero, Father forever, prince of peace.

On this holy night, is born our Savior, Jesus Christ the Lord.

Silent Night, Holy Night

Let us prepare our hearts to celebrate the Sacred Mysteries...

Christmas Homily:

Celebrating Christmas is celebrating the mystery of God's presence with us. The events that surround the birth of Christ is wonderful and miraculous indeed, and calls to mind the presence of God, God's intervention and activity in human life. The Christmas story has four main Annunciation story. When we hear the word Annunciation, we may think of the first joyful mystery of the Rosary, the announcement of good news to Mary. The Archangel Gabriel appeared to Mary and said: “Hail Mary, Full of Grace, the Lord is with Thee.” But Mary was greatly troubled, and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. The angel declared: “Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of David his father, and he will rule over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom, there will be no end.” Mary responded: “How can this be, because I do not know man.” The angel said: “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore the child to be born will be called holy, the Son of God.” That is the first Annunciation.

The second Annunciation took place 6 months before. When Zechariah was in the temple of Jerusalem, offering a sacrifice, the Archangel Gabriel also appeared to him. Even though he and his wife Elizabeth were advanced in age (they were very old), God told them that they will have a son, named John, who will go forth in the spirit of Elijah, to prepare the way for the Messiah. But Zechariah found it very difficult to believe, and because of his lack of belief, the Lord took away his speech until John was born.

The third Annunciation story is to the Shepherds of the Field. The Shepherds receive the good news of the Messiah that is born. It calls to mind that the Lord Jesus will be the good shepherd, one who will lay down his life for his flock. Now there were shepherds in that region, living in the fields, keeping the nightwatch over their flock. The angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were struck with great fear. The angel said to them: “Do not be afraid; for behold, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For today, in the city of David, a savior has been born for you, who is the Messiah and Lord. And this will be a sign for you; you will find an infant wrapped in swaddling clothes, and laid in a manger.” And suddenly there was a multitude of the heavenly host with the angel, praise God and saying: “Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.

The fourth annunciation was to St. Joseph, recorded in the Gospel of Matthew. We hear right away in the first chapter of the Gospel, when Joseph discovered that Mary is with child, not of his own doing, not of his own seed, he wanted to distance himself from her, not in a public way so as to cause her humiliation and execution by stoning, but to spare her life, and so that whoever the real father can be in the child's life. Joseph was a good, a loving and caring person, patron of Husbands and Fathers. If Joseph succeeded in distancing himself from her, the Gospel would've been a short story, and would've ended in the first chapter. But God came to the rescue. In a dream, the Angel reveal to Joseph the truth. “Joseph, Son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary your wife into your home. For it is through the Holy Spirit that this child has been conceived in her. She will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” It is to fulfill what the Lord has said through the prophet Isaiah, “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and he shall be called Emmanuel, which means, “With us, is God.” or God with us. St. Joseph did very well, caring for Mary and the child. He found a place for Mary to give birth in Bethlehem. When he discovered that King Herod was seeking the life of the child, he took his family to flee to Egypt. When it was safe, he brought them back to Israel. But knowing that it would not be safe to go to Judea, he found a safe haven in Nazareth.

The Christmas Story is not only the four main annunication stories, announcements of the good news, but it is also about God's ongoing fidelity to His people. God is with them. God is with you. Emmanuel, God is with us. That is the good news of the Gospel. The Good news that we contemplate in our hearts, and the good news that we proclaim in our worship at Church, the good news that we are called to share with others. That God is present with us. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only beloved Son, so that all who believe in Him may have eternal life. We are called to “herald” the good news.

Our faith can sometimes be tested. Is it true that God is always with us? Sometimes we may not feel that way, depending upon our own circumstances. Sometimes, we experienced the storms of life, like the disciples in the boat, and seeing the Lord sleeping on the stern. How often when we read the news, that we hear there is tension somewhere in the world. Or that Christians somewhere in the world are persecuted because of the faith, we may wonder...is God truly with us? We also lift up in our prayers, families who celebrate their first Christmas without a loved one, who have recently past in this last year. They are gone but not forgotten. We also lift up in our prayers veterans who have offered their life as sacrifice for our nation, and also our first responders. We also remember those that cannot be with us, because they are homebound, or they are sick or in the hospital or hospice. Or things that may happen unexpectedly, things that we are not prepared for. The Christmas story, is a story of hope, to remind us that God is present, God is with you. Emmanuel, God is with us, in the Lord Jesus Christ.

Genealogy

The Gospel according to Matthew begins with the Genealogy of Christ. Abraham became the father of Isaac, Isaac, the father of Jacob, Jacob, the Father of Judah and his brothers. The Genealogy of Christ is to reveal God's fidelity to the Covenant from the very beginning. God is with the people, through thick and thin, in good times and in bad, in times of triumph and tragedy, virtue and vice, rewards and punishments. God is with us. God promised that Abraham will have numerous descendants. God assured that David's lineage will remain secure. God told Ahaz to ask for a sign, and God gave them a sign, A child will be born, and it is a sign that God is with you. There were good kings and not so good ones in the history of Israel, but God never abandon his people. God is also with them during the dark periods of Exile in Babylon, and their return. God is with them in periods of abundance, and also periods of want. Matthew wrote: “Thus the total number of generations from Abraham to David is 14 generations; from David to the Babylonian exile, 14 generations, from the Babylonian exile to the Messiah, 14 generations. It is all aligned perfectly according to God's plan of salvation.

We listened to the four main Annunciation stories of Christmas. But we also hear stories of Annunciation Easter. When the women gathered at the Empty Tomb, they also saw angels, and the Angels announced to them the good news: “He is risen.”

After the resurrection, the Lord appeared to the disciples countless times, and they receive the good news with great joy. “On the evening of the first day of the week, when the doors were locked, where the disciples were, because of fear of the authorities, Jesus came and stood in their midst, and said to them: Peace be with you. When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. The disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. And the Lord said to them again: Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you. And when he had said this, he breathe on them and said to them: Receive the Holy Spirit, whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained.”

And the final annunication, the final words from the Lord, recorded in the Gospel of Matthew, the Lord said to them: “All power in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age.

The same theme at the beginning is echoed at the end of the Gospel, the theme of God's ever presence with. He shall be called Emmanuel, which means God is with us.

By celebrating Christmas, we dedicate ourselves to be heralds of the good news, and just as the good news of the Gospel has been handed down from generation to generation. Our parents, grandparents, teachers, friends, have annunication, announced the good news for us. And like Mother Mary, St. Joseph, the shepherds of the field, the astrologers from the East, the heavenly hosts, multitude of angels, we are blessed to play a small part, in Annunciation of the good news, with hope and with joy.

The angel said: “I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For today, in the city of David a savior has been born for you, who is Messiah and Lord.”

Story about a little kid named Johnny. One day in religious education, the teacher talked about God the Father. God doesn't have a name. God is I am who I am, as revealed to Moses in the burning bush. God is God. But Johnny interrupted the teacher and says: “I know what God's name is.” The teacher was very surprised, and she said: “OK, Johnny, tell us what is God's name.” Johnny said: “God's name is Harold. Because when we pray the Our Father prayer, we say: “Harold be Thy name.” May we be herald of the good news of the Gospel, with our words and actions.

(We have a special gift tonight, as the Children have been preparing the Christmas Pageant for us. Thank you to them, and to Mrs. Laura, and Chris and Sarah, and the parents for putting together the Christmas Pageant).

Our faith can often times be challenge.  Is it true that God is always with us.  Sometimes it may not feel that way.  We think about the news, war and tension in different places in the world.  We remember and lift up in our hearts families who celebrate the first Christmas without a loved one because they have past away in this last year, and especially those who gave their lives or have given their lives as service to our nation, and our first responders. 

We also remember those who cannot be with us, because they are home bound, or going through surgery.

The genealogy of Christ, we see examples of great holiness and heroism, Abraham, David, king hezejjah and Josiah

We also hear about Individual corruption and decadence, Ahaz and manesseh

We also have 14 generations of unknowns, named of post exile Israel.

This is written as a promise from God to his people.

It is a review of history, reading the names reminds us of the events of the past, and how God was with them. 

Abraham - numerous descendants

Through the exodus period

Assure David that his lineage will remain secure.

Ahaz - a sign that a virgin shall be with child, and the child will be a sign that God is with you.

Jeremiah - I am with you to deliver you, says the Lord

70 years of exile,

God is with the people, through thick and thin, in good times and in bad, triumph and tragedy, virtue and vice, reward and punishment, God is with his people.

We are reminded of that tonight.

A virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and he shall be called Emmanuel, God is with us.

The women receive an annunciation: He is risen.

The last words of Christ, I will be with you always, until the end of the time.

We dedicate ourselves to be heralds of the good news, just as the good news have been handed down from generation to generation, announcing the good news.  Our grandparents, parents have announced the good news to us.  And so we are to announce the good news to others.