First, I want to wish all of you a very blessed and merry Christmas. It’s always a joy to be able to come together as a parish family and celebrate this great solemnity. Let’s ask the Holy Spirit to work in our hearts on this day where we commemorate the birth of our Savior. + Come, Holy Spirit.+
One of my favorite traditions associated with Christmas is the Christmas tree. Growing up, in the weeks leading up to Christmas, we would all pile into the family minivan and head down to Beck’s Tree Farm to cut down a live tree. On the way there, we would listen to Christmas music by Amy Grant, Michael W. Smith, Mannheim Steamroller or Trans Siberian Orchestra. After finding the perfect Scotch pine, we then would bring it home and spend the rest of the afternoon decorating it with lights and all kinds of ornaments. I always had my favorite ornaments to hang–a Snoopy ornament, and the ornaments made by my mom and my sisters with my name on them. Each ornament seemed to tell its own story of the love in our family. I can still picture how the tree would look early on Christmas morning as my siblings and I came down the stairs for the first time: glowing brightly in the early morning darkness with all of the ornaments nestled snugly into its branches. I still get echoes of the childlike wonder looking at my own tree now, when it is decorated with ornaments reminding me of different memories with loved ones and moments of fun and adventure in my life. And you can’t beat the smell of a live tree, either. The whole house, for weeks, would have that distinctive aroma of fresh pine.
To this day, I still keep a live tree at the rectory. And although it doesn’t always work out with my busy schedule, this year I was able to join part of my family on the annual tree farm adventure and enjoy seeing this tradition being passed on to my nieces. I think that this beautiful tradition has stood the test of time because the Christmas tree is actually a very good representation of the awesome reality we celebrate on Christmas.
In the first reading, we hear from the prophet Isaiah, who likely penned this prophecy sometime in the 700’s B.C. So long before the coming of Jesus, Isaiah was writing about a child to be born who would be the messiah. But before he speaks about this singular child, Isaiah shows the context of a prophecy. Inspired by the Holy Spirit, he writes: “The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; upon those who dwelt in the land of gloom a light has shone.” He goes on to describe the joy this light will bring: joy as is experienced at an abundant harvest. This would have been a rich symbol for the Jewish people to whom Isaiah is writing. Isaiah points to a future time when people will be delivered from violence and oppression. Isaiah speaks this prophecy of hope and restoration in the context of the people of the decimation and exile of the Northern Kingdom of Israel at the hands of the Assyrians. So just imagine, for a second, the prophet Isaiah, looking out over burnt farmlands, homes cold and abandoned, graves hastily dug for those killed by ruthless invaders. In the midst of that, Isaiah spoke of a time of deliverance. And who would bring this about? A child.
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.
His dominion is vast and forever peaceful,
from David’s throne, and over his kingdom,
which he confirms and sustains
by judgment and justice,
both now and forever.
The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this!
During that time of hopelessness and despair, the Holy Spirit spoke through the prophet Isaiah of the ultimate hope. This Hope would take time to be fulfilled, but God the Father knew when just the right moment would come to send His son, the Wonder-Counselor, God-Hero, Father-Forever, Prince of Peace. These titles are related both to Solomon, the descendant of David’s line, and to God Himself. And this is who Jesus is, as we hear in the Gospel: born in the city of David, with earthly parents from that long line of David’s family. And in addition to being of that royal human line, this baby is also God-with-us, the Son of God made man in Mary’s womb!
Throughout human history, darkness always appears to have the upper hand. When Jesus came to birth, the Jews were oppressed by the occupying Romans, and King Herod was looking for a way to kill Jesus from the first time he heard of Him from the magi. But God is not daunted by the darkness and threats in the world. Constantly, where there is darkness, He brings His light. “The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light,” God spoke to the devastated Israelites through the prophet Isaiah. He continued to give them the light of hope through countless prophets as He prepared to send us Jesus, the light of the world. And now, we permanently have the light of the world among us, Jesus Christ, whose grace shines within us to banish the darkness of sin and death.
Think back to the Christmas tree now. There is actually a good amount of darkness to the tree itself. Its needles are deep green and prickly to the touch, reminding us of the struggle against sin and darkness we all face in this fallen world. But think now of the Christmas tree filled with lights and ornaments. Almost every ornament has some type of story to tell, reminding us of a loved one or a good memory. Isn’t this the way we see God the Father at work in the world? Amidst the needles of this world’s darkness, God brings the light of His grace and the beauty of His love. His plan is not thwarted by darkness; in fact, the light of Christ shines in the darkness and the darkness has not overcome it. And at the pinnacle of our Christmas trees is a star, reminding us of the star which guided the magi to where Jesus lay. That star, burning brightly in the night, foreshadowed the brightness of God’s grace that Jesus would bring to us all through His life, preaching, death, and above all, His glorious resurrection. Brothers and sisters, we have so much to celebrate today, because that little child laid in the manger at Bethlehem is our King, the God who was unafraid to enter into our darkness of sin and death in order to bring a new Light who definitely conquers the dark! Praise God!
Brothers and sisters, as you celebrate around your Christmas trees today, let them be shining reminders to you of the story of hope that God is writing in your own life through His Son who was born for you today. Look at those twinkling lights and let them remind you of the light of your Baptismal candle, burning brightly on the day of your Baptism to remind you of the flame of faith lit in your heart and meant to help light your way throughout life. Look at those ornaments which are tokens of your relationships, and let them remind you of the deepest relationship in your life: your relationship with Jesus who wants to deepen that relationship every time you join yourself to Him in receiving the Eucharist. Let those tokens of love on your tree remind you of the deep love Jesus wants to pour out on you every time you come to Him in reconciliation. Amidst the needles of the temptations and trials in our lives, Jesus’ love is unfailingly here for us. As you breathe in the fresh aroma of the Christmas tree, let it remind you that the light of Jesus’ love is meant to shine through you, giving your life the sweet perfume of holiness through Him who is at work in you.
Brothers and sisters, there is so much to celebrate today. Regardless of what interior and exterior darkness we may be dealing with, we know Jesus is with us and will never abandon us. Let us embrace Jesus in our hearts right now so that our song can join the angel chorus, who all those years ago sang, “Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.” We can be at peace in the depths of our hearts today because the Child in the manger, the Light of the World and desire of our hearts, our God, has come.
+ Heavenly Father, thank you for sending us your Son to shed his light in our lives. Jesus, renew our awe at the fact that even as a helpless baby, you were God with us. Holy Spirit, help us to cling more fully to Christ today so that his awesome light can banish the darkness in our lives and the lives of those who meet us. We ask this through Christ, our Lord who was born for us today. Amen. +