Bible
Study: Isaiah 62, 1 to 5. Acts 13, 16 to 25 and Matthew 1, 1 to 25.
Why are we
here tonight? It is because this night is a special night. It was on this night
two thousand years ago that shepherd kept watch at night when the Angel of God
visited them with news of great tidings. As the lyrics of the song say: “The
angel of the Lord came down and glory shone around. "Fear not," he
said, for mighty dread had seized their troubled minds "Glad tidings of
great joy I bring to you and all mankind. "To you in David's town this day
is born of David's line the Saviour who is Christ the Lord…”
The Angel
said to the shepherds and by extension to every one of us who is filled with
fear, anger and anxiety that Christ is born and this news is one that must be
received with the greatest of all joys. To really help us appreciate the reason
for our joy this night, let us try to imagine for a minute what would have
become of the world if Christ was not born.
In his
sermon which appeared in our Office of Readings for today, St. Augustine has
this to say:
“Awake,
mankind! For your sake God has become man. Awake, you who sleep, rise up from
the dead, and Christ will enlighten you. I tell you again: for your sake, God
became man. You would have suffered eternal death, had he not been born in
time. Never would you have been freed from sinful flesh, had he not taken on
himself the likeness of sinful flesh. You would have suffered everlasting
unhappiness, had it not been for this mercy. You would never have returned to
life, had he not shared your death. You would have been lost if he had not
hastened to your aid. You would have perished, had he not come. Let us then
joyfully celebrate the coming of our salvation and redemption. Let us celebrate
the festive day on which he who is the great and eternal day came from the
great and endless day of eternity into our own short day of time.”
According
to Isaiah, but for the sake of what has done, the history of mankind would have
been termed forsaken and desolate but because of Christ’s birth, the kind of
joy that should fill our minds is the type of joy a young man feels when he
succeeds in marrying a virgin. Just as the Angel spoke to the shepherds that
night, Paul addressed the Christians in Antioch, reminding them of their history
and how John the Baptist prepared the way for Christ. This is a message of
great hope and joy. We should be happy not simply because of what we shall eat
and drink but because of who Jesus is and what his birth has done for mankind.
To my dear
children about to receive Holy Communion for the first time this very night, I urge
you to realize that Christ is about to be born into your lives in a special way
this night. Holy Communion is the true body and blood of Jesus Christ together with
his soul and divinity present under the appearance of bread and wine. You have
come a long way anticipating this day when you shall put on white and white and
walk folding your palms to receive Jesus. When you receive it, just know your
life would never be the same again. Henceforth, you must do everything in your
power to avoid sin and keep your soul as clean and sparkling as this white
dress you are wearing so that you would always be in a state of grace to
receive Jesus.
When
Christ comes into your mouth, go gently to your seat and pray and I bet you
whatever you ask for, you shall receive. Christ enters into you but in essence
you are the one who becomes part of Christ’s body. You are no longer ordinary.
You have become like the Virgin Mary who carried Jesus in her womb for nine
month. You will carry Jesus in your mouth and allow Jesus transform your whole
body into his perfect children. In moments of temptation, remember this night,
remember how you put on white and promised never to sin again. Never forget
this night when you became a communicant.
And for
the rest of us, let us not look at them and amuse ourselves. Let us recall how
we also put on white to receive our first Holy Communion. What happened to that
zeal we had back then to avoid sin? What became of our strong resolutions to
live in the light? Why did we stop folding our hands when coming to receive
Holy Communion? Do we now receive Jesus even when we are fully conscious of
sins not yet confessed?
Let us
Pray: Lord Jesus, may your birth multiply my joy. Amen.
Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith.
It is well with you. God bless you and Merry Christmas
Fr. Abu.
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