Bishops' Schedules: Schedule of Bishop William H. Bullock Friday, December 21, 2001 12:00 p.m. -- Preside at Midday Prayer, Bishop's Christmas Gathering for Staff, Bishop O'Connor Catholic Pastoral Center, Madison Saturday, December 22, 2001 9:00 a.m. -- Preside at Advent Communal Penance Service, St. Raphael Cathedral, Madison 8:00 p.m. -- Preside and Preach at Celebration of the Eucharist, St. Michael Parish, Calamine Sunday, December 23, 2001 10:00 a.m. -- Preside and Preach at Celebration of the Eucharist, St. Andrew Parish, Buffalo Monday, December 24, 2001 12:00 Midnight -- Preside and Preach at Celebration of the Eucharist, Solemnity of Christmas, St. Raphael Cathedral, Madison Thursday, December 27, 2001 3:00 p.m. -- Preside at Midday Prayer for Vocations, Bishop O'Connor Catholic Pastoral Center, Madison Schedule of Bishop George O. Wirz Friday, December 21, 2001 12:00 p.m. -- Attend Midday Prayer, Bishop's Christmas Gathering for Staff, Bishop O'Connor Catholic Pastoral Center, Madison Tuesday, December 25, 2001 10:45 a.m. -- Preside and Preach at Celebration of the Eucharist, Christmas Day, St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception Parish, Portage Thursday, December 27, 2001 3:00 p.m. -- Attend Midday Prayer for Vocations, Bishop O'Connor Catholic Pastoral Center, Madison

Christmas: From crib and altar to the final Kingdom

Come let us adore him

Kneeling before a crib in a parish church at Christmas is a familiar practice for many of us.

		The Bishop: A Herald of Faith Bishop William H. Bullock

Many a Christmas Mass begins with a solemn procession down the middle aisle while the people sing "O Come All Ye Faithful."

Reverently the procession stops at the end of each verse as we kneel singing, "O come let us adore him . . . Christ, the Lord." It is a great experience for persons of all ages.

Finally the procession ends at the crib and the figure of the infant Christ is placed in the manger. All kneel in silent wonder that Jesus, true God, became man and lived among us, saved us, and rose from the dead.

Prayer rises like incense

Moving from the familiar crib scene we see a swinging censer sending up billowy clouds of incense as we beg that our prayer rise like incense before our God. Christmas Mass then begins. The angelic anthem "Glory to God in the Highest and Peace to His People on Earth" is sung with gusto, often accompanied by trumpet and brass.

We are then seated and listen to proclamations of God's holy word unfold from the prophet Isaiah, one of St. Paul's letters, and the Gospel of one of the four evangelists.

In every celebration of Christmas we bring our faith to the Christ of history, born in time and place, that is, in Bethlehem of Judea. We bring our faith to Jesus born again in mystery at the Christmas Mass.

But we also bring our faith to Christ who will come again at the end of time. Jesus came in history, he comes in mystery, and he will come again to begin the full reign of life in the new Kingdom. At that special moment, Christ will present us to the Father in a new heaven and new earth where we shall live forever in peace and love.

The Christ of history, mystery, and the world to come

This is why at each Mass we sing a memorial acclamation which promises us that "Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again." Another memorial acclamation states the same reality, "When we eat this Bread and drink this Cup, we proclaim your death O Lord, until you come in glory."

"What was said that first Christmas? Simeon: 'God, may I stay alive until I see the Messiah.' The Magi: 'Better saddle up the camels.' The Shepherds: 'We'd better get going before that star disappears.' And you? What are you saying this Christmas?"

Christ, God-made-man, comes in available, approachable ways -- born as an infant, he also comes to us in Holy Communion under the forms of bread and wine. His final coming will be in triumph and glory to claim us forever. Every Mass announces this but Christmas does it in a special way.

Acclaim Christ now

This simple message of Christmas past, present, and future finds us as Americans in the aftermath of the September 11th terrorist attack. What do you make of Christmas 2001? Christmas in the aftermath? Amid our grief and anguish we reach for joy and hope. We seek God, asking him to help us, love us, and show us the way to live in peace.

The terrorist act is described so well by Pope John Paul II, who prays that the inhuman act of violence of the terrorists will awaken in the hearts of us all a new way of life that will reject, forever, all violence. We must never fight violence with violence.

The aftermath of September 11th

"Christmas in the aftermath" causes all of us to pause, to reflect, to fall on our knees in anguish and grief, and stand on the tip of our toes reaching for joy and new hope.

We are a people wounded, yet well. Wounded by sin, made well by God's grace. We pledge before God and one another that we will never be the same again, that we will be sensitive, watchful, and caring. Old habits of comfort, convenience, and leisure that come to us so easily must give way and take second place to the needs of others.

Somehow as we celebrate our Mass this Christmas, as we gather with family and friends, we will open our hearts to God's love and let him heal us and mold us in his ways of peace. Emmanuel is with us, that is, God is with us.

Anguish and grief

However we view Christmas each year, amid our grief and anguish, our joy and hope, we know at least temporarily that Christmas transforms us and awakens within each of us a desire for heaven and its eternal peace.

Joy and hope

Christmas is not magic, it's for real. As we bring the eyes of faith and a heart of hope to Christmas 2001, we can trust that God wants what is best for us . . . and we can learn to trust Him as we receive His love.

What do you say?

What was said that first Christmas? Simeon: "God, may I stay alive until I see the Messiah." The Magi: "Better saddle up the camels." The Shepherds: "We'd better get going before that star disappears." And you? What are you saying this Christmas?