We live in a world of extreme polarities, global wars, violent divisions, and angry tribes.
Social media has exacerbated the radical politics, aggressive ideologies, and religious fights that often roil our relationships and conversations.
Right now, millions of people are at risk and on the move around the globe because of political instability, gang threats, food shortages, and climate upheavals.
Few people would say that the world, the United States, or the Catholic Church are in a peaceful state. We all suffer a profound sense of disorientation.
In the midst of so much suffering, violence, pain, and death, we are preparing for Christmas!
Christ enters the world
Into this broken, crazy world stepped the Son of God 2,000 years ago, born on the fringe of the Roman Empire, born in poverty and obscurity, dropped, as it were, behind enemy lines to subvert sin, evil, and death.
In the drama of the Christ event, God takes His world back, breaking the ancient curse of sin and death.
In the birth of Jesus, the Lord leaps the infinite gap between the holiness, joy, peace, and order of the Kingdom of God and the sin, despair, pain, and chaos of the unredeemed world.
Christmas, with its lights, gifts, celebrations, and fun, calls out the better angels of our human nature, even in those who do not believe in Christ.
At this time of year, most people dare to imagine that we can be more generous, loving, peaceful, and kind than we normally are.
A Catholic Christmas, with the Mass of the Nativity of Christ, a sincere Confession, joyful prayer, Yuletide hymns, and the liturgical feasts front and center, brings us face to face with the shocking nearness of God and His extraordinary love for each of us.
In this holy season, we dare to imagine that we can be saints, as we experience the radiance of the Christ Child, born in the “House of Bread,” the meaning of “Bethlehem”.
By uniting Himself to us in such an absolute and merciful fashion, Jesus Christ has shown us the way to close the gap that separates us from God, from each other, especially the poor and suffering, and even the gap between our true self, the one that God knows us to be, and our false self, the illusory front we often present to others.
Jesus takes away everything that keeps us bound to sin, separation, despair, and death.
No wonder the early Church chose to celebrate Christmas in the darkest time of the year!
Christ is our light, and at the beginning of winter, the days get longer and the sun slowly returns. (Unless you live in the Southern Hemisphere!)
A glimpse of Heaven
Currently playing in Madison is All is Calm: The Christmas Truce of 1914, a musical detailing the extraordinary moment in the first year of World War I when British and German soldiers hear each other singing Christmas hymns, and end up joining together in no man’s land to share food, impromptu gifts, and even a game of soccer.
This brief experience of peace and harmony in the ravages of a terrible war speaks to the innate human desire to bridge the gap, narrow the distance, and reach across enemy lines to find communion, joy, and unity.
Is that not what Heaven will be like, only on a divine level beyond our imagining?
God has planted this desire for love, family, home, and harmony within us so that we will always be restless in our longing for Heaven until our hearts rest in Him.
The Scriptures remind us that we are strangers and sojourners in this world, as we make our way to our true and eternal home beyond the stars.
Even now, in the gift and mystery of the Church, especially through the sacraments, and most profoundly in the Eucharist, Jesus joins Himself to our human frailty, with all of its hopes and fears, victories and failures, virtues and sins.
Every time we reverently and worthily receive Holy Communion, Christmas happens all over again in our minds, hearts, and souls.
In the broken world of today, the Lord bids us to reach beyond the narrow confines of division, fear, and enmity, and like those distressed soldiers in the trenches of a horrific war long ago, grasp the hands and hearts of those who long for tender attention and genuine love.
As we gather with family and friends to once again celebrate the wonder of Christmas, may we know the glory of heaven in our hearts and share Jesus with everyone we know.
A merry and blessed Christmas to all of you!