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The British philosopher and theologian, C.S. Lewis, once noted, “If I find in myself a desire which no experience in this world can satisfy, then the most probable explanation is that I was made for another world.” It’s that “another world” which C.S. Lewis was contemplating which reached down from heaven and touched this world in Bethlehem of Judah the first Christmas day. Reflecting upon the Incarnation—God being made flesh—St. Athanasius of Alexandria wrote more than 1600 years ago: “God became human in order that humans may become like God” (On the Incarnation, 54:3). What St. Athanasius was suggesting is what would otherwise be an absurd idea—that fallen, sinful creatures may become holy as their Creator is holy and find the fulfillment of all their hopes and fears in another world—has been made possible through the graciousness of God in Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God made flesh. Christmas makes it possible for mere human beings like you and me to know what it means to be fully human as we live each day of our lives on earth, however many or few those days may be. We gain the knowledge to live our lives right in this world as we contemplate the mystery of Jesus Christ through which God has shared Himself with us, the mystery that began to unfold when the Archangel Gabriel appeared to Mary and as that mystery further unfolded when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judah. In Jesus Christ, God became human, “the Son of the living God,” as St. Paul reminds us, “who became like us in all things but sin.” And because of the Incarnation, “the Word of God, our Lord Jesus Christ, who did, through his transcendent love, become what we are, that He might bring us to be even what He is Himself” (St. Iranaeus, Against the Heresies 5: Preface). The Catechism of the Catholic Church restates the importance of this idea for us today:
The
Word became flesh to make us “partakers of the divine nature”: “For
this is why the Word became man, and the Son of God became the Son
of man: so that man, by entering into communion with the Word and
thus receiving divine sonship, might become a son of God.” “For the
Son of God became man so that we might become God.” “The
only-begotten Son of God, wanting to make us sharers in his
divinity, assumed our nature, so that he, made man, might make men
gods” (#460) In its essence, this is what the Solemnity of the Incarnation—what we call “Christmas”—is: a profoundly distinctive theological doctrine, a complex—yet simple—idea describing how the Creator reached down from heaven to touch his creatures in the form of a human being so they might become more like God as human beings. Human beings grasp this doctrine with their minds as they recognize and understand that they have been created not for this world but for that “another world,” the place where God will satisfy their every hope and calm their every fear. I know this hasn’t been a terribly satisfying homily so far for many who have come to Mass this Christmas day. So many of us are not all that very much interested in contemplating the theological doctrine which describes the essence of Christmas. As one of the ushers said just before processing up the aisle, “You know what’d be the greatest Christmas gift you could give us? Just shut up!” Now, we’d much rather feel good about Christmas and perhaps some are thinking, “Why doesn’t Father just tell a good Christmas joke?” or “How about if Father tells a story of what Christmas was like growing up?” I know lots of good Christmas jokes and have lots of stories that I could recount, but that’s what I did last year. More importantly, what this attitude represents is an alternative religion—not the one, holy, catholic, and apostolic faith—which bewitches us with a number of watered-down versions of profound theological doctrines designed to make us feel good. The effect of these watered-down doctrines is intentional: this alternative religion does not want us to contemplate that “another world” about which C.S. Lewis wrote and for which God has created us. The wonders and splendors of this alternative religion’s Christmas are discovered inside of shopping malls or at online websites, not in Bethlehem of Judah. The visitation which makes this alternative religion’s Christmas possible is that of an angel of the second class, like Clarence Oddbody in “It’s A Wonderful Life,” not of the Archangel Gabriel. This alternative religion’s Christmas is best celebrated at home where a list of “naughty or nice” motivates us to think about future bliss more than in a church where an examination of conscience about “good and evil” reminds us our moral failures which cause our hearts so much pain and anguish in the present. What’s longed-for in this alternative religion’s Christmas is the arrival of a sleigh bearing an immortal and jolly old man, Santa Claus, rather than the arrival in a manger of God’s eternal Son, Jesus Christ, who happens to be an illegitimate child destined for a premature death. We’d rather behold wrapped Christmas gifts beneath a tree than have Mass on Christmas day take an hour and one-half. While I understand why all of this is true and many of us want to feel good on Christmas day, it saddens me—and I tell you so—because this alternative religion minimizes and seeks to destroy what makes Christianity distinctive. This alternative religion which brings us here to “feel good” would have us believe that all other religions—from Buddhism to Aztec human sacrifice to Quakerism to the Wahhabi form of radical Islam—are equally valid pathways to be “good.” It cannot be denied that across the globe and throughout history, most human beings have sought meaning beyond the material, for example, in the desire to be accepted, loved, and forgiven, in the sense of wonder and awe experienced at an infant’s birth, in the terror and fear of terminal disease or the death of a loved one, as well as in the hope for ethical truth. Yes, this search has taken many forms and led to the development of many, diverse religious traditions. What appears to be instinctive to us as human beings—the search for something more than the “this” that we can touch—has produced many insights into nature as well as into ourselves and the development of wisdom and virtue. Indeed, most religious traditions share the motivation to seek something “more” than life itself. Those other religions are not devoid of truth. Nor are they simply misguided or inherently dangerous. But, Christmas reminds us that religious differences are not trivial. This alternative religion would have us believe that the practice of Christianity is misguided and inherently dangerous as well as trivial and unimportant because Christianity is rooted in unsophisticated myths and endeavors to convince its adherents that this world is not what is important. Yes, of course, the story of Christmas sounds like the stuff of pure fantasy. Angels sent by God from heaven to earth. A virgin becomes pregnant. God is made flesh. Kings from the orient journey to meet and present gifts to this new king. But, that reveals this alternative religion’s central error: Who possibly could worship a God who is defined, understood, and explained solely through the power of human reason? Think about it. This could not possibly be the almighty God and Creator of the universe. No, it is only an idol which we have crafted in our image and likeness and, in the end, is a fiction utterly incapable of helping those who created this idol to deal adequately with all of their hopes and fears. The alternative religion of which I am speaking today would rather there be no other religion whose fundamental and distinctive doctrine would challenge the radical agenda this alternative religion proposes: a culture whose members seek happiness and fulfillment in the stuff of shopping malls and online websites. The Christian faith teaches something distinctive: God has reached down from heaven to grasp us and to draw us to Himself because we ultimately are incapable of reaching up to heaven and grasping hold of God. Christmas is the astounding story of how God became human in order that humans might become like God, reminding us of the loving God who cares so much for His creatures who, by the way, are utterly incapable of helping themselves, no matter how hard they try. We always seem to fall short or to fail, despite our best intentions. As C.S. Lewis has reminded us, when we experience in ourselves a desire which no experience in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that we have been made for another world. Our challenge is to consider that world and what is required to belong to that world. This Christmas day, let us rekindle that sense of Christian imagination which reminds us how the sentimental desires we experience this Christmas day provide hints and reminders of a wondrous birth—the Incarnation of God’s only begotten Son—which represents the culmination of all our hopes and in that culmination, leads us to realize their fulfillment is to be discovered in that “another world,” one not of our making...but of God’s creation. Each time we hear or sing the words “The hopes and fears of all the years are met in Thee tonight,” let us contemplate how that distinctive claim of our Christian faith teaches that each of us has been created for another world.
A brief
commercial break... As Catholics, one way to celebrate the Christmas season can also serve as a great catechetical tool. The popular song "The Twelve Days of Christmas" is usually viewed as simply a nonsense song for children with secular origins. However, some have suggested that it is a song of catechesis , perhaps dating to the 16th century religious wars in England, with hidden references to the basic teachings of the Catholic faith. As such, the song provided a mnemonic device to teach the catechism to young people. The "true love" mentioned in the song is not an earthly suitor, but refers to God Himself. The "me" who receives the presents refers to every baptized person who is part of the Catholic faith. Each of the "days" represents some aspect of the Catholic faith that was important for young people to learn...not only during the Reformation era but today, too! So, here's how to do this: Assign each of the 12 days to family members. Then, each evening as the family gathers for dinner, sing the appropriate verse(s) for the day. After singing the verse, have the family member assigned to that day describe the symbol and its religious significance. Praying the devotional for each day reinforces the symbol and its meaning. As the 12 days continue and the number of catechetical lessons increase, have different family members recall the meaning of each symbol. (I have borrowed what follows from Dennis Bratcher's website, "The Twelve Days of Christmas.)
(Click on each picture below to go to a devotional for that day)
On the 1st day of Christmas my true love gave to me...
A Partridge in a Pear Tree The partridge in a pear tree is Jesus the Christ, the Son of God, whose birthday we celebrate on December 25, the first day of Christmas. In the song, Christ is symbolically presented as a mother partridge that feigns injury to decoy predators from her helpless nestlings, recalling the expression of Christ's sadness over the fate of Jerusalem: "Jerusalem! Jerusalem! How often would I have sheltered you under my wings, as a hen does her chicks, but you would not have it so . . . ." (Luke 13:34)
On the 2nd day of Christmas my true love gave to me...
Two Turtle Doves The Old and New Testaments, which together bear witness to God's self-revelation in history and the creation of a people to tell the Story of God to the world.
On the 3rd day of Christmas my true love gave to me...
Three French Hens The Three Theological Virtues: 1) Faith, 2) Hope, and 3) Love (1 Corinthians 13:13)
On the 4th day of Christmas my true love gave to me...
Four Calling Birds The Four Gospels: 1) Matthew, 2) Mark, 3) Luke, and 4) John, which proclaim the Good News of God's reconciliation of the world to Himself in Jesus Christ.
On the 5th day of Christmas my true love gave to me...
Five Gold Rings The first Five Books of the Old Testament, known as the Torah or the Pentateuch: 1) Genesis, 2) Exodus, 3) Leviticus, 4) Numbers, and 5) Deuteronomy, which gives the history of humanity's sinful failure and God's response of grace in the creation of a people to be a light to the world.
On the 6th day of Christmas my true love gave to me...
Six Geese A-Laying The six days of creation that confesses God as Creator and Sustainer of the world (Genesis 1).
On the 7th day of Christmas my true love gave to me...
Seven Swans A-Swimming The seven gifts of the Holy Spirit: 1) prophecy, 2) ministry, 3) teaching, 4) exhortation, 5) giving, 6) leading, and 7) compassion (Romans 12:6-8; cf. 1 Corinthians 12:8-11)
On the 8th day of Christmas my true love gave to me...
Eight Maids A-Milking The eight Beatitudes: 1) Blessed are the poor in spirit, 2) those who mourn, 3) the meek, 4) those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, 5) the merciful, 6) the pure in heart, 7) the peacemakers, 8) those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake. (Matthew 5:3-10)
On the 9th day of Christmas my true love gave to me...
Nine Ladies Dancing The nine Fruit of the Holy Spirit: 1) love, 2) joy, 3) peace, 4) patience, 5) kindness, 6) generosity, 7) faithfulness, 8) gentleness, and 9) self-control. (Galatians 5:22)
On the 10th day of Christmas my true love gave to me...
Ten Lords A-Leaping The ten commandments: 1) You shall have no other gods before me; 2) Do not make an idol; 3) Do not take God's name in vain; 4) Remember the Sabbath Day; 5) Honor your father and mother; 6) Do not murder; 7) Do not commit adultery; 8) Do not steal; 9) Do not bear false witness; 10) Do not covet. (Exodus 20:1-17)
On the 11th day of Christmas my true love gave to me...
Eleven Pipers Piping The eleven Faithful Apostles: 1) Simon Peter, 2) Andrew, 3) James, 4) John, 5) Philip, 6) Bartholomew, 7) Matthew, 8) Thomas, 9) James bar Alphaeus, 10) Simon the Zealot, 11) Judas bar James. (Luke 6:14-16). The list does not include the twelfth disciple, Judas Iscariot who betrayed Jesus to the religious leaders and the Romans.
On the 12th day of Christmas my true love gave to me...
Twelve Drummers Drumming The twelve points of doctrine in the Apostles' Creed: 1) I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth. 2) I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord. 3) He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary. 4) He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended into hell [the grave]. 5) On the third day he rose again. He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father. 6) He will come again to judge the living and the dead. 7) I believe in the Holy Spirit, 8) the holy catholic Church, 9) the communion of saints, 10) the forgiveness of sins, 11) the resurrection of the body, 12) and life everlasting.
Epiphany, January 6 (celebrated in the United States on Sunday, January 2)
Participating in this catechetical activity during the Twelve Days of Christmas, the entire family can learn about and recall the basic elements of the Catholic faith.
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HOMILY
