CHRISTMAS EVE
THE SON OF DAVID
Praise to the Lord, the God of Israel!
For He has turned to His people and set
them free.
He has raised for us a strong deliverer
from the house of His servant David.
St.Luke 1: 68-9
Full readings: 2 Samuel 7:1-5,8-12,14,16; Psalm 89; St. Luke 1:67-79.
Both the Old and New Testament readings foretell the coming of a Ruler from the house of David who would be God's chosen one. Nathan, the prophet, assures King David that his House will rule for ever through the Anointed One, while Zechariah prophesies that this ruler from the house of David will set His people free from all oppression for which his son John will prepare the way. David had been the favoured king of the Lord in Israel, but this descendant of David would be so highly favoured by God that His rule would last for ever. Unlike David's kingdom which was divided and then disintegrated by both the Assyrian and Babylonian invasions, this kingdom would never fall. Under this ruler there would always be justice, unlike under David reign whose justice erred at times as in the case of Uriah.
Christ's lineage is also significant because King David was very special to the Jewish people. His rule was always looked upon as the golden age in Israel's history as there was no other to equal David in his service and faithfulness to Yahweh. Thus when the Jews were in exile they longed for a return to the days of King David. They believed that only a ruler like David could deliver them from their distress and desolation.
Yet when the Son of David was born in Bethlehem, for this was the home of Joseph through whom Christ claimed this lineage, his birth went unheralded by its citizens. We know only too well from the Christmas narratives of how Jesus came to be born in a stable and of how the only recognition to Him, apart from the angelic choirs of heaven, was from some lowly shepherds. This ignominious beginning was but a foretaste of how His own people who, although they longed for the promised Messiah, would either ignore or condemn His public ministry. Apart from the tumultuous welcome given to the Son of David on Palm Sunday, He found little favour in Israel. He was never to know the popularity of his ancestor, King David, even though He spoke with "authority" of a ruler. Indeed it was such "authority" that made the Jewish leaders feel threatened by Him; so threatened were they, that in the end they sought His death as they never understood by "whose authority" He spoke and did His works, and the reality of His kingdom.
Unlike King David whose rule was of this world and which one day would end, the Son of David's rule is of another world, the spiritual, and of this rule there is no end; His kingdom will last for all eternity. If we examine the criteria for Christ's rule we shall discover how different they are from his forfather. Essentially the ruler must be a servant to his people. Thus it is humility, poverty, peace and love, and not arrogance, wealth, oppression and ruthlessness which are the marks of such a King. Even Pilate on examining Jesus, knew that He and His kingdom were not of this world.
This Christ, born of David's line, beckons us this Christmas to be subjects of His heavenly kingdom. He desires us more than anything to forsake that worldly kingdom we have within, established by our seeking possessions, position and prestige. He cries out for us to seek the values of His kingdom and to be ruled by Him. Let us hear the small Child's voice who is born "in David's town this day" to be our Saviour and Lord.
O Son of David, born to be King but also a Saviour, give me grace to be a subject of Your heavenly kingdom. Fill me with humility, love, peace and meekness that I may be a worthy subject of Your kingdom. Amen.
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CHRISTMAS DAY
THE WORD WAS MADE FLESH
He came to His own, and His own people
would not accept Him. But to all who did
accept Him, to those who put their trust
in Him, He gave the right to become the
children of God, born not of human stock,
by the physical desire of a human father,
but of God. So the Word became flesh; He
made His home among us, and we saw His glory,
such glory as befits the Father's only Son,
full of grace and truth.
St. John 1:11-14
Full readings: Isaiah 52:7-10; Psalm 98; Hebrews 1:1-6; St. John 1:1-18.
Today's psalm opens with that wonderful declaration, "Sing a new song unto the Lord." Christmas day indeed heralds in a "new song", a new day, a new beginning, a new everything for Christ's birth marks the end of the old and the beginning of the new. No longer does the old Adam reign but the New Adam, sinlessness supplants sinfulness, and life overcomes death. In one of his nativity hymns Ephrem the Syrian, expresses the message of Christmas like this:
Travail Adam on the woman brought, that from him had come forth. She to-day her travail ransomed, who to her a Saviour bare! To Eve our mother birth a man gave, who had had no birth himself. How much more should Eve's daughter be believed to have borne a Child without a man! The virgin earth she bare that Adam that was head over the earth! The Virgin bare to-day the Adam that was Head
over the heavens. The staff of Aaron it budded and the dry wood yielded fruit! Its mystery is cleared up to-day, for virgin womb a Child has borne!
The Incarnation was THE event of History as God not only intervened but stepped into it by robing Himself in our flesh. We have only to recall that all historical events and dating since then are referred to as "Anno Domini" to be prompted of its premier place in History. God acted, leaping down from His "royal throne in heaven" in the silence of the night to come into our midst. "The Lord, before His Incarnation, let man experience all the bitterness of sin; all his powerlessness to eradicate it; and when all longed for a deliverer, then He appeared the all wise, and all powerful healer and helper." From darkness once again comes light; this light will illuminate everyone and everything. Nothing will be able to escape this light because it is the Babe lying in the manger who is also the Light of the world through which all is judged.
Thus the principal message of the Incarnation is salvation, for Christ came "to heal the hearts of men" and to restore us to our former glory. The wonder of this as the Caroline divine, Richard Stuart, points out that:
t pleased [God] ... that the same nature which caused our fall, should work our restoration that as we lost ourselves by presuming of men to become as gods; so the means of our recovery should be this alone, God Himself must become man. Hence the Word took flesh and Christ was made in all things like to His brethren.
As the second Adam, Christ came with grace to counter the malediction of the first Adam. Newman reminds us He was "the offspring of the old race, yet the beginning of the new creation of God". His was a life of sanctification as against a life of sin.
Furthermore the Incarnation gives a sacramental outlook on all life, the Church and the Sacraments. "The Church is in Christ as Eve was in Adam", and so it is "framed out of the very flesh, the very wounded and bleeding side of the Son of Man." Hence "the Church of Christ [is] ... His Body mystical." We who are "members of His ... Church" receive "His presence ... [which is] a true actual influence of grace whereby ... [we] live according to [His] godliness."
Consequently ever since the first Christians all life has been expressed as being sanctified by grace. Holiness is given to everything. Christmas has taught us that holiness and the ordariness of everyday living are inseparable, as are prayer and works, and contemplation and creativity.
As we worship the Holy Infant at Midnight Mass let our hearts be full of thanks, joy and love for Love incarnate. Such love enables us to aspire to our full potential as Christ's sister or brother, and to travel towards our native home. All darkness is dispersed by the Light who is now amongst us.
On this most blessed day let my heart rejoice in God my Saviour for He has done great things for me. Alleluia! Alleluia! Glory be to God in the highest. Alleluia!
THE NATIVITY LITANY
On this most holy of all nights when "the Awakener came down to awaken us from the slumber of sin", let me keep vigil so I may truly welcome Him who brings light.
On this most holy of all nights when the Serenity One came down to give us peace, let me keep vigil so I may truly welcome Him who brings goodwill.
On this most holy of all nights when the Humble One came down to cast off our pride, let me keep vigil so I may truly welcome Him who brings humility.
On this most holy of all nights when the Rich One came down to fill us with grace, let me keep vigil so I may truly welcome Him who brings life.
On this most holy of all nights when the Sweet One came down to fill us with all virtues, let me keep vigil so I may truly welcome Him who brings joy.
From my sin of pride, O Christ Child free me;
From my sin of anger, O Christ Child release me;
From my sin of envy, O Christ Child deliver me;
From my sin of greed, the Christ Child spare me;
From my sin of indifference, the Child Child heal me.
We praise and adore You for Your wondrous birth.
We praise and adore You for Your gift of love.
We praise and adore You for Your gift of reconciliation.
We praise and adore You for Your gift of freedom.
We praise and adore You for Your gift of peace.
We praise and adore You for Your gift of harmony.
O holy Child of Bethlehem enter my heart this night and fill it with love, compassion and gentleness.
O radiant Star of Bethlehem shine in my heart this night and fill it with bright beams to cast out all darkness.
O lowly Manger of Bethlehem abide in my heart this night and fill it with all meekness and purity.
Love came down at Christmas;
Love all lovely; Love Divine;
Love was born at Christmas,
Star and Angels gave the sign.
Worship we the Godhead;
Love Incarnate, Love Divine;
Worship we our Jesus:
But wherewith for sacred sign?
Love shall be our token,
Love be Yours and love be mine,
Love to God and all men;
Love for plea and gift and sign.
O Lord You emptied Yourself of all Your glory and power to be born as a Babe at Bethlehem in order to bring Life, Light and Truth into the world, let me empty myself of all kinds of selfishness so that You this Christmastide may also be born in my heart and make it Your dwelling place also. Amen.
O come let us adore Him! O come let adore Him! O come let us adore Him! Christ the Lord! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
