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Christmas, 2020
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Christmas Mass of the Day
“From Bethlehem to Heaven”
Msgr. Thomas Gervasio
Merry Christmas, a Blessed Christmas to all! Trying to get into the spirit of this Christmas, unlike any other, I thought I would take in a Christmas movie or two. The TV line-up was not exactly what I had in mind. Some of the Christmas movie titles were:How the Toys Saved Christmas
Santa with Muscles
The Nightmare Before Christmas
Silent Night, Deadly Night
The Madagascar Penguins in a Christmas Caper
Single Santa Meets Mrs. Claus
Three Wise Guys
A Chipmunk Christmas
and what has apparently become a cult favorite,
Santa Claus Conquers the Martians
But we have gathered here because we know that the true meaning of this feast is found elsewhere. It is found in the obscure village of Bethlehem where in a stable cave, the decisive event of all history took place. There a child was born; but he was no ordinary child. It is faith that helps us see and understand the meaning of that birth.
The Church seeks to convey the meaning through the readings of Scripture readings of the Mass for Christmas Day. Curiously, they are devoid of those familiar and beloved images that evoke for us the Christmas feast…Mary, Joseph, the angelic choirs, or even the excited shepherds! The manger or even the Divine Infant in swaddling clothes is mentioned. In this third Mass of Christmas, we are transported with the help of St. John from Bethlehem to where it all began, so to speak—the glory of heaven.
The Infant whose birth we celebrate is no ordinary Infant but is, as we profess in the Creed, the Only begotten Son of God, born of the Father before all ages, God from God, Light from Light, True God from True God, begotten not made, consubstantial with the Father, through whom all things were made.” This the foundation, the meaning of our feast.
The all-powerful God put off his glory to take on our frail humanity. Through this Incarnation, God is with us. He is not far removed or distant. He is not a God to be feared or avoided, but a God who is moved by our pains and participates in our struggles—a great truth to remember in this COVID time. We have then the courage to go to him not in fear and trembling but with confidence. He understands. He is God with us.
This week, a deacon friend from Italy, sent me the text of a “Letter to Jesus” which I translated to share with you. The author speaks with confidence and affection to the Divine Infant in the manger:Dear Jesus,
Please excuse me if I am disturbing you. In these days, I know that many people want to speak to you—with a prayer, a petition, or even with a complaint or cruel word. Jesus, you know that when the sea is stormy, even those who never give you a thought, turn to you. No, Jesus, I do not wish to disturb you, but just as I as a child would write a letter to Father Christmas, I would like to unburden my heart to you. Bring peace to this suffering world, to those who lost a relative or dear friend, to families that are afraid, to the elderly who are even more lonely, to those alone in hospital rooms, to parents who struggle with the problems of family life, to those who work night and day to provide food for their table. Instill some peace and a bit of love into the hearts of each of us on this Christmas that is so strange, so different, I ask nothing more, for we need nothing more. We have come to realize that gifts and the season’s hustle and bustle do not bring us true happiness. It is a strange Christmas but perhaps more genuine, more authentic. We are beginning to understand that for it to be truly, but truly Christmas, we need You, only You, O Jesus.
Christmas Vigil & NightThe Great Discovery of Bethlehem
Msgr. Thomas Gervasio
Merry Christmas, a Blessed Christmas to all! Trying to get into the spirit of this Christmas, unlike any other, I thought I would take in a Christmas movie or two. The TV line-up was not exactly what I had in mind. Some of the Christmas movie titles were:How the Toys Saved Christmas
Santa with Muscles
The Nightmare Before Christmas
Silent Night, Deadly Night
The Madagascar Penguins in a Christmas Caper
Single Santa Meets Mrs. Claus
Three Wise Guys
A Chipmunk Christmas
and what has apparently become a cult favorite,
Santa Claus Conquers the Martians
But we have gathered here because we know that the true meaning of this feast is found elsewhere. It is found in the obscure village of Bethlehem where in a stable cave, the decisive event of all history took place. There a child was born; but he was no ordinary child. It is faith that helps us see and understand the meaning of that birth.
The Ven. Fulton Sheen described it this way: “In the filthiest place in the world, purity was born. He, who would call himself the ‘living Bread’ was laid in a manger, literally, a place to eat. He who made the sun to warm the earth, would need the animals to warm him with their breath. He, from whose hands came planets and worlds, would have arms not long enough to touch heads of the cattle. Omnipotence was wrapped in swaddling clothes.”
The Creed describes the Infant in the manger as: “God from God, Light from Light, True God from True God, begotten, not made consubstantial with the Father; through him all things were made.”
Bethlehem is the link between heaven and earth, the meeting place of God and man. For us, it means that in his immense love for us, God chose to enter the world, not as a majestic king or mighty conqueror, but by seeking out the humility of a manger. It means that the all-powerful God put off his glory so that in the Infant lying in a manger, we might gaze upon the face of God.
Through the Incarnation and birth in Bethlehem, God is with us. He is not far removed from us. He is not a God to be feared or avoided. but a God who is moved by our pains and participates in our human struggle. How important it is for us to remember this truth during this COVID days.
This week, a deacon friend from Italy, sent me the text of a “Letter to Jesus” which I translated to share with you. The author speaks to the Divine Infant in the manger:Dear Jesus,
Please excuse me if I am disturbing you. In these days, I know that many people want to speak to you—with a prayer, a petition, or even with a complaint or cruel word. Jesus, you know that when the sea is stormy, even those who never give you a thought, turn to you. No, Jesus, I do not wish to disturb you, but just as I as a child would write a letter to Father Christmas, I would like to unburden my heart to you. Bring peace to this suffering world, to those who lost a relative or dear friend, to families that are afraid, to the elderly who are even more lonely, to those alone in hospital rooms, to parents who struggle with the problems of family life, to those who work night and day to provide food for their table. Instill some peace and a bit of love into the hearts of each of us on this Christmas that is so strange, so different, I ask nothing more, for we need nothing more. We have come to realize that gifts and the season’s hustle and bustle do not bring us true happiness. It is a strange Christmas but perhaps more genuine, more authentic. We are beginning to understand that for it to be truly, but truly Christmas, we need You, only You, O Jesus.