December 24-25

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

“The Glory of the Lord has shown upon us.”   This acclamation of the heavenly host to humble shepherds never ceases to lift our hearts.  Just as those “little people” were filled with awe and wonder and I’m sure a fair amount of fright, so too are we affected by the same emotions,  “For unto us a Son is given….”  In his incomparable MESSIAH, George Fredrick Handel repeats this phrase numerous times and ever so dramatically to convey the truth of the Son of God coming to us. Indeed, it would be beneficial to us to silently and orally repeat this message of great tidings throughout the Christmas season.  We need to let it sink in.

     Sometimes I think it would be better for us to strip away all the tinsel and schmaltz and climb spiritually into the cave of Bethlehem to experience the abject poverty, the cold, the rancid odors of those surroundings and yet at the same time be warmed by the love of mother and Child and foster father.  Have our Christmases become a bit too cluttered with the unessentials at the expense of what really matters?  That is why I suggest repeating:”…unto us a Son is given”.  It takes time and effort to contemplate and digest the wonder of God’s love in sending His Son to us, and the great mystery is that it was not just one day two millennia ago.  No it is today and tomorrow and the next day, until the end of time.  The Lord Jesus Christ never stops coming to us.  Can we say the same about coming to Him?  

    So, perhaps this Christmas can be a little different.   Since His First Coming was to renew Creation and prepare for our sanctification maybe we can start anew in coming to Him, most especially in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass because:..”unto us a Son is given.”   Come let us adore Him.

A Blessed Christmas to you and all your loved ones,

Father Langan