Christ our Light!
Christmas Eve Homily
How does it feel to be in the midst of darkness! What are your feelings! Fear (afraid), confused, lost, abandoned, neglected, etc..
When you began to see light, how does it feel? Do you feel the joy coming out from your heart, gladness, gratitude, happiness, bliss, satisfaction etc.
My dear friends, Christ comes to bring light into the darkness that surrounds us. This is what our first reading clearly tells us today. Christ as lights is also the reason why we put Christmas decors with bright colors all around us. It is Christ that we are reminded of when we light candles and adorned out homes and halls with Christmas lights. “People who walked in darkness have seen a great light!” the prophet Isaiah said it very well for us. That is why Saint Paul calls the Christians of his time, “Children of Light”.
Now the light of Jesus Christ is not one that fades, is consumed and eventually dies. For Christ Jesus choose it best to be in flesh and blood, to be one with us at all times in order to effect the salvation promised for his faithful people. As Saint Paul would say to Titus, “the grace of God has appeared, saving all and training us to reject godless ways and worldly disires…”
Now, our waiting is over, we are no longer supposed to be groping in the dark for Christ our light is here with us! So, it has to be Jesus who will light and guide our path.
In a book of compiled sermons, a Welshman described his going home. He says the little children look through the windows and see him coming and with trembling lips cry out, ‘Mother, father’s coming home” The mother exclaims, “Then bar the windows and shut the doors, for your father is a maniac,” and every door is fastened and window shut. Then he describes how they look through the chinks and the windows and say once again, “Mother, it is not father it looks like him, but he is walking up the path and coming quietly toward the house.” But the mother exclaims: “Keep perfectly still, for your poor father is not himself.” Suddenly there is a hand placed upon the latch of the door, and it does not yield, and then a quiet knocking is heard, and at last a voice which they have not heard for years, “Mary, please open the door and let me come in, for I have seen Jesus of Nazareth, and he has set me free. Let me come in and I will be a good husband to you and a good father to the children,” and Christmas Evans says the door was instantly thrown wide open, and when the husband and father came in he brought heaven in with him.
That is the beautiful conversion story of Christian Evans, one of the renowned Christian preachers who himself experienced the transformning power of Christ’ Light in his life.
Finally, Christmas seems not complete if I will not mention Santa Claus. But let me share with you why Jesus as our Light is better than Santa Claus:
Santa lives at the North Pole. JESUS is everywhere.
Santa rides in a sleigh. JESUS rides on the wind and walks on the water.
Santa comes but once a year. JESUS is an ever present help.
Santa fills your stockings with goodies. JESUS supplies all your needs.
Santa comes down your chimney uninvited. JESUS stands at your door and knocks.. and then enters your heart.
You have to stand in line to see Santa. JESUS is as close as the mention of His name.
Santa lets you sit on his lap. JESUS lets you rest in His arms.
Santa doesn’t know your name, all he can say is “Hi little boy or girl, What’s your name?”
JESUS knew our name before we did. Not only does He know our name, He knows our address too. He knows our history and future and He even knows how many hairs are on our heads.
Santa has a belly like a bowl full of jelly. JESUS has a heart full of love.
All Santa can offer is HO HO HO. JESUS offers health, help and hope.
Santa says “You better not cry”. JESUS says “Cast all your cares on me for I care for you.
Santa’s little helpers make toys. JESUS makes new life, mends wounded hearts, repairs broken homes and builds mansions.
Santa may make you chuckle but JESUS gives you joy that is your strength.
While Santa puts gifts under your tree JESUS became our gift and died on the tree.
It’s obvious there is really no comparison. Jesus is way up and beyond santa. Yet we need to remember WHO Christmas is all about. Jesus is the reason for the Season. For he comes to be our light! MERRY CHRISTMAS!
Éditions Verbum Bible 