Merry Christmas!
The season has certainly evolved for me over the years, though as I reflect on this season, my message has been the same. Everyone belongs. Everything has a reason. Everything is gift.
I was recently sharing a story with my staff about a time I had to preach at the Children’s Mass on Christmas eve. This is the one which occurs usually around 4 pm or so. Church is often the last event before dinner and/or presents. Needless to say, the kids are even more anxious than usual, and the church is packed with them! It is also the Mass (one of only two times in the year) when the Church prescribes the reading of Jesus’ genealogy from Matthew – the long list of names that make up Jesus’ family tree. Important to be sure, but not the most compelling if you are 8 years old.
One year, I invited all the children to the front of the church to hold a long piece of pre-lit garland. As I read the Gospel, I pointed to each light with the idea that that light represented the name in Jesus’ lineage. If you are familiar with it, you know there are some people who have made some mistakes in that reading. When I got to those names, those particular lights did not burn as brightly or were burned out completely.
After I was done reading and pointing, I went back to the lights that were not working so well, pulled out that light. Of course, the whole strand goes out. I told the kids, this is the lesson: even if we think that this light is broken, it still has to be there in order for the strand to function. The same is true with each of us. We all work because we are here, not necessarily because we shine brightly.
May we all remember this in the coming year.