HOMILY FOR THE MIDNIGHT MASS OF THE SOLEMNITY OF THE NATIVITY OF OUR LORD
Rev. Fr. Ezekoka Peter Onyekachi
It is Christmas. We congratulate ourselves for sustaining the hope of expectation. Now, we can sing the Gloria. It is the night of nights, the night celebrating the birth of the Lord. It is the birth that marked some continuity in discontinuity in the history of humanity. What do I mean by that? Socio-economically, the birth of Jesus inaugurated a fresh calculation in the global calendar. Thus, without any breakage in history, emphasis was shifted to Anno Domini. The birth of the Lord became an epicentre of the global history. Spiritually, the birth of the Lord marked a palpable step by God towards the liberation of humanity in the hypostatic union (the divine-human union in Christ). The oracle of Isaiah was fulfilled. Our victory over sin and death has received an insurmountable appearance. Humanity has indeed received the omnipotent back-up. She has received her greatest privilege of having God in the form with which he made us. This is Christmas.
It was a silent night as Mary and Joseph were on their way to register for census (cf. The Gospel; Luke 2:11-14). The most honourable man of the world, Caesar Augustus’ decree from Rome had affected the location of an insignificant couple living in Nazareth to move to their home, Bethlehem in Judaea. So, this decree initiated the movement that put Mary into labour. No one knew that that decree and the movement of this couple would bring about the most important meetings. On that night, a meeting of heaven and earth was made. God and humanity embraced. The child was born in a manger. And this resulted into a heavenly chorus by the angels. An angel had to appear to some shepherds to proclaim this news of great joy that Christ has been born. The shepherds became the most privileged as the status of their career would be borne by this king. The child would later call himself the good shepherd. God’s ways are always amazing to us. He chooses the weak, the poor, and the marginalized to make very important messages known to all. Most probably, this must be a divine effort to teach human beings the importance of equality and respect of all regardless of earthly level.
The angels sang and the shepherds hurried to discover the great news. Surely, they did the same thing the angels had done earlier: they went back praising God for such revelation. Yes, the King has been born. The silence of the night has been been shattered by the heavenly and an earthly chorus. The hypostatic union has been visible effected. Yes, the Light has been born to dispel the darkness of the night. The people that walked in darkness has seen a great light. With these words, the First Reading (Isaiah 9:1-7) ushers us into the spirit of Christmas. It is the season of light and beauty. The righteous reign of the coming king has finally come. No more sorrows, no more weeping and no more depression. The light has come to dispel the sorrows of darkness and to illumine us with its powerful rays. And as Paul wrote to Timothy (cf. Second Reading; Titus 2:11-14), God’s grace has been revealed to such an extent that salvation is now available for the whole human race. And as those who have found the most precious pearl, is it not time to give up everything that distracts us so as to embrace this salvation? Thus, Christmas has to be celebrated then for what it truly is.
Christmas uplifts. The season of Christmas is here to initiate such grace of importance and elevation. Christmas initiates a paradigm shift in the life of all; it raises a nobody to somebody, the rejected to most welcomed, the disregarded to most regarded, and the forsaken to most visited. It is not for no reason that the first witnesses of the nativity of Christ were the shepherds. Shepherds were those looked down upon, and they were not respected. Yet, they were the first witnesses of the nativity.
Christmas signifies a defeat of sin and shame fanned by the arch enemy of God, the devil. Christ is born in our midst to save us and to ensure that the devil is completely destroyed. We must conform our lives to that of the king for a total crush of the enemy and for the holistic salvation of our body and souls.
Christmas makes us reflect on the great mystery of the God-man’s nativity which has the foundation of God’s love for humanity. We must develop serious love for humanity and for the earth. We must care for the earth and must show some charity to our neighbours.
Christmas must make us to glorify God. We must glorify and thank God for the super opportunity He has given us in Jesus. So, Christmas should never pass by without our offering great words of blessing to God for this singular favour. We can as well learn through this act to thank those who were of help to us in the past. Saying thank you does not cost us anything, but even adds more to what we are. We say thanks to all who remembered to wish us a merry Christmas. Let joy be felt everywhere around us.
Happy Christmas, dear Friends. Felix Navidad. May the Christmas season usher new tidings, joy, peace and love to our homes and our lives. God bless you.
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