The great season of hope is upon us. The other day I sat with an acquaintance. She and I have worked together for affordable housing in our city and state. We were talking about our plans for “the holidays.” She intends to visit family, as I do also.
Without realizing it, we were talking about Christmas. Our conversation gave us new hope. The conversation has stuck in my mind because she is not a Catholic, nor a Christian. I do not know if she professes any faith in God. Yet, we shared the Christmas hope, looking forward to these days with expectation and a desire for something new. Christmas gives everyone hope, even if the birth of Jesus is not their story. Isn’t it amazing how God sneaks up on us when we least expect it!
Deep in our hearts is this desire for a new beginning. Even if the “hoes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight,” the Christmas story offers “peace to men and women of good will.”
Catholics believe that we can be forgiven. Confessions offers us the healing we seek. It welcomes us home. Christmas and confession are all tied up together.
Confession is much more than getting rid of guilt. No, with confession we begin again. We are made new in the Child Jesus.
And our Church seeks and wants to begin again to be made new. We want to step from this Christmas into something holy. Can the Christmas candle renew us?
Anger, shame, and depression seem to be all around us. Let our very selves sing the words of hope. The words in the simple, ancient carol, “O Little Town of Bethlehem,” may help to heal us:
“Yet in they dark streets shineth,
The everlasting Light;
The hopes and fears of all the years,
Are met in thee tonight.”
Deep in our hearts we believe this carol. The birth of Jesus comes into the middle of a cold and heartless world. And yet, this Christmas story offers us a new start to this human mess that we call “the world.” Here, the hopes and fears of all the years truly are met in thee tonight.
Return to the story that begins our rebirth in faith, return to the little town of Bethlehem. What is our path out of our Church’s mess? Our path begins in Bethlehem.
I extend this welcome to one and all in this Christmas season. Join us for Midnight Mass or any other service to thanksgiving. These days offer to you the wonder and joy of the new beginning in Bethlehem.
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