Weekly HOMILY for December 13, 2009: Capturing Christmas Through Customs

3rd Sunday of Advent, Cycle C
Our Lady of Grace
December 13, 2009

Capturing Christmas Through Customs
By (Rev. Msgr.) Nicholas P. Amato


Personal Trees

Take a walk around Valley View Farms and you can be literally inundated with different kinds of brightly decorated holiday trees.

And note that they are often called “holiday” trees; God forbid you should use the words “Christmas” tree! Many of these trees have a theme.

Just for kicks I stopped by Valley View Farms on Friday and counted 55 different styles of trees. They included Victorian, cowboy, stuffed toys, sports, Ravens, NFL logos, a variety of dogs, one with all cats, another all birds.

There were trees with a musical theme, outdoor theme, a Star Wars theme and a NASCAR theme.

The ultimate may be a tree for coffee lovers, with Dunkin Donuts and Starbucks decorations.


The Baptist: Beyond Self

Now, I have to say the trees do look beautiful, appear clever, and are even filled with fun, but the more I thought about it, the more I saw an issue with these theme trees.

In a way, don’t they miss the point of Christmas? Christmas is not about my favorite style of decorations or my favorite hobby or interest.

In short Christmas is not about me. Instead, every Advent, including today’s Advent Gospel, has John the Baptist proclaiming the true meaning of what we are preparing to celebrate.

John the Baptist is calling us to look at new possibilities for our living today. He is calling us to follow a star and to discover a relationship with someone outside of my own orbit, so to speak.

The Baptist calls us to something that is more than just my own satisfaction or happiness in limited things like an interest, hobby, pastime or activity.

He calls us to celebrate something bigger than ourselves.


Our Customs and God’s Word

And so, what I suggest is that in these days of Advent, and of getting ready for Christmas, we try to reclaim what is at the heart of Christmas.

Yes, many of our customs are good. And yes, we can allow them to speak of what Christmas is really all about.

CARDS: For example, let’s send Christmas cards that convey the “good news.” This is the heart of the message of John in today’s Gospel.

“He preached good news to the people,” the good news that “one mightier than I is coming.” Our Christmas cards can proclaim this Good News. It may be interesting to see who are the folks in your life who send and receive “Good News” Christmas cards.

LIGHTS: Let’s allow the strings of lights on our Christmas trees or on our house speak of the light and presence of Jesus in our lives. The prophet Zephaniah in the first reading says: “The Lord is in your midst; you have nothing to fear.” The lights are Christ dispelling the gloom of night.

Saint Paul in the second reading repeats the same idea: “The Lord is near.” Our lights can proclaim the presence of the One who is the Light and who is the heart of the Good News.

CAROLS: Let’s allow our Christmas carols to sing of our joy in the Lord. Again, the prophet says today: “Shout for joy, O daughter Zion! Sing joyfully, O Israel!”

And Saint Paul says: “Rejoice in the Lord always. I say it again: Rejoice.” We sing carols and are joyful because it is the very Lord we experience in our midst, in our prayer, in our celebrations.

HOSPITALITY: Let us allow our hospitality in this season to speak of peace to each other. Saint Paul says it so well today.

If we realize that the Lord is with us, then “the peace of God will guard our hearts and minds.” So our greeting of one another, our hospitality toward others in our homes, workplaces, or schools will not be superficial, but will speak of the peace and oneness that is possible through knowing the Lord Jesus.


The Conclusion: Gift-Giving

GIFT GIVING: Finally, let us allow our gift giving to be the highpoint of all of these customs.

Our gift may be a Raven’s jersey, Wii game, jewelry, sweater, or gift certificate, but what is important to give?

That’s really what all the people in today’s Gospel are asking John the Baptist. They all ask: “What are we to do?”

And John’s answer, to each group, is the same: be fair, just, compassionate, and charitable. That is the real gift we are to give to each other.

Because being fair or just or compassionate or charitable is really the gift of self. And when we give ourselves, then we are doing exactly what God does for us at Christmas in giving us his Son.

CARDS, LIGHTS, CAROLS, HOSPITALITY, AND GIFTS – all items, if given a second look, help us capture the real meaning of this Christmas and actually help us live it.