St.  Thomas Aquinas University Parish

-There are so many great blessings that come our way because of the great gift that is Christmas.  God Himself became one of us, and not only one of us, but started out as we start out, in the womb of His mother Mary and then experienced all that we do growing up.  I really believe that because our Lord Jesus who came to this earth to save us from our sins, to give us everlasting life, and to show us how to truly live, came to us as a Child to let us know that when you get down to it, Christmas is really all about children and those who can be like children, those who have a great sense of anticipation, wonder and awe.
-So very often, as we should, we think about our Lord Jesus as an adult, most especially as he might look either on the Cross, dying so that we can be saved, or as how he looked after his resurrection, triumphant and victorious.
-But it is a good thing every now and then to picture him as a child to get some very good lessons on how we should live. So what can we learn on this Christmas day from Jesus’ early years as a boy there in Nazareth?
-Luke gives to us in his Gospel a summary statement about the character of the young Jesus:  “And the Child grew and became strong in spirit, filled with wisdom; and the grace of God was upon Him” (Luke 2:40).
-This is the kind of description that is easy to read right over, but let’s ponder what Luke is telling us about the young Jesus.
-First, Jesus became “strong in spirit.” Jesus grew into a young person of strength. Physically, of course, but spiritually even more.  Now he of course was God, so how could he not be strong in spirit?  But he showed those around him what strength of spirit is.
-Sometimes in modern society, being religious is thought of as something that makes one weak. But true spiritual character is something that takes strength. To make right decisions and conduct oneself with integrity so that we are always the same person, requires strength, backbone and courage. Jesus had all three and shows us how to use all three.
-Second, Jesus was “filled with wisdom.” Wisdom is basically learning what is right, what leads us to God and then practically applying that knowledge to everyday life. This part of the quote tells us that Jesus not only applied himself to learning in his human nature but practiced wisdom in his life even as a child. As we study his life during his ministry, we see many instances when he exercised perfect wisdom. That wisdom didn’t magically appear when He became an adult; it was carefully built in his life from childhood.  Now he of course is Wisdom Itself, but Jesus shows us that no matter how old we are, wisdom should be very strong in our lives.
-Third, “the grace of God was upon Him.” That can sound like just religious speech or one could say, “Well yeah, he was God, of course grace was upon him.” But we shouldn’t just lightly read over those words. Grace, in this context, refers to the Father, and that the favor of the Father and his blessing was upon him, protecting him from a young age.  
-Luke’s three-point description of Jesus as a young person gives us a blueprint, especially for our young people on how to live their lives.
-From an early age, a person can develop strength of character, learn and practice wisdom, and always put oneself into a position to be blessed by God.
-But another thing that we can learn for those of us who would like to remain childlike before our God, is to always be open to all sorts of things through our sense of wonder.
-First of all, never lose your sense of wonder.  We hear the Christmas story so often that there is always the danger that it will become dull.  But there is nothing dull about the fact that God became man!  So here are three things to ponder about on this Christmas day, a few examples of how wonder can keep the gift of Christmas fully alive.
-So first of all, take a look at the wonder of the first Christmas setting. A whole lot of paradoxes going on there.  The Almighty One, becomes a weak one, as God the Eternal One becomes a baby relying on others for help.  The great King of the Universe leaves His throne in heaven and makes his throne here on earth, but where?  In a manger, a feeding trough for animals in a cave!  This is just humble preparation for the other great throne for the King as some years later, the Cross would also be a throne for our Lord Jesus. 
-The one who made time and space, was born in a cave because his parents couldn’t find space for him to even be born.  The one who is beyond time, became part of time as he experienced life as one of us. And he did this all because of a gift—the gift of new life for those who believe in him.  That is an unbelievable amount of humility.  And why was God so humble?  He had to come down here to save us. 
-Second, let us wonder on this question:  what was the very first Christmas song?  There were two pre-Christmas songs, one from Zechariah when he got his voice back upon the birth and dedication of his son, John the Baptist, “Blessed be the Lord the God of Israel…” And there was also the canticle, the song from Mary in her Magnificat:  “My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord…”. But what was the very first Christmas song?
-The wonder of the first Christmas song is that is says so much with so few words.
On that first Christmas night we hear the mighty choir of angels singing and the paradox here is once again wonderful.  Here is the greatest choir ever assembled on earth to sing the greatest hymn of praise and the audience?  A handful of shepherds! Nothing was too extravagant to bear witness to the wonder of the Incarnation. 
-“Glory to God in the highest and peace on earth to those in whom God is well pleased.”  That is the first Christmas song, and this song tells us that even for us today, God will bless us with super-abundance of good, peace, beauty and truth.
-But the final thing to wonder about is this:  what was the first Christmas homily?
-It is the good news given at first to a few but meant for all people and for all times.
If we look at the writing of St. Luke’ Gospel, this first Christmas homily actually comes right before the first Christmas song and it too is delivered by an angel to the shepherds:  “Do not be afraid, for behold, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.  For today in the city of David a savior has been born for you who is Messiah and Lord…”.
-What is so wonderful about that and how should this help us to keep our wonder throughout out lives?  The long awaited one is here!  We don’t have to wait for our salvation any longer.  And for those of us who are here at this Mass, the long awaited one, the same long awaited one, the same Jesus Christ, the Messiah King is right here at this Mass and will soon be on your tongue for those of you who can receive Holy Communion and then soon be in your blood, in your heart, in your soul and in your life.
-The great King humbled himself so that in our following his example, in our humility, the very life of heaven itself may be ours.
 -Yes, keep the Christmas blessings going continually in your lives; imitate our Lord Jesus in his love, in his mercy, be kind like he was kind, stern to keep the truth as he did, eager to bring peace as he himself is peace, but perhaps most of all, imitate our Lord in his humility. 
-And to drive this point home, I’ll leave you with this quote from St. Anthony of Padua:
            ““O Father, in your Truth (that is to say, in your Son, humbled, needy and homeless) you have humbled me. He was humbled in the womb of the Virgin, needy in the manger of the sheep, and homeless on the wood of the Cross. Nothing so humbles the proud sinner as the humility of Jesus Christ’s humanity.”
 
   Fr. Michael DePalma