The Meaning of Christmas

Here are some pre-Christmas thoughts I wrote for the bulletin as we come close to Christmas.

Well, here we are just a few days till Christmas.  We will celebrate Masses as follows:

• Christmas Eve
  • 4:00 p.m. Children’s Christmas Pageant with Mass immediately following
  • 6:30 p.m.
  • 11:00 p.m. with Christmas Music beginning at 10:15 p.m.
• Christmas Morning
  • 10 a.m.

To me the best part of Christmas is being at Mass.  We hear readings that tell us the story of Jesus’ birth.  We see the manger with Jesus in it surrounded by Mary, Joseph, the shepherds and the animals.  It is truly a holy time of year as witnessed by the great numbers we see.

Are you ready?  Have you finished your shopping?  Are your travel plans or guest arrival plans set?  Is everything decorated? All these things may seem important and necessary but they are not the most important thing about Christmas.  Children love to see Santa but what is Christmas really about?

A couple of years ago someone sent me an email link to a music video of a song called “Where’s the Line to See Jesus” by Becky Kelley.  Each year since I watch the video a couple of times as we approach Christmas and it can still bring tears to my eyes (as I write this I am playing the video and there are tears in my eyes)!  If you do an Internet search on the title, links to the video as well as the story behind the song.

Christmas is about Jesus.  Christmas is not just a single day.  Next Sunday we will celebrate the feast of the Holy Family, Jesus, Mary, and Joseph.  We celebrate Mary as Mother of God on January 1^st, followed by Epiphany the weekend of January 4^th.  Christmas will draw to a close with the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord on January 11^th.

So when you ask if you are ready for Christmas, think about what it really means and ask yourself are you ready to have Jesus in your heart every day.

Peace,

Fr. Jeff