For this post, I am simply sharing a post I did on December 21 of last year, in which I discussed the uniquely Catholic meaning of Christmas. We are now in the last week of Advent, so now it is appropriate to begin reflections on Christmas. Up until this point in Advent, we really should have been focusing more on Christ's coming at the end of our lives, and at the end of the world, more so than his coming in Bethlehem 2000 plus years ago. However, the focus in the liturgy changes now, and ours should, as well.
The best way to celebrate Christmas is by going to Mass.
Here is that aforementioned post from last December:
Christmas means something for everyone. It means something for people of all faiths, and no faith. However, and I apologize if this does not sound ecumenical, but I speak the truth. If you are not Catholic, or are Catholic and do not practice your faith, you are missing out on the full meaning of Christmas.
Let's take a look at a few things:
1) Christmas literally means "Christ's Mass". If one does not go to Mass at Christmas, he or she misses the center of the entire day. It would be like visiting a beautiful scene of nature, but on a cloudy day. There is something there, but there is no light to illuminate the fullness of it.
2) Christ was born in Bethlehem. Bethlehem literally means "City of Bread". Christ is the Bread of Life. He says that whoever does not eat His flesh and drink His blood, has no life in him. (John 6:53). If one does not consume the Eucharist on Christmas Day, again he or she misses out on the full meaning of the day.
3) Christ was born in a manger. A manger is where animals eat from. There is some symbolism to this. This points to the reality that we are all destined to eat from Our Lord's Body and Blood. We are called to consume Him. We are called to the Sacrifice of the Mass.
I heard a homily tonight at the Shrine in which the priest politely challenged us to re-think the accuracy of the phrase "Jesus is the reason for the season." He said that rather, we are the reason for the season. At first, that sounds a little selfish, but if you think about it, Our Lord became man for us, not for Himself. He had all His glory. He desired to share it with us. We needed Him, He didn't need us, but He loved us anyway, and became man to draw us into His Divine life. So, really, the season is about us because Our Lord did what He did 2000 years ago for us.
So let's go back to the first point above. Christmas does not mean Christ's birth, it means Christ's Mass. So, really we are celebrating going to Mass today to honor our Lord's birth, not so much the birth itself. What happens at Mass? We go to heaven! Through the Mass, we enter the glory of the eternal Kingdom, where there is always praise and worship of God. Through the Mass, the Sacrifice of Christ on the Cross is represented, and we participate in that Sacrifice. Our Lord became man so that He could be sacrificed, to pay the price for our sins, and in doing so, raise all human nature to glory.
Again, Our Lord comes down to become man, and in the Mass, we rise up to His glory! What an exchange! And really, despite what seems the contrary, it is really the latter we celebrate at Christmas more than the former. Christmas is Christ's Mass! Christ's Mass is for us! Therefore, Christmas is about us! We, the redeemed by the Blood of Christ, are indeed the reason for the season!
In what humility we must recognize this truth. This is Catholic truth. Catholic means "universal". This means this truth is universal for everyone. Christ becomes bread for us, and we must eat His bread and drink His blood to have life.
Come to Mass this Christmas!
Saint Joseph, Protector of Holy Church, pray for us.
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