News Release

THE FOUR JOURNEYS TO CHRISTMAS

Which way will you take?

By

Fr. Bill McCarthy, MSA

The Secular Humanists

During this time of the year many will take the journey of political correctness.  They will celebrate a Christmas without Christ so as not to be offensive to their fellow humanists.  They will celebrate these days singing secular Christmas carols about Santa, reindeers – especially Rudolph.  They will have a Christmas tree, but they will greet their friends with Happy Holidays.  Most likely they will attend an office party with all its tipsiness.  They will send secular cards and give non-religious gifts.

Born in a Stable 2009 Years Ago

The second journey will be of the person who realizes that Christ is the reason for the season.  He will sign Silent Night and Come All Ye Faithful and even have an advent wreath.  He most likely will have a manger with Mary, Joseph and the Baby Jesus, the wise men, sheep and shepherds.  He will remember an event that took place 2009 years ago when the Son of God became man – an awesome mystery to be sure.  He will give and exchange Christmas presents, many of which will be religious and will send out Christmas cards with a religious Christmas stamp attached.  He will attend Church often, but especially on Christmas Day.

Christ-mass

The third traveler will be the Catholic Christian who realizes that Christ became incarnate, not only to be born in a stable years ago, but also to be born anew on altars throughout the world at each and every Mass.  The Son of God now becomes incarnate, body, blood, soul and divinity – to be received by all the faithful.  Mass will be central even during Advent and throughout the year.  He or she will draw their light from the Eucharist.

Christ in Us – His Mystical Body

The fourth traveler will be the true Christian who realizes that Jesus became incarnate, not only to be born in a stable, nor even on our altars, as awesome as these mysteries are; but primarily to be born anew in us – His Mystical Body, so that we can say, “I live now, not I, but Christ lives in me.”  My heart is His birthplace; my spirit is His tabernacle; my life is His home.  I must allow Him to enlighten my mind so that daily I may think as He things; to enflame my heart so that always I love as He loves and to empower my spirit that I may walk in His ways continuing across my time and space His redemptive, healing and evangelizing work.  Yes Christ in us makes us the hope of the world.  Through us His Light will shine into a broken world.