All hearts in Bethlehem
Reflection on Christmas Midnight Mass December 24, 2024
Isaiah 9:1-6; Ps 95; Titus 2:11-14; Luc 2:1-14
Beloved in Christ, tonight the whole universe’s focus is in Bethlehem, the birthplace of Jesus Christ. Yes, Bethlehem, “House of Bread”,
draws our attention to Jesus who comes to us as the “Bread of life” who will satisfy our hunger and quench our thirst (John 8:35). Jesus wants to make every “Bethlehem”, that is a place of his birth. He is coming to dwell in our hearts and in our world in order to set us free from our darkness and give us peace and light. Isaiah reminds us that in Jesus, “the people who were walking in darkness have seen the great light and anyone who dwells in the land of gloom, a light has shone.” Yes in Bethlehem, the light is born to light up our lives.
In Bethlehem, Titus reminds us that the grace of God has been manifested to all people. Bethlehem invites us to reject godless ways and worldly desires and to live temperately, justly and devoutly. In today’s Gospel, we discovered that the first people to meet with Jesus face to face were shepherds, who usually were separated from the people; they lived with sheep and smelt like the sheep. They were on the margins of society. Bethlehem is once again a reminder that God loves the unlovely so shall we love those who are rejected, the unimportant, unloved and outcast. All are important in God’s eyes.
Finally, Bethlehem reminds us of the rejection of Christ by the famous people, the powerful of this world and the rich. “There was no room for Joseph and Mary in the Inn”. Today, Christ is still rejected in our world by the futile logic of war, the clash of arms, the hatred of one another, the discrimination, the rejection of others on the basis of race or tribe or origin, unforgiveness and unrepentance. But beyond all let Bethlehem be a great reminder of Mary and Joseph, the Shepherds and the magi who all set their hearts in Jesus. They did not speak, They worshiped. So let’s worship Him. “O Come Let us adore Him, Christ, the Lord”
The Word Became Flesh
Reflection on Christmas Day Mass
December 25, 2024
Isaiah 52:7-10; Ps 97; He 1:1-6; John 1 2:1-18
Dear Sisters and brothers in Christ, Christmas is all about love. The One who was eternally with God has come to visit us. Let’s reflect on the powerful word of St. John when he tells us that, “The Word became flesh”.(John 1:14) Because of his infinite love God assumes completely our human condition. The word flesh evokes our human frailty. The Letter to Hebrews tells us that:
“He had been made like us, fully human in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God.” (Hebrews 2:17).
He became flesh for our sake with no exception. Isaiah the Prophet, foresaw this: “All the end of the earth will behold the salvation of the Lord” (Isaiah 52: 10) Christmas reminds us that our troubles, our problems, our sins and all our
situations, wherever we may be are taken care of, if we welcome the Word made flesh in our lives. He wants to dwell among us so that we can be like the shepherds at the night of the nativity. They left their flocks. This is an invitation for us to leave behind us, the prison of our sorrows, the prison of our darkness, the prison of our prejudices, the prison of our past sins and the prison of old Adam in order to embrace the tender love of the God who became a child. Christmas is a time to put aside our masks and armour; In this beautiful season, may we let go of our fears and cast all our worries and cares on the newborn King and he will care for us (Cf Ps. 55:22). Jesus wants to take flesh in our hearts, and all he is looking for is an open heart. His eyes are alight with love for us. May we keep our Christmas heart open all the year round. (Jessica Archmint)
Merry Christmass to you all!
Fr. Georges Roger BIDZOGO SAC
Living The Gospel. What can I do this Christmas?
This question seems strange. Isn't it ? But Christ is about giving thanks to God the Father for the gift of his Son for our salvation.
We can never repay God for all that He has done for us. Pope Francis reminds us that gratitude is “the interior attitude that we should deem most important.” That is, we will want to live lives that are pleasing to Him, because what pleases Him is what makes us happy, and that means living a life of giving, not getting. May the spirit of Christmas, the season of giving, renew in us the desire to give gratefully always and in all ways, that God may be glorified and we may share His life forever in heaven. He is knocking, he wants to dwell in you. Please open your heart!
“It is Christmas every time you let God love others through you” (Mother Theresa of calcutta)
Fr. Georges Roger Bidzogo SAC