Once again, let me wish all of you a Merry Christmas. We can say that here because that’s exactly what we’re doing. Have you ever wondered what the word “Christmas” means? The word dates back to at least 1038, originating from the Old English phrase, “Cristes Maesse. It means “Christ’s Mass.” Today, we often use the terms “Eucharistic Celebration” or “Sacred Liturgy” to speak of the Mass. As you know, “Eucharist” means “Thanksgiving,” and every time we gather around our Lord’s Table, we give thanks to God for the great gift of his Son’s life-giving Body and Blood; we’re doing that right now. And, as you might not know, the word “liturgy” refers to a celebration of someone’s great works. In the ancient Greek world – like today – when someone was retiring from work or celebrating an important birthday, family and friends would often celebrate with a dinner and, at the dinner, someone would recall the great job the person had done or the good life the person had lived. We call them retirement dinners or birthday parties. The ancient Greeks called them “liturgion,” that is a liturgy. In the Sacred Liturgy, we gather at a meal – the re-presentation of that most important dinner, the Last Supper – and celebrate the great works of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Second Person of the Blessed Trinity. His first great work was to share in God’s creation. As we hear in today’s Gospel, “In the beginning was the Word” and “all things came to be through him.” This hearkens back to the Book of Genesis, where we read that God said, “let there be light, …let there be a dome in the middle of the waters, …let the water teem with an abundance of living creatures, …let the earth bring forth every kind of living creature.” And, his word was effective. Everything he commanded to be created was created through his Word, the Second Person of the Blessed Trinity. So, that is his first great work: to bring about what God the Father commanded to be created.
In today’s Gospel account we also hear: “And the Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.” That is the second great work of the Second Person of the Blessed Trinity: to become flesh and make his dwelling among us. That’s what we celebrate today at this Mass on Christmas so: Merry Christmas! It is the beginning of another of God’s great acts of love: coming into our midst as one of us to lead us back to himself. That’s truly a great work and that’s what we celebrate every time we come together to celebrate the Mass – a sacred liturgy, the celebration of the great works of Jesus Christ.
Christmas is truly a celebration of God’s great work, creating us and then redeeming us. Just as God created us out of his infinite love, he came into our midst to lead us back to his heavenly embrace out of his eternal, unconditional love. And so, we rejoice! We hear in today’s first reading: “How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings glad tidings, announcing peace, bearing good news, announcing salvation.” That’s why Jesus came among us: to bear good news and announce peace and salvation. We can all use a little good news and peace right now, can’t we!?! And, we all want to be saved.
Today, as you come together with family and friends, I encourage you to remember what we are celebrating: Christmas, that is, Christ’s great work among us. The joy and happiness you feel as you get together to share gifts are a reflection of the great gift of joy that God gives us in his Son, Jesus, the Word made flesh. And, the meal that you will share recalls the Eucharist that Jesus left us at the Last Supper and anticipates the heavenly banquet God has prepared for us, where we will be able to sit because of the great saving work that Jesus has done for us. Yes, Merry Christmas!