The Gospel Reading from the Nativity of the Lord--Mass at Dawn:
When the angels went away from them to heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go, then, to Bethlehem to see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us.” So they went in haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the infant lying in the manger. When they saw this, they made known the message that had been told them about this child. All who heard it were amazed by what had been told them by the shepherds. And Mary kept all these things, reflecting on them in her heart. Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, just as it had been told to them.
Luke 2:15-20
As the late radio personality Paul Harvey would say, "And now, the rest of the story."
The angels have finished singing the first Christmas carol, its echo we proclaim in the "Gloria". Now, like the shepherds, we must travel to the House of Bread. We must find that original makeshift church and actually participate in that inaugural Eucharistic Adoration, where the monstrance is not made of precious metals and rare gems but of rough wood and coarse straw.
As we re-present this first Christian pilgrimage, we recall how God has made known to us this thing which has happened. He announced it immediately after the Fall. He repeated it time and again throughout the Old Testament. Now, at last, "the Word was made flesh and dwelled amongst us." We need not ask, "What Child is this?" He is our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. He is Emmanuel--God is with us.
And so we enter His presence. For those of you fortunate enough to visit the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem, you know the entrance to the cave is so small one has to stoop to gain access. Does our soul do that when we enter our local church, no matter how plain or grandiose the architecture of the place? Symbolically, are we like Moses and Elijah, who covered their faces as a sign of humility? If able, do we genuflect before the tabernacle, acknowledging the fact we are in the Real Presence of the King of kings and Lord of lords? He is here. He is Emmanuel--God is with us.
The shepherds knew. When they came, they encountered a magnum mysterium et admirabile sacramentum. Did their awe foreshadow St. Peter's at the Transfiguration? Should we not have that same reaction? And from that, should we not act accordingly? He is here. He is Emmanuel--God is with us.
While we are in His presence, how are we like the Blessed Virgin Mary? How are we to be still and know He is Emmanuel--God is with us? Yes, time in prayer and with Sacred Scripture are sure foundations. But we also have to "remember what peace there may be in silence". And there is no "may" about it. "Amid the noise and the haste" of this world, there is something to be said about being quiet. The world continues to muffle the voice of God; the Word is sometimes barely a whisper, even more so an echo. But it is in only the soul can we encounter Him as He is. There in contemplation can we keep all these thing and reflect upon them, allowing His life to grow within us.
Because and after this encounter with the Christ Child, the shepherds left as the first evangelists. They heard Ite, Missa est long before we even established those words in our liturgy. So, how do we make this message known? It certainly has to start with the ongoing metanoia of our own lives. That starts with "naming and claiming" we are sinners in need of a Saviour. The follow up is a sincere examination of conscience, grounded in the truth of the Faith (something that seems to be ignored in the "primacy of conscience" arguments I hear), Finally, the use of Sacrament of Reconciliation is required, with all the sincerely of repentance one can muster. Repeat as necessary, which is to say as long as you live, move, and have being. (Lately, I have started to speculate why the lines at Communion are longer than those at Confession. I wonder if it is because people are thinking the Penitential Rite during Mass is a form of general absolution. Lex orandi, lex credendi, lex vivendi?)
Only then can we preach the Gospel always and use word if necessary, paraphrasing an attributed quote from St. Francis of Assisi, the man who created the first Nativity scene. Only then can we amaze all those who hear what we are saying. Only then can we return, glorifying and praising God for all we have heard and seen, just as it has been told to us.
The rest of this story will occur as it has been foretold. But what of our role in it? How will you keep the salvation given to us by our God? We must see things with the eyes of Faith. Our churches are not only Calvary but also Bethlehem. The tabernacle is not only a tomb but also a manger. We will seek and find Him in these places to start. We will continue to believe, adore, trust, and love Him.
Hodie Christus natus est.
Let us go, then, to Bethlehem to see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us.
