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CLICK HERE for the Audio recording of the Readings of
December 25th, 2019,
Solemnity of The Nativity of the Lord, Christmas.
Mass during the Day.
CLICK HERE for the Readings of December 25th, 2019,
Solemnity of The Nativity of the Lord, Christmas.
Mass during the Day. -
Christmas Season: Mass Times
Christmas Eve Mass,
Thursday, December 24th:
Christmas Eve Night Mass,
Thursday, December 24th:
Christmas Day Mass,
Friday, December 25th:
First Christmas Blessing & Mass, (Infants)
Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph
Sunday, December 27th:
New Year's Day Mass,
Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God
Friday January 1st:
The Epiphany of the Lord,
Sunday, January 3rd: 8:00AM and 10:30AM
The Feast of the Baptism of the Lord,
Sunday, January 10th: 8:00AM and 10:30AM
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Wednesday, December 25th, 2019. Solemnity of The Nativity of the Lord. Christmas
A people who walked in great darkness, have seen a great light;
upon those who dwelt in the land of gloom, a light has shone
Isaiah 9: 1
Undefeated light: the true meaning of Christmas
Who of us can say with 100% confidence that they have never experienced any darkness in their lives? Who of us here can say with perfect confidence that they have never experienced the tension between ‘light’ and ‘darkness’ in their lives? Who has not asked themselves, what should I do? Which direction should I take?
The tension between light and darkness is very real to many people. And how often darkness seems louder and stronger!
Growing up in Uganda, I was fascinated with light (which kid isn’t), especially during this time of the year. But there was more to the lights of Christmas- it is the aliveness, joy, festivities, so much food, everybody seemed to be in a good mood, visitors, laughter, presents etc. But in Uganda, light is not guaranteed; just as everyone is happy and alive, darkness shows up (we do not have 24/7 electricity), and I hated darkness. The worst punishment was to be locked up in a dark room by oneself. Darkness meant, I do not know what is there, or coming, fear, the unknown.
As I grew older, I came to understand that there was more to the word ‘light’: it means knowledge, wisdom, life, a future, a way forward, clarity. Darkness meant a dead end, death, evil, hate, greed, unfairness, injustice...And the tension that all this causes in our lives!
The first time I left Uganda and went to a country where everybody did not look like me (that was not here in US), that brought its tensions too. When you are seen as different (and every challenge that comes with this!!). Often times, ‘the people who walk in great darkness, who need a great light’, might be us.
What has all this got to do with Christmas?
There is one time a year, one night, on the 25th of December, that this tension almost seems to disappear. Millions of people throughout the world on Christmas night flock to a nearby church, because they know, that the solution to this tension has appeared. The undefeated light of God, Jesus, a savior has been born (A Savior who comes to bring us Peace, Joy and Hope.) Where there is undefeated light, Darkness in all its form and shape has no power over us. God does not leave us alone in this tension. He sends his Son to be our guiding light.
The challenge of this night is...will we (not only today) but everyday of our lives, entrust our total selves and lives to Him? Will we accept Jesus as the ‘undefeated light’ of God in our lives? Will we give him, first place?
Saint Paul says, Jesus (the grace of God) appears for a purpose: to train us to reject godless ways and worldly desires, to live temperately, justly and devotedly – meaning to live in a sober way, to make decisions rightly, to detach ourselves from useless things, to be charitable and be a good example to others. Jesus will help us if we entrust ourselves to him.
Lastly, there is something about this night that should not go un-noticed. Why does this Jesus, a Savior, the son of God, undefeated light, the great light, come in this way? So insignificant and poor, has no room to be born, born in a stable – a shelter for animals? Why does God always choose to be so ‘little’?
God chooses the humble way, this hidden way because he cannot be measured by the standards of this world! No. He is beyond human dimensions (He is from above). So to know God, to see his power at work in our lives, is to reverse or reset our mindset about Him. The way of God is simplicity, serving others, detaching oneself from worldly standards (refusing them to be the center of one’s life) and closeness to the poor and forgotten.
Who are the first people who see this great light? Who are the first people to receive the ‘good news’ that a savior is born? It was the shepherds, animals, the poor and forgotten.
Let us pray that we may also risk embracing this way of God in our lives, so as to find the true peace and the hope that we all long for.
Merry Christmas!
Fr. Anthony
CLICK HERE for an understanding of the Christmas Season.
View the below video for another Christmas Reflection on the readings.
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