A Blessed Christmas

We find our hearts full of great joy as we begin our Christmas celebrations!  In the midst of family celebrations, unwrapping presents, sharing a Christmas meal, may we, as people of faith keep before us the reason for all of this – Jesus Christ, our Redeemer, who, in His Mercy, came down from heaven to save us, His wayward people.  I thought it would be fitting to share portions of two Christmas homilies, the first was preached by St. John Chrysostom:

“I behold a new and wondrous mystery.  My ears resound to the Shepherd’s song, piping no soft melody, but chanting full forth a heavenly hymn.  The Angels sing.  The Archangels blend their voice in harmony.  The Cherubim hymn their joyful praise.  The Seraphim exalt His glory.  All join to praise this holy feast, beholding the Godhead here on earth, and man in heaven.  He who is above, now for our redemption dwells here below and he that was lowly is by divine mercy raised.  Bethlehem this day resembles heaven; hearing from the stars the singing of angelic voices; and in place of the sun, enfolds within itself on every side, the Sun of Justice. And ask not how: for where God wills, the order of nature yields.  For He willed, He had the power, He descended, He redeemed; all things move in obedience to God.  This day He who is, is born; and He who is becomes what He was not…”

And the second, preached by St. Augustine:
 “He is the One through whom all things have been made and, on Christmas, Who has been made in the midst of all things. He is the Revealer of His Father and the Creator of His mother, the Son of God through His Father without a mother and the Son of Man through His mother without a father. He is great in the eternal day of the angels but small in the time-conditioned day of men. He is the Word of God before all time and the Word made Flesh in the fullness of time. Maker of the sun, He is made under the sun. Disposer of all ages in the bosom of His Father, He consecrates Christmas Day in the womb of His mother. In Him He remains while from her He goes forth. Creator of the heavens and the earth, He is born on earth under the heavens. Unspeakably wise, He is wisely speechless. Filling the universe, He lies in a manger. Ruler of the stars, He nurses at His mother’s bosom. He is both great in the nature of God and small in the form of a servant, but His greatness is not diminished by His smallness nor His smallness overwhelmed by His greatness.”
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On behalf of myself and the entire parish staff, I wanted to wish you a very blessed and joyful Christmas!