CHRISTMAS HOMILY YEAR C 2024
A TIME OF MIXED THOUGHTS AND FEELINGS IN A TROUBLED WORLD, BUT SEEKING PEACE AND GOOD WILL FOR ALL
Lk 2.1-20 Is 9.1-7 Titus 2.11-14
Rhyme Bible Intro: “The Special Baby” & “The Shepherds”
Now who said this recently, in a cartoon titled “AWAY IN A MANGER”? (Leunig Cartoon)
“Jesus was a Palestinian Jew. He was a Jewish Palestinian too. He realized he was a child of God. Same for you, he said, how sweetly odd.
Love your enemies, he also said, which turned the local culture on its head. He was a light in all the fear and gloom. Some would say he couldn’t read the room.
And yet we celebrate his birth by stopping, from work, then drinking beer and shopping. Or seeing in the earth and stars anew. This little baby Palestinian Jew. (Leunig RIP)
(Put up the Pavlidis cartoon with a dove carrying an olive branch at the end of a tightrope, leading Joseph and Mary to their destination.)
Another year disappears, as we pass the summer solstice of the longest day, and look forward to a quieter time at least in January. But, first of all, here we are, gathered to acknowledge and reflect on the birth of Jesus, as a little baby some 2025 years ago. The circumstances were simple and sparse, yet into a family environment, enveloped in warmth and love. The story still powerfully resonates, and relates to our own experience, when a child is born, as I’ve experienced twice in my own family, during the past year.
From my earliest childhood memories, Christmas has been a special time, with the excitement of anticipation of Father Christmas coming, the almost life-sized crib at church (as I recall it), with the central figures of Mary, Joseph and Jesus in the hay, surrounded by the animals and approaching shepherds. The whole experience for me left unforgettable memories. Then there was the very early morning start, waking up the 4 younger siblings and unwrapping the presents. Chicken was a special treat way back then, with the plum pudding and sixpences inside, but not so good for the teeth! (Is that why there’s a Christmas song titled “All I Want for Christmas is My Two Front Teeth”?! Although I got a whole new top deck of teeth for Christmas last year!!)
The faith perspective is at the heart of it all, however, accepting that Jesus comes among us in a very human way, through his birth at Bethlehem, now a city of 30,000 residents, where, tragically and sadly, “economic desperation is pervasive”, into a complex and conflicted world, much in need of peace and good will, which is the fundamental message at the heart of Christmas, is it not? And here we are in still harsh and dark world, where so much division and hostility endures.
(Meanwhile, “Bethlehem’s Manger Square, like last year, will remain devoid of Christmas lights, a tree, or festive markets… Church leaders… are striving to strike a delicate balance between acknowledging war and fostering hope, while calling for a ceasefire in Gaza. Despite the challenges, they remain committed to the conviction that Christmas must proclaim its inherent message of joy and hope.” And with the fall of the Assad dynasty in Syria, we might hope for a better future for the people there, despite the uncertainties and anxiety at present.)
Once again, I have to go back to Christmas 1968, when humans first escaped earth’s gravity and circled the moon. The iconic pictures of “The Blue Planet” and “Earthrise” surely remind us all of the fragility and preciousness of life for the 8 billion+ humans on this planet, and the need to protect and preserve its resources and beauty.
(Only James Lovell is still living today, from that flight to the moon, when the 3 astronauts read from Genesis about God’s Creation, and the wonder of it all. Why it doesn’t have a greater influence on seeking peace in a conflicted world reflects on the dark side of human nature? And the irony or paradox of this phenomenal human achievement in science and technology, all the while the Vietnam was raging at the same time!)
Our challenge as Christians is to work for this peace, at home and beyond, in our relationships and in the way we interact with each other and the world. The wonder and preciousness of life is for us to realize and appreciate, while we have the chance.
The great Australian author and educator John Marsden, who sadly died only last week at 74, wrote “A Prayer for the 21st Century”, in which he expressed hope for a better world in this new century, now 25% passed. It well encapsulates what should be the spirit of Christmas: “May the road be free for the journey. May it lead where it promised it would. May the stars that gave ancient bearing, be seen, still be understood. May every aircraft fly safely. May every traveller be found, May sailors in crossing the ocean not hear the cries of the drowned. May gardens be wild, like jungles, May nature never be tamed, May dangers create of us heroes, May fears always have names. May the mountains stand to remind us of what it means to be young, May we be outlived by our daughters May we be outlived by our sons. May the bombs rust away in the bunkers, And the doomsday clock not be rewound, May the solitary scientists working, remember the holes in the ground. May the knife remain in the holder, May the bullet stay in the gun. May those who live in the shadows be seen by those in the sun.” We can well say, if only we could aim at achieving these quite reasonable goals.
And so, in a troubled world, we are people of hope, trying to apply as best we can, this message of peace and good will in our lives. And we’re fortunate to be in this place to make the most of our opportunities here and now, without the restrictions and deprivations so many in our world, in other places, suffer at this present time. Let us be thankful for where we are, and what we’ve got, (and not just be critical of what could be better, as it’s always easy to be the armchair critic, who doesn’t have to say or do anything constructive or positive, but just painfully pontificate!)
Gift giving is part of all the fun, as most of us don’t want to give up the excitement and joy of giving and getting presents, or cards (e-cards or otherwise in snailmail) with greetings, for that matter! They don’t have to be expensive to strengthen bonds between family and friends, create memories and bring pleasure (although sometimes the gifts mightn’t be very practical or well thought out, as with this one, where Father Christmas is a bit perplexed at being given a new shaver, for which he has no wish nor need!!). A charitable donation may well be appropriate too!
Giving is good for us, as happiness researchers have shown. And there’s nothing wrong with being happy as a result. Cromwell (the Puritanical killjoy who tried to ban Christmas!), Scrooge (from Dickens), The Grinch (Doctor Seuss) and Mr Bean (himself!), have no place here until their conversion, which the middle two, at least, found in the end, and so, ultimately, happiness in being there at the heart of the celebrations, which they had previously dodged, to their own detriment and loss!!
Here we are now, celebrating Christmas together, in all of its many dimensions. Let’s do it well together, with family and friends, with plenty of good will and peaceful intentions. (Like the rhyme?!?)
And let’s not forget to think of those for whom Christmas is a sad and difficult time, with family tensions and alienation, and grief and loss, remembering loved ones who have died, particularly in the past year.
My story this year is a simple little tale titled “Tari’s First Christmas” , as it is the first Christmas for my lovely new great niece and nephew, Charlotte and Charlie, making me a great ‘great’ uncle!!! So here we go, hoping “thoughts of peace and happiness stay with us each day”!!!
And so we celebrate this birth of the Christ child, as people of lasting peace, good will, love, hope and joy, in the spirit of the season.
john hannon Christmas 2024
Joyeux Noel, Felix Navidad, Buon Natale, Nolag Sona Dibh (deev), Salamat Natal, Shengdan jie kuaile, Giang sinh vui ve, Maligayang Pasko, Zalig Kezstfest, Frohe Weihnachten, Vesele vanoce (Czech!) Kala Christogenna (Greek), Sretan Bozic (Croatian), Wesolych Swiat (Polish)
So it’s a happy Christmas, and a Happy, healthy and safe New Year in 2025 to all.