Christmas 2016
“What Is Christmas?”
Fr. Jeff Nicolas
We at St. Bernadette are about developing deep relationships with Jesus Christ, a discipleship we live out through our washing of one another’s feet. This discipleship transformation we seek is the Christmas gift we open from our altar. Author Sherry Weddell has actually mapped out five “thresholds” through which a disciple must pass in order for this deep relationship to occur. I believe our Christmas celebrations point the way.You see,Christmas is a multi-layered celebration, sort of like a gift that keeps giving. (Show large Christmas box.)
First of all, Christmas is a CULTURAL reality. Christmas is the best excuse ever for shopping! Everyone starts here… Santa Claus, Christmas trees, fireplace stockings and presents galore. At this culturalleveltrust can begin to spout within us since all the Christmas specials, Christmas sales, and Christmas messaging point to some “Big Good Thing.” Just about everyone can celebrate Christmas on this level. (I got a Christmas card from local Buddhist monks!) If so many can imagine this good, a person can begin to believe there may actually be something good to aspire to or to hope in. Trusting that there is something (or someone) bigger than ourselves that we can trust in is the first threshold of discipleship through which any would-be disciple of Jesus Christ must pass.
(Showing next inner box) Unwrapping Christmas a little more and we get to the historicallevel: Christmas is a celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ. Not just a made up character, Jesus of Nazareth actually walked the earth two thousand years ago. At this historical level curiosity can begin to grow as we explore how this one person singularly changed the course of history like no one before him or after. Think about it… our very calendar is based on the birth we celebrate today! Curiosity about someone bigger than us is the second threshold of discipleship through which any would-be disciple of Jesus Christ must pass.
(Showing the next inner box) Some people go deeper still and we get to the theological level: Christmas is a celebration of the incarnation of God, when God and humanity become in-separately one. This is how close God wants to get to us! Moses’ request to look upon the face of God is finally granted as God the Son (through Mary’s “yes” to God’s will) takes on a human face, human feet, human hands, and a human heart. At this theological level opennessto saying, “yes” to God expands our growth and the beginning stirrings of a hunger to know more awakens within. Openness is the third threshold of discipleship through which any would-be disciple of Jesus Christ must pass.
(Showing the next inner box) Then unwrapping Christmas a little more, there are those who taking the narrow road, having gone through the above thresholds, get to Christmas’spirituallevel recognizing that Christmas is more than simply a great reason to shop, or a historical event to remember, or even a theological truth to contemplate. Christmas is a celebration of the ongoing action of God among us. Knowing that God now chooses to get to us through us, the Church is the perpetuation of the Incarnation. Jesus continues to heal through us, to forgive through us, to commission through us, to teach through us, and to nourish through us. One Christmas card I received captures this spiritual level of meaning:
Every time a hand reaches out to help another… that is Christmas. Every time someone puts conflict aside and strives for understanding… that is Christmas. Every time people forget their differences and realize their love for each other… that is Christmas.
At this spiritual level those who get to this depth of meaning become seekers, like the Magi. These celebrators of Christmas are “dating with purpose” so to speak. They are gauging for themselves whether any other object of adoration, philosophical mindset, or life-centering preoccupation can compare to that of God becoming one with us in Jesus Christ, and journeying with us through us as Church to this very day. Becoming a seeker is the fourth threshold of discipleship through which any would-be disciple of Jesus Christ must pass.
(Showing the inner most box) Then, for those among us who choose it, the deepest level of Christmas’ meaning is unwrapped…therelational level. Christmas is a celebration of God’s crazy love for each of us; a love that connects us to Jesus Christ and through Jesus to all others whether living or dead (especially right here at our altar). At this deepest of levels the Christmas worshipper forsakes all else so as to have arms free to embrace Jesus Christ who came in the first place to embrace us! At this deepest of levels the Christmas worshipper covenants with God in a marriage of wills striving to become one. At this deepest of levels(the fifth threshold of discipleship) the Christmas worshipper becomes an intentionaldisciple, a child of God, born by God’s choice into salvation. Here at the relational level all the other Christmas levels of meaning find their completion.
This ring for me represents this discipleship with Jesus Christ to which our Christmas celebration invites each of us. It reads, “Jesus I trust in you!” In this way our discipleship quest comes full circle!
May the prayer of St. Therese of Avila entitled, “Trust In God,” speak our Christmas wish for all of us…
Trust In God.
Let nothing disturb you, nothing frighten you, all things are passing,
God never changes.
Patience always conquers.
Whoever has God lacks nothing, for God alone suffices.
Today we celebrate that God gives us the gift of Himself.
We lack for nothing. Merry Christmas!!