December 24, 2023
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My Dear Parishioners,
I am telling you again my most favorite Christmas story!
One hundred and seven years ago tonight, on Christmas Eve 1914, an incredible event took place on the Western Front in France during WWI. After an all-night snowfall that covered the battlefield with a serene white powder, unusual lights began to appear all across the German lines. The British camp didn’t know what to make of it and thought the Germans were preparing for an attack. Instead of the sound of artillery fire however, the sound of singing made its way across no man’s land – the stretch of land between the enemy trenches. To their amazement, the German soldiers were singing the tune of a well-known Christmas song – “Stille Nacht” (“Silent Night”). The British soldiers, not to be undone, responded with their own Christmas carols. A mutual curiosity and respect came across the soldiers at both camps and they began to applaud each other’s singing. Being caught up in the joy of the moment, a German officer appeared and walked out to the middle of no man’s land and a British officer went out to meet him amidst cheering from both camps. When they finally met, they formally saluted each other and shook hands. It was unheard of in all the annals of military history. The improvised Christmas truce presented a chance for both camps to bury their dead. According to some accounts, after most were buried, the soldiers from both sides gathered to honor their fallen comrades and read from the Bible – the 23rd Psalm. In the horror of the trenches of the Western Front, the power of this holy night worked its grace.
The secular world has no use for Christmas, because for them, God is a fantasy and religion is truly the opiate of the masses. And so, nowadays, a truce like the truce of 1914 is unthinkable. Think of what is going on in the Middle East and the Ukraine! But we Christians know that we are not dealing with hocus-pocus, with superstitions, with phony good cheers, with spiritual opiates. No, this Christmas Day, we still present ourselves in Church to celebrate Christmas. For tonight we shall touch again the greatest event in the history of the universe: the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
This Christmas Eve, we shall bask in the light of a star that shines in the darkness. We rejoice in a light that, no matter how dark the night may be, it can never be dimmed. The festivities of Christmas might have disappeared from homes and streets and town squares. Nowadays very few homes are decorated with Christmas lights and the Nativity scene. But Christmas is forever something infinitely precious and powerful – just as it was 20 centuries ago: for it is God Himself. Go back to the trenches on that Christmas Eve of 1914: what happened that night? Let me quote an author: “The wall of violence and hatred toppled as strangers were made welcome and mortal enemies became friends. In the hell of no-mans’ land, God pitched His tent and heaven’s reign broke loose.”
On the first Christmas, God was born in a barn, as if to show to what depths He would be willing to descend for love of you, for love of me, for love of all mankind. The wonder we celebrate is this: no matter where we find ourselves in life, how far we may stray from God and one another, God is always with us. Life has been difficult. If you think over the events of the year that is about to be over, how many people have had their hearts broken, by sickness, by isolation, by loneliness, by violence, by failures, by betrayals, by death? No matter how hard we try to mask everything and to numb ourselves with creature comforts, the reality of life is not erased. What we celebrate this Christmas is the fact that, in spite of all this, God is with us! Jesus pitches His Tabernacle wherever His people are, wherever His people suffer. Even though the painful realities do not disappear, the light of the Star keeps us going forward, knowing that there is something much bigger at play. Tonight, the worries come to Mass with us. But Christ is with us here also; it was for Him we came. This Christmas Day, after Mass, when we have returned to our homes, Christ shall also go with us to stay with us in our humble abodes. He does not look for luxury; all He needs is an open heart.
Let me leave you with a quote from Msgr. Luigi Giussani: “The real protagonist of history is the beggar: Christ who begs for man’s heart, and man’s heart that begs for Christ!” That is why He came as a baby lying in a manger in cold night surrounded by animals and poor people. This Christmas Night, Christ is begging for my heart and yours! Just look at Him! Let’s give Him our hearts!
