YEAR A: HOMILY FOR THE NATIVITY OF THE LORD (1)

YEAR A: HOMILY FOR THE NATIVITY OF THE LORD

HOMILY THEME: NATIVITY OF JESUS…..” Today a Savior has been born to you in David’s town; he is the Messiah and the Lord”

BY: Fr. Ramon Octavi SÁNCHEZ i Valero

HOMILY: Today, the Savior has been born. This is the good news of this Christmas eve. Like in every Christmas, Jesus is born again in the world, in each home, in our heart.
But unlike what our consumerist society celebrates, Jesus is not born in an environment of waste, purchases, comfort, whim and meals. Jesus is born in the humility of the Nativity scene.
And he does it this way because he has been refused by men: nobody had wanted to house them, neither in homes nor in hostels. Mary, Joseph and the just born Jesus felt what rejection, lack of generosity and of solidarity mean.

Later on things will change with the Angel’s announcement: «Don’t be afraid; I am here to give you good news, great joy for all the people. Today a Savior has been born to you in David’s town; he is the Messiah and the Lord» (Lk 2:10). Everybody will run towards the Nativity scene in order to adore the Son of God. A bit like in our society where many people are marginalized, because they are poor, aliens or simply different from us, while we celebrate Christmas speaking words of peace, solidarity and love.

We Christians are joyous today, we are rightfully happy. As Saint Leo the Great said: «There is no place for sadness now that life has been born». But we can not forget that Jesus’ birth means a commitment for us all: living Christmas in the most similar way as the Holy Family lived it. That is, no ostentation, no unnecessary expenses. Celebrating and having a party is compatible with austerity and even with poverty.

On the other hand, if we do not have true feelings of solidarity towards those who have been rejected, aliens or homeless people during these days, it is because we are like the inhabitants of Bethlem: we do not welcome the infant Jesus in our hearts.

Fr. Ramon Octavi SÁNCHEZ i Valero
(Viladecans, Barcelona, Spain)