A 5 minute Christmas Homily
Dear Friends, the Christmas homily ought to be short! The meaning of the day is made abundantly clear in the carols sung, the readings proclaimed, the liturgy prayed, and the festivities in the home. The homilist need only add an exclamation point to what the Christmas liturgy shouts out with joy, that the beloved son of God was born of Mary! Here’s my Five-Minute Christmas Homily for 2022.
Robert: Merry Christmas, everyone. [Robert sings.] It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas, everywhere you go. People are going to pray. They’re listening every day, to stories from the Bible all aglow.
Oh…wait a minute. Wrong words…how does the song go? (sing with me if you know it):
It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas, everywhere you go. Take a look at the five and ten, it’s glistening once again with candy canes and silver lanes aglow. It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas, toys in every store. But the prettiest sight to see is the holly that will be on your own front door.
Wow. The writer of that Christmas song sure got it wrong. Sure, candy canes and silver lanes aglow are fun, and buying toys in every store keeps the economy going but, are these the real signs of Christmas? Everybody, shout, “NO!”
All: NO!
Robert: We just need to look to the beautiful people in the Christmas story for the true signs that indicate Christmas is here. But I need your help in this Gospel reflection. When I raise my hand, would you shout out, “It’s beginning to look like Christmas!” Let’s practice. [Robert raises his hand.]
All: IT’S BEGINNING TO LOOK A LOT LIKE CHRISTMAS!
Robert: When you and I, like Mary, open our hearts to the love of God, when we say, “Yes!” to following his will for our lives, then…[ Robert raises his hand.]
All: IT’S BEGINNING TO LOOK A LOT LIKE CHRISTMAS!
Robert: When you and I, like Joseph, have the courage to stand up for what is right and protect the innocent, from babies to migrants to caring for our beautiful earth, then… [Robert raises his hand.]
All: IT’S BEGINNING TO LOOK A LOT LIKE CHRISTMAS!
Robert: When you and I who are struggling in marriage and family, love one another like Mary and Joseph, forgive each other any hurt we may have caused, and work to restore friendship and affection, then…
All: IT’S BEGINNING TO LOOK A LOT LIKE CHRISTMAS!
Robert: When you and I, like the Magi, can discern when the political powers are trying to manipulate us, and we do not play their games but instead listen to the Holy Spirit speaking to our hearts, thereby thwarting their evil machinations, then… [Robert raises his hand.]
All: IT’S BEGINNING TO LOOK A LOT LIKE CHRISTMAS!
Robert: And when you and I, like the angels in the sky, gather for worship, lift our voices to heaven to sing glory to God in the highest, listen to the Word of God, and receive the Eucharist, then… [Robert raises his hand.]
All: IT’S BEGINNING TO LOOK A LOT LIKE CHRISTMAS!
Robert: And lastly, when we make room in the “inn of our hearts” and walk with the shepherds of the world, with those hard-working laborers, with families who struggle to make ends meet; when we accompany them to Bethlehem to be with the Christ Child and Mary and Joseph, where there is neither rich nor poor, slave nor free, woman nor man, but we are all one in Christ, then… [ Robert raises his hand.]
All: IT’S BEGINNING TO LOOK A LOT LIKE CHRISTMAS!
Robert: Decorations are nice; gifts are wonderful to give and receive. But it’s truly Christmas when our joy, celebrations and sharing of gifts spring from the profound knowledge that we are deeply loved by God through the gift of Jesus and we share that love with all we meet. Knowing this, we can live Christmas every day of the year. So, friends, let’s show the world what Christmas really looks like! Because when we do, all people will know that… [Robert raises his hand.]
All: IT’S BEGINNING TO LOOK A LOT LIKE CHRISTMAS!
