Readings
Reading I: Isaiah 62:11-12 |
Preaching TipHave a Hook for Next Week
At midnight mass we will have in the pews many people who have fallen into the habit of entering a church only twice a year, the Chreasters.
While many of these folks will probably not darken a church door until Easter, we always have an opportunity to reach out to them and give them a reason to come back.
Here are three ways that could be done:
1. Leave a hook in the homily for a January preaching series.
This means preparing some theme ahead of time. Giving them a glimpse of what’s coming next gives visitors an idea of what to expect and something to look forward to.
2. Understand the existential pain and personal baggage people bring with them.
These Chreasters are longing for spiritual fulfillment, and they have not found it. Every person has hopes, dreams, hurts, and pain. Our family of origin, upbringing, and past relationships are often the causes of the hurt and sadness. The season of Christmas, which is so tied to family and tradition, has a way of magnifying some of these hurts.
These folks may be sitting alone in a pew because of this or have a few empty seats around the table this Christmas. They are doing everything they can to get to our Church for the Christmas Eve service and hold it together. They are stressed, run-down, tired, and worried about their family and the new year. They need a moment to catch their breath; to know you hear them; to know God hears them.
Thus, while it is a season of joy, it is also a season to know that God enters our brokenness and is the healing balm for these wounds in our hearts. If they receive this healing balm because of the peace and calm they hear and see reflected through the priest, then the church becomes a newfound place of healing and connection to God that they so badly need.
3. Be short and to the point.
There are so many parents who will struggle with cranky children, so many people running late to get to church, so many with endless errands to do afterward, and many volunteers who will attend every mass. All these folks will be thankful for a shorter homily than usual. Having them leave thankful and grateful and on a positive note will help them to consider returning the following week. |
Navidad
UN NIÑO, SU MADRE, LOS PASTORES
Hoy brilla una gran luz, es la estrella de la bondad. A pesar de que han pasado 2000 años, esta sigue siendo la "noche buena". La única noticia capaz de eliminar los temores del hombre de hoy y de llenar el alma de alegría es la que trajeron los ángeles a los pastores: "¡Ha nacido el Salvador!" ¡Noche de Navidad, nochebuena, noche santa! Sentimos la emoción frente al misterio. Esta noche todo es grande y al mismo tiempo, todo es pequeño.
Hermanos y hermanas:
1. Es pequeño el niño que nace. ¿Qué significa un niño? Es el pequeño signo de una vida que crece, que ocupará su puesto, que llegará a ser un hombre único e irrepetible en la historia. Representa el futuro. El misterio amable de nuestra redención comienza así, como un niño. También nuestra fe es todavía pequeña: Creemos poco, esperamos poco. En esta noche radiante de luz, el amor nos ilumina desde el pesebre. De este amor nace la fraternidad, nace el perdón, nace la misericordia, nace la paz. ¡Nos sentimos transfigurados!
2. Esta noche ustedes ocupan el puesto de los pastores. Ellos fueron los primeros que recibieron llenos de gozo el anuncio de la salvación; los primeros que vienen a la gruta y encuentran, como el ángel dijo, un recién nacido recostado en un pesebre; También yo quiero decirles a ustedes: "No tengan miedo, les traigo una feliz noticia: Ha nacido el salvador".
Hay noticias que pueden asustarnos. Nos da miedo nuestra miseria moral cuando no tenemos la esperanza de una mano misericordiosa que nos pueda perdonar y alentar; nos da miedo nuestra pobreza cuando no tenemos el valor de tomar la mano de Cristo pobre; nos asusta nuestra debilidad cuando no tenemos la fuerza de tomar la mano del Señor como maestro porque sólo Él nos puede guiar.
3. Vivamos esta navidad al lado de María para descubrir como ella lo más grande del misterio de Navidad. Navidad con María quiere decir buscar momentos de soledad para contemplar las "cosas grandes que ha hecho en mí Dios todopoderoso". Es aprender a valorar el silencio y la reflexión para vivir más cristianamente nuestro compromiso. "María conservaba estas cosas en su corazón".
Vivir la Navidad con María significa tener la fuerza para no dejarse arrastrar por los acontecimientos sociales, los conformismos, las modas. A veces hay que luchar mucho para ser fieles a las propias ideas y principios.
Navidad quiere decir que Cristo debe nacer dentro de ti. Necesita presentarse al mundo con tu cara, tus manos, tu voluntad. Necesita transformar al mundo en algo verdaderamente hermoso, más humano, más justo. No podemos limitarnos a "celebrar" la Navidad. Tenemos que construirla haciendo nacer a Cristo en el mundo de hoy. ¿Por qué no leer en el Evangelio la narración del nacimiento? ¿Por qué no entrar un rato en el templo a contemplar las escenas del Belén? ¿Por qué no alternar las fiestas, las vacaciones, la evasión, el intercambio de regalos, con momentos para aislarse y reflexionar? Que tus obras digan más que tus tarjetas ¡Feliz Navidad!
Christmas Year ABC
A CHILD, HIS MOTHER, THE SHEPHERDS
Today a great light shines - the light of charity. Despite the fact that 2000 years have passed by, this still is the "Holy Night." The only good news that can remove the fears of man today and can fill the soul with joy are those brought by the angels to the shepherds: "The Savior has been born!" Christmas night, good night, holy night! We feel great emotion as we face this mystery. Tonight everything is big and at the same time, small.
Brothers and Sisters,
1. The child is small. What does a baby mean? It is the small symbol of a child that grows, that will take his place, that will become a unique and unrepeatable person in history. It represents the future. The mystery of our redemption begins this way, as a child. Our faith also is still small: We believe little, we hope little. In this night of radiant light, love illuminates us from the manger. From this love, fraternity is born, forgiveness is born, mercy is born, peace is born. We feel transfigured!
2. Tonight you take the shepherds' place. They were the first to receive - filled with joy - the announcement of salvation. The shepherds come to the grotto and find, as the angel had said, a newborn laid in a manger. I too want to say to you: "Don't be afraid, I bring you great news: A Savior has been born."
These are troubling times. Our moral misery makes us afraid when we don't have the hope of a merciful hand that forgives us and consoles us; we are afraid when we don't have the courage to take the hand of Christ. We are afraid of our frailness and are not strong enough to take our Lord's hand as our master. He is the only one that can guide us.
3. Let's live Christmas by Mary's side to discover - like her – what is most important of the Christmas mystery. Christmas like Mary means to look for moments of solace to contemplate "the great things that God Almighty has done in me." It is to learn to appreciate silence and reflection to live in a more Christian way our life commitments. "Mary held all these things in her heart." To live Christmas with Mary means to have the strength enough to not allow social events, conformism, fashion... Sometimes, it is necessary to fight hard to be faithful to one's ideas and convictions.
Christmas means that Christ must be born in you. He needs to be in the world looking like you - your face, your hands, your will. He needs to transform the world into something truly beautiful, more human, more just. We cannot limit ourselves to "celebrate" Christmas. We must build it helping Christ be born in today's world. Why not read the narration of Christmas in the Gospel? Why not go into church for a while to contemplate the scene of the Nativity? Why not alternate the parties, vacation, the exchange of presents with some moments of solace and reflection?
May your doings say more than your cards.
Merry Christmas!