Catholic Archdiocese of Melbourne: Archbishop: Homilies: Christmas Day

Mass Celebrated by Archbishop Denis Hart
at Saint Patrick’s Cathedral, Melbourne,
on Wednesday, 25th December, 2002, at 11.00am

“All the ends of the earth have seen the saving power of God.”
(Psalm 97, Verse 3)

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

The birth of Christ two thousand years ago changed the course of the whole world. He came at a time when the world was in desperate trouble, to a place which was an outpost of the Roman Empire rent by tensions between the Roman government and the ancient local people.

To a similar world he comes as we commemorate this Christmas, troubled by the spectre of war, the horror of terrorism, the uselessness of death in Bali.

Jesus Christ is Prince of Peace and Lord of all. As we come to this Mass we pray that he will bring peace and unity to the hearts of the men and women of our time, that we may know a spiritual light that will carry us through the darkness.

Let us call to mind our sins.

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Once again, we have heard the beautiful proclamation of the birth of the Son of God. Ringing in our ears is the announcement of the coming of the Word made flesh and the reminder that to all who did accept him he gave power to become children of God.

Truly we can say that Christmas is a mystery of grace to be contemplated; it is a marvellous event to be shared. The invitation that our God made man give us is described in tones of wonder by a Polish Christmas carol:

We do remember that Jesus the Word was with God in the beginning and he was God. He was the Giver of life, brought light to people, something that darkness could not overpower.

I believe it is particularly important that this Christmas we see beyond the threat of war in Iraq and its attendant racial and religious tension. Beyond the barbaric events of Bali. Beyond even the catastrophic decision of our legislators, which means that at its earliest stage human life as embryo is open to experimentation. It makes the challenge even greater.

Saint John says, “The Light shines in the darkness and the darkness could not overpower it.” In other words, Christ’s coming is the presence of God among us and if we are with Christ nothing and no one will overcome us. Indeed, further down in the Gospel, the ringing words, “the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him.” (John 1.10)

The baby in the crib draws us as if by a magnet. Yet we remember that this baby is wonder Counsellor, mighty God, Prince of Peace.

We remember that he was with God in the beginning. It is in the hands of that great God that our life and future are sustained. When we sing, “O come let us adore him, Christ the Lord”, we acknowledge that we are creatures and we do depend upon him.

Anyone here who has seen or held a newborn baby or pulled funny faces to get a child’s attention sees the spark of individuality and limitless beauty that lies within the human person. That spark is of our likeness to God and our being made for him. We cannot just resign ourselves to violence and injustice, because Christmas is the time of joy and hope. God in the most attractive feature of humanity, the baby, becomes man and tells us that hatred can be overcome, that it is beautiful to know one another as brothers and sisters. He tells us of the value of dialogue and walking together along the path of life.

I do exhort you in this Christmas season to visit and kneel prayerfully before the crib. To look and see the weakness of the child, the greatness of God, the value of our human nature. This indeed is a day of great rejoicing because God has restored our destiny. As we look into the manger we see innocence, purity and divine life. This seemingly vulnerable child is the way of our salvation. He died for our sins, was raised to justify us, and will come again to judge the living and the dead. In a sense the manger is a mirror of our lives, for there we see the glorious power of the indestructible life that God has intended for all of us.

And so we pray, “We come to you Christ, Son of God, Child of Bethlehem, to beg your graces and blessings. You are our Redeemer, Son of God and Son of the Virgin Mary. You save every human being by the gift of your life. Grant that peace may flourish wherever your name is spoken. Raise your hand, Divine Child, and bless the earth, which has seen your salvation: out of love, you have come to dwell among us.”