Christmas Midnight Mass

Celebrated by Archbishop Denis Hart
at Saint Patrick’s Cathedral, Melbourne,
for Christmas 2005.

Introduction

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

From the darkness of night we have come to gather in this Cathedral church because we have seen a great light; the light of God coming to each one of us, giving us hope and guiding us in our journey.

I ask you to join me in offering this Mass for each of you and those you love, for the people of our diocese and our city, for those who suffer, whether through illness or doubt or burden or worry.

As we call to mind our sins, remembering the constancy and tenderness of God’s love, let us ask the Lord for pardon, light and strength.

Homily

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

“O come, let us adore him, Christ the Lord.”  We adore Jesus placed in the manger; we know that he is both God and human.  A baby easily wins the heart and love of anyone with human feelings, but how much more does this baby – God-man – win our heart and our love.  Today we kneel before Jesus and thank him for coming to save us.

It is difficult to imagine Jesus, the Son of God and our Saviour, born in a poor stable and placed in a manger instead of a cot.  What is helpful to us is that when God arrives he usually comes in humility, silently and peacefully, without causing a great disturbance.  God’s humble coming!  Jesus would not surprise us if we knew God better, but of course we will never know God sufficiently to understand.  No matter how much we try, it will remain a mystery.  The best reaction for us is that of the shepherds; simply to praise God.

He has come so wonderfully and in such a quiet, human way, that immediately we feel he touches our life.  His coming in Bethlehem, his life and death and rising, were God coming to meet us and save us.  Once again, at Christmas, we know that he does save.

Deep in the hearts of the people of Melbourne is the desire to be loved.  As we look at the crib and see Jesus, the baby, we know God loves us.  Why did the all-wonderful God become so powerless as a baby?  Quite simply, out of love for us.  He became human so that we might become more like God, that we might believe and know that God really loves us.  Saint John says, “This is the revelation of God’s love for us: he sent his only Son into the world that we might have life through him.”

Tonight, we remember our Pope and all in the Church, and those who need our prayers.  Those united with us by bonds of family or friendship.  Those who need our care; the poor, the burdened, the bereaved, the suffering, those addicted to drugs and alcohol, pokies, power or selfishness.  We thank God for showing his love to us in Jesus in a way we can understand.  He is so great and yet became so small as one of us, bringing us his life.

Yet, the way in which God came at Christmas is one not of violence, but of gentleness.  Despite the lack of goodness and love in the world God is still tender and loving.  The answer to today’s problems is gentleness, tenderness, love rather than selfishness.  God came precisely that we might together change the world.

My friends, this Christmas brings a new way of thinking and acting, a new hope that together we can reshape the world, a trust in the value of each other - these are what Jesus offers us because in the darkness of our world Jesus has shone.

As we wait we see a God fragile and weak, yet bathed in light.  The light comes from his self-giving to set us free from wickedness.  We praise him, “Glory to God in the highest and peace on earth to men of goodwill.”  His coming is not a mere promise, but a reality.  Let us take hold of it, not only today, but in the Eucharist each week, in our prayer, in our life and in the gift of light, hope and encouragement we give to others because “Today has been born our Saviour, Christ the Lord.”

+ Denis J. Hart,
Archbishop of Melbourne.