The Nativity of the Lord-Mass During the Day John 1, 1-18

Brothers and sisters! During these festive days, everyone probably wishes to spend them in peace. We want happiness, health, and joy and give each other gifts. Our attitude expresses how we imagine an ideal Christmas. This is how we would like to experience them ourselves. Enough is said about love between people, about understanding and forgiveness. We seem kinder, more willing, considerate, and more tolerant towards each other. Sometimes, it looks like some idyll that is far from reality. I don’t want to disturb the well-being of any of us. I want to spend Christmastime like this. We all fondly remember the time when we were still small. We were looking forward to Christmas dinner. We were looking forward to the gifts. Well, they weren’t just gifts. We also enjoyed family traditions.

I don’t want to burden you with memories on this day. We all have some. Well, the older we get, the more we realize that if we stick to wishes and wishes during Christmas, no matter how sincerely expressed, it’s nice, but it’s not enough. If we want peace, we must create peace and live with others. In the Scriptures’ words: To regard others as more worthy than oneself. If we wish for well-being, we must take care of it ourselves. And so we can forgive each other and won’t just play some theater during those days, it’s completely fine between us. If we want love, we must give it and spread it selflessly, without any expectations. It will not fall from the sky itself. And when we wish for tolerance and consideration, we must commit ourselves to it. In other words, behave tolerantly and considerately.

And we hope the whole family will get together, it’s pleasant because not all families are together these days. However, even lonely people, abandoned by their families and forgotten by society, live Christmas today. How do they experience the time of joy and delight? If we base ourselves only on having enough of everything – both for eating and drinking – Let us also thank God that we are not in need! That we have a roof over our heads. We have those with us who care about us, and we care about them. These are not self-evident or automatic things. Well, let’s also think about those who are not allowed this! Let’s think of the seriously ill, for whom this Christmas may be the last in their lives! Let us think of people who are going through difficult trials. Let’s remember the children in hospitals and orphanages! We think of the unemployed and the needy, who must humble themselves. How will all of them experience the “Silent and Holy Night”?

Dear believers, why should we ask such severe questions at the beginning of the festive days? Because we are no longer children, we look at this time differently than we did years ago. We have to ask ourselves these uncomfortable questions because it is reality. Today, we are led by the spirit of the times to a material view of these holidays. We are bombarded with challenges from all sides; what else do we need for a peaceful and wonderful Christmas,  without which we will certainly not survive happily? I guarantee we are still missing some great products for a peaceful Christmas.

But let’s not forget that the magic of these days lies in other content. If we don’t fill Christmas with spiritual content and stay only on the material level, we will enjoy some gifts for a while, but even the best surprise will become ordinary. I mean that unless the holidays of the birth of Jesus Christ change us internally and long-term, unless this time leads us to reflect on life and the values ​​for which we live, unless this time brings us closer to God, the originator and source of love, peace, peace, forgiveness, tolerance, willingness, or consideration – then it will not be a good and fully lived time. As I already indicated, even during this Christmas, there are quite a few people in the world who are fighting. I don’t even think about war conflicts. Instead, I think of the internal struggles of specific people. Seriously ill, abandoned, etc.

Of course, even that first Christmas was probably anything but ideal. It must have been tough to walk in labor pains crisscrossing Bethlehem and be rejected with everything occupied. It must have been an internal struggle to bring a child into the world among the animals in the stable – in the smell, the dirt, and the harsh conditions of the stone cave. And yet. Neither Maria nor Jozef gave up then. Mary did not protest when she learned that she would become the mother of Jesus. Joseph did not object to marrying his pregnant fiancée. They did not even protest against the order of the emperor Augustus and finally humbly accepted the manager for the animals as a cradle for the newborn child. And all this in the joy that they could be at God’s historical intervention. That they could be involved. That they could participate in it. That it was they who had the grace to bring into the world and further educate the future Savior of the whole world.

You are correct that Christmas is still a struggle for many today. For the sick person, this struggle may consist of a decision – will I accept my lot in silence, humility, and, at the same time, hope? Jesus came also to carry me through death and give me eternal life in his kingdom… This struggle consists of a possible decision for someone without a job-will. I accept that my life has meaning and value even if I don’t work. Even so big that the little born boy then gave his life for me? For a well-off person, the Christmas struggle may lie in a decision – will I think more and support those who have found themselves in need through no fault of their own? God has blessed me a lot… For our children, this struggle probably consists of a decision – will I accept the born Jesus into my young life as a model of how to be a parent and obedient to authorities, or will I continue to pretend that everything always and every time has to revolve only around me? For parents, the Christmas struggle lies in the decision: Will I tell my children about this Jesus more than once a year at Christmas? Will I accompany them to the temple so they recognize from a young age that they are a part of the big family – the church? Will I fulfill my promise to God at my child’s baptism? This time is a time of internal struggle in one ordinary matter: whether? Well, we could continue like this.

Brothers and sisters, this time is a time of internal struggle in one ordinary matter: whether I will accept the newborn Jesus and the message he brings into my life. Therefore, let us all open our lives to Him who came so we may have abundant life. For the One who came with love, tranquility, peace, reconciliation, forgiveness, self-sacrifice – and wants to fill this Christmas and the whole next year with all of this in us and our families.