Christmas Eve Homily

The extended version of the Christmas night Gospel has a few characters for us to examine.  First, Gabriel, the archangel, has a message to deliver to unsuspecting shepherds.  As Christmas begins, how might we hear the same message they heard, that the long-awaited messiah has been born for us?  Second, all the focus is on a little, harmless baby.  Babies and children are inherently disarming and therefore inviting.  They invite us to let go of the protections and walls we create between our inner selves and others.  They allow us to open our hearts and simply love the other.  Can we do the same with each other this Christmas?  Finally, the shepherds who visited the manger scene and saw the new born king went away completely different people.  Having celebrated Christmas and remembered that Jesus also was born and walked this earth, could we also be different people this Christmas?  Someone more hopeful, civil, kind, and loving?

We appreciate Fr. Carl Reis for celebrating Mass with us on Christmas Eve!  The staff of the Emmaus Pastorate wishes all of our listeners a very merry Christmas!