Father Carroll's Homily for the Nativity

Homily for Christmas Day 2014

          As we come to Mass today, we ponder the words of our responsorial psalm, “all the ends of the earth have seen the saving power of God.”  Another phrase that stands out is the first sentence of our alleluia verse “A holy day has dawned upon us.”  Brothers and sisters we are indeed blessed to gather as a parish family to celebrate the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ. 

          Turning our attention to the first reading we heard proclaimed, “How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings glad tidings, announcing peace, bearing good news, announcing salvation, and saying to Zion, “Your God is King!”  Our Lord’s greeting to the world was no ordinary greeting.  In fact it kind of sounded something like this.  For parents the sound of their child’s first cry brings joy to the heart.  When we hear a child’s cry brothers and sisters our hearts should rejoice because that was the very same sound our Lord made from the very moment He was introduced to the world.  It is in a child’s cry we are reminded of the humility of Christ.  See a baby cries when they are hungry, need a diaper change, and tired.  As they grow they have to learn how to communicate and interact.  Even Jesus had to grow and to learn how to talk and walk.  Jesus became like us in every way of course with the exception of sin. 

          Like John the Baptist we are called to testify to the light that radiates in our hearts.  Jesus is King!  Jesus is King, like no other.  God made His dwelling, and continues to make His dwelling among us.  This is what we celebrate today.  My dear brothers and sisters I want us all to pay close attention to how the Lord reveals His saving power.  When you sit down with your family to eat a meal, when you gather around the Christmas tree to open presents, I want us striving to see the presence of Christ in those moments.  Finally if we are blessed to hear the sound of a baby’s cry, I want us all to strive to hear the voice of Lord a sound which pierces the heart.  May we allow those moments to warm our heats allowing us to share the joy of this most sacred day!