Corpus Christi Blog

Merry Christmas, everyone.  Yes it is still the Christmas season for one more week.  In this season all people are invited to begin to uncover the mystery of who Jesus Christ is in His fullness.  Indeed Jesus Christ is a mystery.  A couple of days ago, we celebrated in faith that Jesus, who is the eternal Son of God, the fulfillment of all the prophets in the Old Testament, the Messiah, and the Christ, was sent by God the Father to become a human baby who will eventually save his people.  And today the mystery of God’s plan of salvation continues as we highlight the fact that God chose to carry out this plan by means of a family- the Holy Family, Jesus, Mary and Joseph. 

My brothers and sisters in Christ, today we celebrate the most joyful and exciting moment in all of history, God becoming man.  But this celebration of Christmas this year is not ordinary because Pope Francis has declared this year to be a Jubilee Year of Mercy.  Beginning just a couple of weeks ago, on Dec. 8, Pope Francis has called the Church to enter into this year in a particular and purposeful way, to receive the ever-present, ever-new Mercy.  And so today, we celebrate the birth of the Savior of the World, we rejoice that Mercy has been born into our lives.

I heard that a young child asked her mommy, why aren’t people happy when they come to Mass?  It is a good question, how would you answer that little girl?  As I thought about how I might answer that question, I thought well perhaps for some the respect and reverence they have for God causes them to be more focused.  For others, perhaps being on their best behavior before God means they are more serious, and so they avoid being too be joyful at the risk of offending God with their joy.

Such inspiring and uplifting readings we are given today, let us jump right into what they mean to our lives.  Our 1st reading is a prophecy from Baruch to the people of God in Jerusalem; this same prophecy is echoed by Isaiah as well.  It begins, “Jerusalem, take off your robe of mourning and misery; put on the splendor of glory from God forever”. For our purposes today, whenever we read ‘Jerusalem’- we can insert ‘Church’- for the Church is the New Jerusalem.    So we can read it this way, ‘Church, take off your robe of mourning and misery; put on the splendor of glory from God forever’.  Our 1st reading goes on to say, “Up, Jerusalem (or for us- Up, Church) stand upon the heights.  For God has commanded every mountain be made low and every depth be filled and made level, for God is leading Israel in joy, (leading the Church) in joy by the light of his glory with mercy and justice”.