THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH Her Doctrine and Morals Christmas 25 December 2013

The Sunday Sermon

Sunday within the Octave of Christmas

Dear Friend,

The census taken by Augustus was of the whole world and was a material census. Christ's coming was during this time to instruct us in some very important truths. For a census of the whole world, it was necessary that there should be peace. It was foretold that there would be peace when Christ came. The census also symbolized the spiritual census when God would call all men to be counted as His children in the Kingdom of Heaven or the Catholic Church.

The ancient enrollment of the Synagogue has ended. The Israelite nations have lost their own rule and are subject to the Roman rule. The time is now for a new enrollment in the Catholic Church. The baptismal registry of every Catholic Church is in a way a registry of the census of Catholics in the whole world. Our place in this registry is a testament to our having renounced the world and embraced Jesus Christ.

We have seen that an angel appeared to Mary at the Annunciation, an angel appeared to St. Joseph in a dream to tell him that it was God's will that he should take Mary to wife and that she was the mother of God and is a virgin. Today, we see that angels appear to the shepherds watching their flocks by night.

Angels are messengers of God's will to men. The Apostles and their successors, the bishops, are also referred to as angels. They present the will of God to their flocks, they are charged with shepherding them through this life and into the gates of Heaven.

As we behold the Christ child, wrapped in swaddling clothes, let us consider how His hands and feet were bound so that we might be set free. Already in this early stage of His life He is suffering for us. He is offering Himself for us. For all the sins we commit with our freedom of movement God allowed Himself to be tied and bound.

As we look upon Him in the manger, we are reminded that we are but animals. We are unworthy beasts, yet He came to feed us. We are not to feed upon hay and grain, but rather upon the Body of Christ. He is inviting us to come and receive Him. It is through the Church, the Sacraments, and His priests and bishops that Jesus offers Himself as our food. He sacrifices Himself to feed not our bodies, but more importantly He desires us to feed our souls with Himself.

This beautiful little Child in the manger is God, and in this "helpless" infantile state sacrifices and offers Himself in the greatest act of love for us.

The dignities of Mary must not be forgotten on this day either. St. Ambrose tells us: "Mary; a spouse conceived, a Virgin brought forth. For though He appeared as man yet He was not in all things subject to the laws of humanity; that He was born of woman, savored of lowliness; the virginity however that attended His birth shows that He transcended mankind. His carrying in the womb was joyful; His birth immaculate, His coming forth without pain, His nativity free of blemish, neither taking rise from the will of the flesh, nor brought forth in sorrow; for since she who by her fault had brought death to our nature was condemned to bring forth in sorrow, it was fitting that the Mother of Life should bring forth in joy. And in that hour, in which the shadows began to retire, and the immense gloom of night was forced back by the splendor of this Light, Christ, through this virginal incorruption, comes to share the life of mortal men. For death had reached the boundary of the domination of sin, and now moves towards nothingness, because of the presence of the True Light which by its evangelical rays has given light to the whole world."

This glorious anniversary that we are celebrating reminds us of all that God has given us in the Church and Her sacraments. It is Himself. In this beautiful Infant all sin is conquered. In this wondrous Baby, we are given angels both spiritual (in our guardian angels) and physical (in our bishops and priests) to announce to us and shepherd us to the Kingdom of Heaven.

We encourage one and all to give heartfelt thanks to God for this glorious gift of Himself to us, as well as thanking Him for His angels, bishops and priests, that not only announce the Gospel message to us, but bring Him to us in the sacraments, especially the sacrament of the Holy Eucharist.

We have taken the first steps in approaching God by receiving Baptism and being enrolled in the registry of the Church, but this is not yet enough. We must continue in the Church and in the Faith that we have received at the Baptismal fount. Tragically, there are many who have entered but have turned back. The joy of Christ's birth no longer fills their souls with joy. They have lost their youthful innocence and have in a spiritual sense removed their names from the Church and therefore from the Kingdom of Heaven.

May we each and every one this day come near to the Christ Child, leaving behind our sins and evil lives that we renounced at our baptism, and re-enroll ourselves in the census of God. In this way, we will experience true happiness as we celebrate the anniversary of the Birth of Our Lord.