DAILY HOMILIES

As part of our Christmas celebrations, the story of John the Beloved draws us to open our hearts to love Jesus as a friend and brother. It is not enough that we eat rice and chicken to celebrate Jesus’s birth; we must have personal relationships with Jesus. You, too, can become Jesus’ best friend today.

Our celebration of St. Stephen today reminds us that Christmas is not all about eating and drinking. It is a celebration of the SACRIFICIAL LOVE of God for us. If God so loved us, we must love one another. If God so loved us even when we were His enemies, we must love our enemies and pray for them.

Christmas is such a wonderful love story. God’s way of vocalising “I Love You” was by giving us the greatest gift ever: the gift of His Son, Jesus Christ. It doesn’t end there; God gave us Jesus Christ to die for us. Could there be any better way of saying: “I Love You”?

The people to whom Isaiah prophesied in our first reading were a people in darkness. Isaiah prophesied that Christ, the world's light, would dwell in their midst and wipe out the darkness. The Angels announced this to the shepherds who kept watch at night: “For to you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour who is Christ the Lord.”

While David opted to build a house for God, Mary agreed to become a living tabernacle for God. Humility is not necessarily thinking less of ourselves but giving God His due.

Let us learn to be silent, even if it is just for a few minutes every day. And as we celebrate Christmas, it would help to play Zechariah by taking time for quiet reflection.

Dear friends, let us examine our hearts. Are there promises you made to God when things were rough for you, yet long after God heard your prayer, you refused to fulfil your part? Do you even remember God when things are going well for you? Are you currently going through a storm? Don’t worry; storms do not last forever. Keep telling yourself, “This too shall pass.” Tough times don’t last, but tough people do.

We get to hear about Mary’s pregnancy from Elizabeth's mouth. “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!” (Luke 1:42). Elizabeth introduces Mary to the world as the woman who is blessed among all women. Elizabeth and Angel Gabriel gave us the “Hail Mary” prayer.

Just as the Holy Spirit produced a child in Mary’s womb, He can change your story. The Holy Spirit can make you overcome sin and incarnate Christ. Call on Him today. If He made Elizabeth conceive in old age, it is not too late for Him now. The Holy Spirit can still transform you no matter how deeply you sinned.

To shame Goliath, God chose David. To shame those mocking Hannah and Elizabeth, God gave them children. Avoid laughing at others. Avoid labelling people with their condition. Do not write off anybody as good for nothing; you are not God.

Joseph deserves a lot of heroic commendation for his Faith. By obeying the Angel, Joseph showed that he believed in the possibility of God taking flesh in the womb of a person. Joseph believed strongly that with God, all things are possible.

Today, the Church tells us, “Be Happy and Rejoice.” As always, specific questions come to our minds when we hear the phrase: “Be Happy!” What does it even mean? Is it possible to be happy all the time? What is the magic formula to finding lasting happiness, irrespective of all that may happen today? We shall now consider how our readings at today’s mass respond to these questions.