Christmas Day — Mass at Dawn
Isa 62:11-12
Tit 3:4-7
Lk2:15-20
And the shepherds went back glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen…
There is a very popular Christmas song that was written by Edward Pola and George Wyle, and which we often hear in the malls and cafes during the Christmas season. I’m sure you know it. The first two verses of the lyrics go:
It’s the most wonderful time of the year
With the kids jingle belling
And everyone telling you be of good cheer
It’s the most wonderful time of the year
It’s the hap-happiest season of all
With those holiday greetings and gay happy meetings
When friends come to call
It’s the hap-happiest season of all
Christmas is no doubt a special time of the year, when Christmas jingles fill the air and Christmas lights greet us along our main streets and in our neighbourhoods. The overall feeling that one gets every Christmas can be summed up in one word: Joy.
Yet the Christmas joy that a Christian feels and that experienced by the secular world can often be worlds apart. Quite literally.
For the Christian, we are moved by the heavenly joy of God coming to our world as a baby. A significant moment of our salvation, when our saviour comes to us accompanied not by trumpets blasting, but with the cry of an infant child and the soothing of His mother, who is also the focus of our gospel readings today. The Christmas joy that Christians experience is anchored high above in the stars and heavens – the very same ones that guided the wise men to the infant Jesus.
In contrast, the ‘Christmas’ joy that the secular world experiences is far more grounded in the physical world. It is one of parties and presents, punctuated by the sound of champagne popping and other semblances of partying and feasting. There is, of course, nothing wrong with this. Everyone needs some time to celebrate something or other. We should also be happy that some, if not all, of our Christmas joy brings joy to others as well.
But for us Christians, Christmas joy is one that is quiet but triumphant. One that is focused on that precious moment when our Lady said ‘Yes’ to God and thereafter, changed our sinful fates forever. It is for this reason that I much prefer for my Christmas music Silent Night, which goes:
Silent night, holy night!
All is calm, all is bright.
Round yon Virgin, Mother and Child.
Holy infant so tender and mild,
Sleep in heavenly peace,
Sleep in heavenly peace
Silent night, holy night!
Shepherds quake at the sight.
Glories stream from heaven afar
Heavenly hosts sing Alleluia,
Christ the Saviour is born!
Christ the Saviour is born
Silent night, holy night!
Son of God, love’s pure light.
Radiant beams from Thy holy face
With dawn of redeeming grace,
Jesus Lord, at Thy birth
Jesus Lord, at Thy birth
Christmas is no doubt a most wonderful time of the year, but not for the same reasons that Edward Pola and George Wyle proposed. It is wonderful because of the wonder that is God coming to earth as a child. Let us therefore greet Christmas with the joy and wonder of a child meeting our Saviour, who comes to us too, as a child.
(Today’s OXYGEN by Jacob Woo)
Prayer: Lord, we pray for Your Christmas message to enter and heal our world in this Christmas season, that all will experience Your love and peace.
Thanksgiving: As we celebrate Christmas time, we thank the Lord for His holy presence and love for all humanity.
OXYGEN 
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