A First Time for Everything
Although those of you who are cradle Catholics have experienced it year after year, it was my first time attending Christmas Eve Mass and I was so excited. Throughout the weeks of Advent the anticipation continued to build inside of me. When the day finally arrived our family and friends were gathered at home and we were having a good time, but my wife and I slipped out to go to Mass.
Like a kid in a candy store I was in awe seeing the pews filled, smiles on faces, and the altar decorated with Christmas trees, poinsettias, and of course a nativity scene. Throughout the Mass I couldn’t stop smiling with joy for what we were celebrating. It was the birthday of Jesus Christ and there was no other place I would rather have been then there with my fellow believers praising God for the precious gift of His Son which we receive in the palm of our hands or the tip of our tongues. What a humble God we have that would allow us to hold Him in our hands!
From Christmas to Christ-Mass
It’s unfortunate that while we are so busy focusing on the traditional practices building up to Christmas, we lose sight of the real reason for the season, the birth of Jesus Christ. I know it’s pretty obvious, but as a non-Catholic I had never made the connection between Christmas and the Christ Mass. As a child I had been to church on Christmas Eve a few times, but a church service is not the same thing as the Mass. Any church can put on a great Christmas service with candles and carols—and frankly I can’t knock their efforts of bringing people to Jesus. But what better way to celebrate the God of the universe coming to earth to live among us and share His love with us—so much so that He has made us His adopted sons and daughters—than to receive Jesus Christ in the Eucharist.
So this year I found it quite interesting that just as Jesus Christ, the son of God, came to us as a tiny, defenseless child in overwhelming humility, He also comes to us in the Mass in the humble, simple form of bread and wine. To me the similarities were profound.
Gifts & Good Company
Like I mentioned earlier, spending time with friends and family has become synonymous with Christmas. This year we loaded up the SUV and drove six hours to share a meal and our time with our family in Arizona. The long drive and little sleep weren’t very much fun, but it was worth the time that we were able to spend with the people who are closest to us, yet so far away. After receiving the “Good News” that she would give birth to the Son of God, Mary traveled to visit her cousin Elizabeth. When she arrived they rejoiced together, just as we rejoice together during Christmas. As Christians, the joy that we have within us is something that we want to share with everyone.
The other tradition we practice during Christmas is the exchanging of gifts. Our consumeristic society has transformed Christmas into a materialistic extravaganza urging us to shop ’til we drop while at the same time causing us yet again to forget about the true gift we receive during Christmas.
“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” ~ Romans 6:23
Of course it is Jesus that “gift of God” that comes to us humbly as an infant that we celebrate on Christmas and participating in Christmas this year by going to Mass was a special blessing that I will cherish for years to come. That night will forever remain in heart as my first real Christmas. And as my wife and I start our own family and continue to grow in faith, the Christmas Eve Mass will definitely be on the family to-do list every year.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!