Merry Christmas! The angels sang at that first Christmas, “Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.” (Luke 2:14) I pray you too experience peace in these days. At the Christmas Eve Masses, you likely will hear the Midnight Mass readings which include a first reading from the Prophet Isaiah that gives us this gem line:
For a child is born to us, a son is given to us; upon his shoulder dominion rests. They name him Wonder-Counselor, God-Hero, Father-Forever, Prince of Peace. (Isaiah 9:5)
Prince of Peace! Hey, that is our parish name—we must have gotten the idea from this line of Isaiah. I wonder how that conversation went. Did the other titles get a chance to be voted on: Wonder-Counselor, God-Hero, Father-Forever, and Prince of Peace? Why didn’t God-Hero win the vote? Who wouldn’t want go to God-Hero Church! Parents would ask their children, “Hey, where do you want to go to Mass today?” And children would respond, "I want to go to God-Hero Church.” Alas for God-Hero, it did not win the vote. But, I have to admit, Prince of Peace is a really good name too.
We need a God-Hero! Jesus is our God-Hero and Prince of Peace. What does a hero do? It is a person who faces danger, combats adversity, and saves the day through courage and strength. Jesus comes to save us, to face the danger of sin and death, to fight it and win, and to do so we the courage that comes from His unbreakable trust in the Father and the strength of the love of God. Even as a baby born in Bethlehem, Jesus is our God-Hero! I liked those signs in the pandemic, “Heroes work here.” We should put that on our church sign, “The God-Hero works here!”. Jesus is working hard right here in this place, healing us and fighting for us!
We need a Prince of Peace! Our world and our hearts are beset by so much anxiety, fear, trouble, anger, frustration, etc.. Peace is harmony between God and man, between peoples, and within ourselves. It is more than the mere absence of conflict, but it is completeness, tranquility, and spiritual well-being. One the last things Jesus said at His Last Supper was, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give it to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid.” (John 14:27) We nearly quote this every Mass before the sign of peace. Another word for peace might be “communion”. When we have communion with God that is harmony, and what conflict can touch us if we are safe in God? That is the gift of Holy Communion, the Eucharist—the True Body and Blood of Christ—and why attending Mass is so important. There is no peace in this world without communion with Jesus. There is no Christmas without Christ at Mass. Thanks for being here!
So, let us celebrate the coming of our God-Hero, our Prince of Peace, Jesus our Saviour this Christmas. May peace be yours this sacred day!
Peace,
Fr. Greg