CHRISTMAS EVE 1865

PHILLIPS BROOKS WENT ON HORSEBACK FROM JERUSALEM TO BETHLEHEM, WHERE

HE ASSISTED AT THE CHRISTMAS EVE MIDNIGHT MASS.  HE WROTE:  "I REMEMBER

STANDING IN THE OLD CHURCH IN BETHLEHEM, CLOSE TO THE SPOT WHERE JESUS

WAS BORN, WHEN THE WHOLE CHURCH WAS RINGING HOUR AFTER HOUR WITH

SPLENDID HYMNS OF PRAISE TO GOD…".  SOON THEREAFTER HE WROTE WHAT IS

NOW A CHRISTMAS CLASSIC:  O LITTLE TOWN OF BETHLEHEM

        THE HOPES AND FEARS OF ALL THE YEARS ARE MET IN THEE TONIGHT."

        AS WE APPROACH THE CHRISTMAS CRIB IN 2008 IN A WORLD VERY DIFFERENT

FROM THAT OF CHRISTMAS EVE 1865 ONE THING REMAINS TRUE:  OUR HOPES AND

OUR FEARS ARE VERY MUCH THE SAME BECAUSE  HUMAN NATURE DOESN'T

CHANGE VERY MUCH.

        OUR FEARS IN THE YEAR 2008 ARE MANY AND VERY REAL.  THOUGH SOME TIME

HAS ELAPSED SINCE THE EVENTS OF SEPTEMBER 11TH, 2001 - THE FEAR OF TERRORISM

HANGS OVER OUR WORLD LIKE A DARK AND MENACING CLOUD.

        THE ECONOMIC CRISIS WE HEAR SO MUCH ABOUT IS NOT JUST A THEORY -

53,000 PEOPLE ARE JOBLESS IN RHODE ISLAND ALONE, MANY HAVE LOST THEIR

HOMES AND MANY MORE HAVE NO IDEA WHERE THEIR NEXT MEAL IS COMING

FROM.  THIS IS SERIOUS STUFF. 

        THEN THERE ARE THE FEARS THAT COME WITH SIMPLY BEING HUMAN - THE

FEAR OF ILLNESS AND THE DIMINISHMENT THAT COMES WITH AGING, CONCERNS

FOR THE SAFETY AND SECURITY OF OUR FAMILY.  ALL THESE FEARS ARE REAL - THEY

WEIGH US DOWN, CAUSE SLEEPLESS NIGHTS AND MORE GRAY HAIR.

        BUT THE CHRISTMAS FEAST GIVES US A NEW LEASE ON LIFE FOR IF CHRISTMAS IS

ANYTHING IT IS THE GREAT FEAST OF HOPE BECAUSE OUR HOPE DOES NOT DEPEND

ON MATERIAL SUCCESS, SCIENTIFIC KNOWLEDGE OR THE UPS AND DOWNS OF THE

STOCK MARKET.

        THE LITURGY MUSIC AND SPIRIT OF CHRISTMAS PROCLAIMS AGAIN AND AGAIN

THAT JESUS CHRIST IS OUR HOPE AND THE HOPE OF THE ENTIRE WORLD.  WHEN

THE WORLD TURNS AWAY FROM GOD THINGS CAN AND DO GO TERRIBLY WRONG. 

THE GREED OF THE FEW CAN PRODUCE POVERTY FOR THE MANY.  THE PURSUIT OF

PEACE BECOMES SUBVERTED BY DESTRUCTIVE VIOLENCE.  WHAT THE WORLD

UNDERSTANDS AS FREEDOM ONLY PRODUCES SLAVERY TO SIN, TO EVERY KIND OF

ADDICTION AND LEADS TO THE OPPRESSION OF THE MOST VULNERABLE AMONG US. 

        BUT IF WE TAKE JESUS CHRIST SERIOUSLY AND PUT HIS GOSPEL TEACHING INTO

PRACTICE THEN THINGS BEGIN TO CHANGE.  THE CLOSING PRAYER OF THIS

CHRISTMAS LITURGY DESCRIBES MY PRAYER AND HOPE FOR EACH OF YOU AND

MYSELF THIS CHRISTMAS.  THAT PRAYER IS AS FOLLOWS:

        LORD, GRANT YOUR PEOPLE YOUR PROTECTION AND GRACE.  GIVE THEM

HEALTH OF MIND AND BODY, PERFECT LOVE FOR ONE ANOTHER AND MAKE THEM

ALWAYS FAITHFUL TO YOU…