Christmas Homily

Jesus Christ says in John 10:10 that he came so that we may have life in the full.
Life in the full…
A few days ago, I was called to the anoint an elderly lady who was dying.
At her side, two younger women, friends, who were accompanying her.
Giving up their own time to be with their friend coming to the end of her time.  Life in the full.
Last week, one family responding to another family in need; going out shopping and giving of their own resources and time so that this family in need, facing eviction could find some degree of security.  Life in the full.
People going to Catholic Charities each week to give of their time to serve those in need.  People also sticking out their necks as well, pushing the city, county and state to help make substantial changes for those who are working, since even so called “normal” wages do not even cover rent, groceries, medicine…Life in the full.
Friends giving up time to be with another friend who is enduring a depression.  Life in the full
It is also a young man realizing that the anger and sadness he had refused to give up because he felt life was against him was keeping him from being alive.  So he begins the process of healing.
It’s another younger person, that after years of addiction and abuse, finds that he is worthy of love!  He is able to be liberated from the drugs and be clean.
Life in the full is being true to who we are as human persons
It is about being people of love, willing to give of ourselves to others, so that they may thrive.
It is being people who forgive, letting go of the need to get vengeance on others, thus creating bridges.
It is being a human person that looks with the compassion upon others; not seeing threats, not reacting to fear...but seeing other human persons.
Life in the full is one of gratitude for life itself.  It is experiencing our identity as one loved by God, espoused by God.
Life in the full is one of humility, trying to not control every aspect of life and the universe, but understanding that we can only control ourselves.
It is being a human person who feels, but not controlled by the feelings.
Who chooses to do what is good for others.
Christmas is a celebration of the Joy of Being Human!
The Son of God, giving of himself, becomes an infant.
signifying that we are children of God, Signifying the need for humility.  Christ reminds us that our core identity is that we are children of God, and that nothing can remove that, rob us of that, or lose it.
Christ, born into a family, signifying that being Human and having life in the full, having Joy, is to be in relationships with others, it is about community.
Christ being fully God and Fully human, signifies the dignity of the human person, and that all persons deserve the right to that dignity.  No matter from the womb, death beds, death row, at borders, in the streets, no matter gender. All human life is worthy.
Jesus will live out the fullness of humanity.
He will demonstrate the healing power that comes from being connected to the Love of the Father
He will reveal that life comes through giving of Self.
He will reveal that being true to ourselves is about giving love.


He will begin a revolution in thinking, in living and in being.
He will reveal how we, as humans, can effect a change so that people do not have to suffer, do not have to starve, do not have to feel wasted.
He will reveal how God wills us as God’s children to participate in making this a world of justice, peace, compassion for all people.
So we rejoice in this Good News!  We rejoice in God’s love for us, God’s desire that we be true to who we are as persons.
And we go, and be human, we go and live life in the full.
We go to forgive and accept forgiveness
We go to live in humility.
We go to live the compassion that is part of our being, extend a hand to those in need; be generous in whatever form is needed.
This is the salvation that comes from the Father, through Christ, in the Holy Spirit.
This is our redemption, our vindication, our True Power.
This is what it means to be Catholic, Christian, HUMAN!
This is what it means to have life in the full.
This is the Joy of Christmas.


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