Homily
for December 24, 2007
Liturgical Year A- Cycle II
Children's Christmas Mass
By Dcn. Charlie Pacheco Topic:
Teach the Children
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It’s finally here!
Christmas is finally
here! I just love Christmas, don’t you? What do you
like best
about Christmas? Is it the Christmas tree with its blinking
lights?
Maybe it’s the Christmas carols or the delicious Christmas
goodies.
Perhaps it’s the turkey and all the trimmings or the posole, tamales
and
biscochitos. For many of us, the best thing about Christmas is
the
presents -- both the ones we give and the ones we receive. Hmmm....Can you think of anything I
have left out?
Oh yes! It’s someone’s birthday, isn’t it. Whose birthday
is
it? That’s right, it is Jesus’ birthday. You know,
sometimes we get
so caught up in all the decorations, lights, parties and presents that
we miss
the real meaning of Christmas. I want to tell you a story I read
sometime ago. The
title of the story is “Teach the Children” and the Author is unknown.
I had just finished my chores for the
night and was
preparing to go to bed, when I heard a noise in the front of the
house. I
opened the door to the front room and to my surprise, Santa himself
stepped out
from behind the Christmas tree. He placed his finger over his mouth so
I would not cry
out. “What are you doing?” I
started to ask. The words choked up in my throat for I saw
he had
tears in his eyes. His usual jolly manner was gone. Gone
was the
eager, joyful soul we all know. He then answered me with a simple
statement. “TEACH
THE CHILDREN.” I was puzzled, what did he mean? He
anticipated my
question and with one quick movement brought forth a miniature toy
bag
from behind the tree. As I stood bewildered, Santa said, “Teach
them the
old meaning of Christmas. The meaning that now-a-days Christmas
has
forgotten.” Santa reached into his bag and pulled
out a tiny
Christmas tree and set it on my mantle.
"Teach them about the Christmas tree. Green is the color of the
stately evergreen, with its unchanging color, it represents the hope of
eternal
life in Jesus. Its needles
point upward as a reminder that mankind's thoughts should turn
towards
heaven as well." Santa reached into his bag again,
pulled out a shiny
star, and placed it at the top of the small tree. "The star is
the heavenly sign of
promise. God promised a Savior for the
world and the star was the sign of the fulfillment of that promise on
the night
that Jesus Christ was born. Teach the
children that God always fulfills His promises, and that wise men still
seek
Him." He then reached into his bag, pulled
out a CANDLE, and lit
it. The soft glow from its one tiny
flame brightened the room. "The
glow of the candle represents how people can show their thanks for the
gift of
God's son that Christmas Eve long ago. Teach the children that the
candle
symbolizes that Christ is the light of the world, and when we see this
great
light we are reminded of He who displaces the darkness.” Once again he reached into his bag,
removed a WREATH, and
placed it on the tree. “He said, the wreath symbolizes the real
nature of
love. Real love never ceases. Love is one continuous round
of
affection. The bow tells the story of good will towards all and
its color
reminds us of Christ's sacrifice. ” He pulled forth a red ornament for the
tiny tree.
"Red is deep, intense, vivid. It is
the symbol of God's greatest gift. Teach
the children that Christ gave his life and shed his blood for them that
they
might have eternal life. When they see
the color red, it should remind them of that most wonderful gift." He then pulled from his bag an
ornament of himself.
I, St. Nicolas, symbolize the generosity and goodwill we feel during
the four
weeks of Advent.” He pulled from the bag a GIFT and
said, “Teach the
children that God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten
Son...” “Thanks be to God for his unspeakable gift.” “The wise men bowed before the HOLY
BABE and presented
Him with gold, frankincense and myrrh. We should always give
gifts in the
same spirit of the wise men.” Santa then reached in his bag, pulled
out a CANDY CANE,
and hung it on the tree. “The candy cane represents the
shepherds’
crook. The crook on the staff helps to bring back strayed sheep
to the
flock. The candy cane is the symbol that we are our brother’s
keeper.” He reached in again and pulled out an
ANGEL. “It
was the angels that heralded in the glorious news of the Savior’s
birth.
The angels sang ‘Glory to God in the highest, on earth peace and good
will
toward men.” Suddenly, I heard a soft twinkling
sound, and from his
bag he pulled out a BELL. “Let them know that as the lost sheep
are found
by the sound of the bell, it should ring and bring mankind back to the
fold. The bell symbolizes guidance and return.” Santa looked back and was
pleased. He looked at me
and I saw that the twinkle was back in his eyes. He said,
“Remember,
teach the children the true meaning of Christmas and do not put ME in
the
center, for I am but a humble servant of the One that is, and I bow
down to
worship HIM, our LORD and our GOD.” Having said all this, Santa
Claus
disappeared. Dear Jesus, it is your birthday.
Let’s pray that we
don’t get so caught up in the celebration, the decorations and the
gifts that
we miss the real meaning of Christmas. I wish all of you a holy and blessed
Christmas.