In 1223, St. Francis of Assisi created the first nativity scene in a small Italian town called Greccio. The scene was based on his memories of a cherished Holy Land pilgrimage during which he had been deeply impressed by the humility of the Incarnation. On that Christmas Eve, the townspeople of Greccio gathered around the nativity scene with candles in hand to venerate the crèche and give glory to the newborn king. Mass was celebrated on an altar that had been made over the manger. Francis read the Gospel and gave a homily, referring to Jesus as the “Child of Bethlehem.” Someone present later reported seeing a sleeping infant in the manger. Thomas of Celano, Francis’ first biographer, pointed out how appropriate this was: Jesus was waking up a sleeping world.
In the gospel assigned for Midnight Mass describes this nativity scene that Francis so beautifully displayed at Greccio. Can you imagine the reaction of the startled shepherds when all of a sudden there appeared an angel declaring the birth of the Jesus?
These shepherds went to where the Child Jesus was laying and were the first to witness salvation coming into our world through the new born infant at Bethlehem. This scene from the Gospel of St. Luke describes the true meaning of what we celebrate each year on December 25th.
I've heard on the news during Christmas Eve that people were still going out shopping and getting their last minute Christmas presents for their loved ones. It just seemed to me that these people doing this last minutes shopping are missing the point of what Christmas is all about. Instead of SHOPPING for their loved ones, they should be spending time with them and reflect on today's gospel. The angel told the shepherds, "I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For today in the city of David a savior has been born for you who is Christ and Lord." (Luke 2:10).
Let us spend time in true thanksgiving for the birth of Our Lord Jesus Christ, for His life, death and resurrection. It is through Jesus Christ that we have salvation.
Merry Christmas!
Thank you, Deacon Tom, for sharing about St. Francis of Assisi & Greccio.
ReplyDeleteIn recent years the only Mass I attended for Christmas Eve was Midnight Mass where I sing in the choir at St. Margaret's Church. I considered myself blessed that one of Mom's aides came to be with Mom in time for me to get ready & leave to be at church before 11pm so we could be ready to start singing at 11:30pm for the 1/2 hour of music before the Mass & stay until I got back to Mom's house after the Mass. I could not also go to an earlier Mass & I was with Mom for all of Christmas Day,giving our aides Christmas Day off to celebrate with their family (they were mother & daughter) & trying to give Mom & myself the nicest Christmas possible under the circumstances (Mom had metastatic breast cancer & often had headaches, queasiness & dizziness).
Now that the LORD has taken Mom to heaven I am now free of caregiving responsibilities & the best part of my freedom (besides being able to sleep in my own bed at home instead of staying a few nights per week with Mom) is greater availability to serve in my various Church ministries. So this year I not only sang at Midnight Mass but I also sang at noon Mass with a few other choir members on Christmas Day & I was able to serve as lector & one of three EMs at the 4:30pm Family Mass at my home parish, St. Pancras.
For the last few years the Children's Choir have sung at the 4:30pm Christmas Eve Vigil Mass & some of the children were dressed as Mary, Joseph, angels & shepherds. Our pastor, Father Francis Hughes, read the account of the birth of Christ from the Gospel of St. Luke normally reserved for Midnight Mass & the children provided a pageant re-enacting the scene & singing appropriate Christmas carols & a baby doll was placed in the manger. So this year, although there were no animals, unlike St. Francis' manger scene, we had our own Greccio experience at the 4:30pm Christmas Eve Vigil Mass at St. Pancras.
It was really beautiful & touching & I hope I will be able to do this every year for a long time.