Extending welcome at Christmas

On Boxing Day in the United Kingdom, there was a tradition where, for this one day, superiors would change places with their inferiors. Bosses would serve their underlings. This is, in fact, an ancient custom. A similar practice occurred in Ancient Rome on the feast of Saturnalia, which was celebrated on December 17th. It seems that early Christians borrowed this custom from the pagan feast since they thought that it well expressed what Jesus came to do. In the Gospel of Luke in particular, Jesus’ mission is portrayed as bringing about an inversion. Those who are seen as superior in society are brought down low and those who are seen as inferior are raised up. As Mary expresses in her Magnificat, “the Lord has brought down the mighty from their thrones and has lifted up the lowly”. Christianity is supposed to turn the world upside down.

Raphael [Public domain]

The Gospel today, which tells the story of Mary’s visitation to her cousin Elizabeth, is a clear example of how Jesus brings about an inversion of social, religious and political structures. We hear that Mary, after having heard from Gabriel that she would bear a child, went in haste to the hill country of Judea. According to the customs of the time, Elizabeth was clearly the superior and Mary the inferior. Not only was Elizabeth above Mary in age, but Elizabeth was from a rather important religious cast in society. She was a daughter of Aaron. She was married to a priest. Mary, on the other hand, is comparatively a nobody. In the Gospel of Luke, we hear very little about her background. Her place of inferiority is reinforced by the fact that it is she who goes to visit Elizabeth. The inferior visits the superior. By the end of the Gospel, however, a great inversion has occurred. Elizabeth, who is supposed to by above Mary, declares that it is Mary who is truly blessed. Elizabeth has raised Mary up on a pedestal. What has happened to bring about this inversion? Jesus has entered the picture. John the Baptist, who Elizabeth carries in her womb, alerts his mother to the presence of Jesus by leaping in utero. John’s entire mission is to point out to people that Jesus is the Messiah. He starts this mission before he is even born. Elizabeth is made aware by her son that the child Mary carries is greater than her own. Although Elizabeth has received a great gift from God to bear a child in her old age, she realizes that Mary had received an even greater gift. She is the mother of the Lord. Because of Jesus, Mary, who should have been inferior to Elizabeth, has been raised higher.

This Christmas we will have a very practical opportunity to participate in Jesus’ mission of inversion, of raising up the lowly. Can you remember the last time that you were in a group of people and you felt somewhat out of place? I know that when I am with a group of people I do not know, I usually feel nervous and uncomfortable. It is scary to go and speak to new people. I am often unsure of how I should behave. What is the most helpful thing when you find yourself in a situation where you feel out of place? For me, it is when someone from that group comes and speaks to me and makes me feel welcome. Every Christmas, many people come to Mass who do not regularly attend. Now, I know, this can be somewhat inconvenient for us “regulars”. Parking might be a little more difficult to come by. Someone might sit in our regular pew. At the same time, we have a great opportunity to welcome people who might be feeling somewhat out of place coming here at Christmas. A kind smile or simply saying hello to someone who looks a bit new is a wonderful way to make someone feel comfortable. Perhaps if those who come less regularly to Mass feel at home, then they might choose to come more regularly. When we who are perhaps more regular Mass-goers make those who do not come as often like honoured guests and truly welcome, then we are helping to carry out Jesus mission of inversion, of raising up the lowly.

Christmas Mass is just around this corner. What better way can we celebrate the birth of Jesus than by helping to carry out his mission of “raising up the lowly”? One simple and concrete way we can do this is by being welcoming to those who may be new to our Church or may come less frequently.

 

How to welcome Jesus at Christmas

3rd Sunday Advent | Luke 3:10-18

We’ve all probably seen a live action nativity play. Maybe we’ve been part of such a play. It seems that one of the least popular roles in a nativity play is that of the innkeeper. Afterall, who would want to have to close the door to Joseph, Mary and her unborn child Jesus? We all want to welcome Jesus. That is what we are trying to do during this season of Advent. We want to better prepare to welcome Jesus. What, however, is the best way of doing this? In the Gospel today (Luke 3:10-18), John the Baptist gives us some important pointers.

Jan Matsys [Public domain]

Above all, John teaches us that talk is cheap. Just saying that we want to welcome Jesus is not sufficient. Words are not enough. Here I am cheating a little bit because John makes this point in the verses immediately preceding the portion of Luke that we heard in the Gospel. There, John chastises those coming to receive his baptism of repentance, which is meant to prepare for the coming of Jesus, without making an attempt to change their lives. These people suggest that it is enough to merely say that “Abraham is our Father”. John explains that just saying these words is not enough to prepare to receive Jesus. “God can raise up sons of Abraham from these stones”, John explains. Just saying the right words are not enough to to prepare for Christmas. Every year around this time there is a recurring debate. Should people say “merry Christmas” or something more religiously neutral like “happy holidays”? Last year at a news conference, President Trump exclaimed that since he became president, “we’re saying merry Christmas again”. As John teaches us in Luke’s Gospel, talk is cheap. Though we say “merry Christmas”, our actions may shut Jesus out of our lives. Merely saying the right words does not mean that we are ready to welcome Jesus.

John the Baptist makes it clear that we prepare ourselves to welcome Jesus by producing “fruits of repentance”, that is, good deeds. After being rebuked by John for thinking that it is enough to simply say that they are the sons of Abraham, the people ask John what they must do in order prepare for the coming Messiah. In response, John gives a list of the “fruit of repentance” that they should produce in their lives. They must share with those in need. Whoever has two cloaks must give one to the one who has none. They should carry out their professions honestly and not cheat or treat anyone unfairly. Tax collectors should only take the stipulated amount. Soldiers should not practice extortion. By changing their actions and performing good works, the people will then be ready for the coming Messiah. We can hear John’s words ringing out in our word today. Do you want to welcome Jesus at Christmas? Share your possessions with those in need, those who cannot give you anything back in return. Saying “merry Christmas” is fine, but unless you give to the poor and help those in need, then these words may not ring true. If you don’t have money or possessions to share, then give of your time. Visit or call an elderly friend or relative who may be lonely at this time. By producing these “fruits of repentance”, we can prepare to welcome Jesus at Christmas.

By sharing what we have, whether it be time or possessions, with those in need, we can ensure that we experience joy at Christmas. Joy is something we all probably want to experience as we get ready for Christmas. Today’s liturgy is an important reminder of this. This Sunday, the 3rd Sunday of Advent, is traditionally called “Gaudete” Sunday, which means “Rejoice!” The first and second readings are both an invocation to rejoice. In the first reading we heard, ”Shout for joy, O daughter Zion! Sing joyfully, O Israel!” In the second reading, Paul instructs us to “rejoice in the Lord always”. We have all probably experienced the joy that comes with sharing what we have with those in need. A while back, I read a news article that struck this point home. This article told the story about a four year old boy who used his allowance money to buy food for the poor in Birmingham, Alabama. The boy distributed this food to those in need by hand. To add to the excellence of his actions, he gave the food out while wearing a superhero cape! You just need to look at a few pictures of this young boy in action to see how utterly joyful he is while performing these acts of kindness and service. Likewise, when we share what we have with others, we are filled with joy.

This Christmas, do you want to avoid playing in real life the part of the innkeeper who fails to welcome Jesus? Do you want to experience joy as Christmas approaches? Then, in addition to saying “merry Christmas”, let us produce works of repentance by sharing our possessions and time with those who are in need.

Rethinking Repentance

2nd Sunday of Advent | Luke 3:1-6

You might remember that one of the earliest trips that Pope Francis took after becoming Pope was to Lampedusa. There, he gave a powerful message about the need to care for migrants. Although what Pope Francis said was important, the context in which he said it was arguably more significant. First, he gave his talk in the midst of the migration crisis in which thousands were dying trying to cross the Mediterranean Sea and enter Europe. We should remember that these deaths continue. In 2018, over 2000 people died trying to cross the Mediterranean. Second, the place where he gave his talk was highly significant. Lampedusa, an island in the Mediterranean, is often the first stop for migrants. It is a place where many wait to enter Europe. The context in which Pope Francis gave his speech was as important as what he said. Today in the Gospel (Luke 3:1-6), the mission of John the Baptist in introduced: “he preached a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins” (v. 3). As was the case of Pope Francis in Lampedusa, the context in which John preached this repentance is highly significant and helps us better comprehend his message. In particular, the gospel helps us rethink the meaning of repentance.

Domenico Ghirlandaio [Public domain]

First of all, Luke carefully sets the scene of John’s preaching in order to impress upon us that the message of John the Baptist is of universal significance. In the very beginning of the Gospel (vv. 1-2), Luke give a list of the leaders, both secular and religious, who are active when John begins his preaching. With this list, Luke makes it clear that John’s message will be universal in two main ways. First, John’s message is meant to have universal significance in the geographic sense of the word. In addition to mentioning the local political leaders (Herod and Philip), Luke mentions the Caesar (Tiberius), the ruler of Roman Empire and, in a certain sense, of the entire world. John’s message is meant to affect people all over the world. Second, in mentioning the religious leaders of the time (Annas and Caiaphas), Luke makes it clear that John’s message will be universal in the sense that it will affect all realms of life whether is be religious, political or social. By listing these rulers, Luke is sending a simple message: what John the Baptist has to say is meant to apply to all people and it is meant to impact all areas of their lives.

Within this universal context, the message of repentance that John proclaims is supposed to apply not only to the moral lives of individuals, but also to the social and political institutions of the time. In calling for repentance, John says that the status quo of both people’s personal lives as well as the socio-political order is wanting. In both areas they are called to cling closer to what God wants. This is an important message for us as we can tend to compartmentalize our faith life, making it quite individualistic. When we talk about repentance, we can focus merely on reforming our personal failings. Repentance means stopping to lie, cheat, use bad language etc. This kind of repentance is of course necessary. It is not, however, enough. John’s preaching is meant to have a universal impact that affects all realms of life. Repentance, therefore, also means changing political and social structures in order to make them more just. The Church has always been clear on this point and has a rich tradition of social teaching. In addition to the Catechism of the Catholic Church, we also have a Compendium of Social Doctrine of the Church. Although most Catholics have probably heard of, and perhaps own, the first document, I suspect that fewer are aware of, or have even seen, the second document. This is a problem. Because of the context in which Luke places John’s mission, his message of repentance should be understood as calling for change in the social and political order as well as in the personal morality of individuals.

More than this, the context in which Luke places John’s preaching helps us understand that the repentance that John calls for is closely connected to liberation. With his citation of Isaiah 40:3-5 in vv. 4-6, Luke explains that what John the Baptist is now doing is just like what the prophet Isaiah did. The passage that Luke quotes from Isaiah was uttered in the Exile in Babylon. At this time, the ruling class of Israel had been deported to Babylon after the Babylonian empire had utterly destroyed Jerusalem in 586 BC. The people to whom Isaiah (more specifically Deutero-Isaiah here) spoke in Exile were dejected and losing hope that they would ever return back to their land. Isaiah’s message was one of hope. He predicted that God would soon free them from Babylon. He preached that this act of liberation would be a kind of second Exodus. Just as God freed the people from slavery in Egypt, so he would liberate them now from Babylon. Isaiah tried to prepare the people for this great act of salvation. In like manner, John the Baptist’s call to repentance was preparation for and connected to the new act of liberation that God would work through Jesus. Jesus mission is a new Exodus and a new return of Exile. John the Baptist is preparing people for a new act of liberation.

As the Pope illustrated in Lampedusa, the context in which someone says something is as important as what that person says. In the Gospel today, Luke puts the preaching of John the Baptist in its proper context in order to better understand what what kind of repentance we are called to. In this way, the Gospel challenges us to broaden our idea of what repentance is. Repentance is not merely individualistic. Repentance is not something that applies to us when we are in Church or doing “Catholic stuff”. Quite simply, repentance is meant to liberate all people in all areas of life. Repentance applies to how we prayer and how often we go to Church as well as how we vote in local elections and what we think the minimum wage should be. On this second week of Advent, we are reminded that what Jesus does for us is meant to affect everything.