Noël - Christmas - 2022

Homily

+ In the Martyrology sung according to tradition at Prime on Christmas eve, and more latterly before Midnight Mass, we hear that:
 
“In the 5,199th year from the creation of the world, when in the beginning God created the heavens and the earth;
In the 2,957th year from the flood;
In the 2,015th year from the birth of Abraham;
In the 1,510th year from the going forth of the people of Israel out of Egypt under Moyses;
In the 1,032nd year from the anointing of David as King;
In the  week 65th according to the prophecy of Daniel;
In the 194th Olympiad;
In the 752nd year from the foundation of the city of Rome;
In the 42nd year of the reign of the Emperor Octavian Augustus;
In the 6th age of the world;
While the whole earth was at peace, Jesus Christ, Himself Eternal God and Son of the Eternal Father, being pleased to hallow the world by His most gracious coming , having been conceived of the Holy Ghost, and when nine months were passed after His conception, was born of the Virgin at Bethlehem of Juda, made Man, our Lord Jesus Christ was born according to the flesh.”
 
In this 7,221st year since the creation of the world, as we approach the year of Our Lord 2023 we cannot, alas, boast that the whole world—or even the Church—is at peace: wars threaten the very lives of many, political disputes become ever more acrimonious and even violent, a seemingly never-ending stream of scandals scourge the Body of Christ that is His Church from its head down. We bear the scars of sin; we know our weakness only too well.
 
And yet, as fractured and dangerous as is our world, as wounded and afflicted as the Church may be, as sinful as we ourselves are—indeed, precisely because of these flaws and inadequacies—today, on this feast of Christmas in the year of Our Lord 2022, Jesus Christ, Himself Eternal God and Son of the Eternal Father, is born according to the flesh so that we may be saved from sin and eternal death and live forever.
 
All of our preparations and celebrations, all of our chants and carols, all of our ceremonies and feasting arise from this reality, No matter how terrible the situation in the Church or the world, no matter what suffering confronts us, no matter how evil we have been, today the One Unique Saviour of mankind has been born. He is Hope Incarnate. Because of His taking on of human flesh, our human flesh can become divine, imperishable and eternal.
 
The many, many beautiful liturgical texts that jubilantly resonate this reality, as well as the popular ones that have grown up from them, help us to contemplate the Incarnation of Our Saviour. They call us to immerse ourselves in all that this great feast means: by kneeling to adore God made man in a little child; by conforming our lives to all that He demands of us in our particular circumstances; by following Him even to Calvary and to the Cross with that peace which no trial or suffering can take from us—in the certainty that this is the path to life, that this is the path to salvation and to eternal life.
 
Please revisit the liturgical texts this Christmastide, particularly throughout the Octave of Christmas in the coming eight days, but also beyond—revisit them with faith, and draw great strength from them. We ought to listen to the Christ-centred hymns and carols that abound in this season with attentive ears so that the message of hope and salvation that they carry may take root in our hearts and souls, and sustain us in following the Christ-child from Bethlehem to Calvary—and beyond Calvary to life everlasting, free from sin and death!
 
As we go to the altar of Almighty God to offer this Holy Mass of Christmas, we do so ever conscious of the many relatives, friends and benefactors here present and throughout the world who have enabled us so to do, and who continue their generous support. We carry with us all their intentions and prayers. In wishing each one all the joys and graces of this most holy feast, we, the black monks of Brignoles, renew our commitment faithfully to pursue our vocation of prayer and work according to the Rule of Saint Benedict here, for the glory of Almighty God and for the salvation of souls.
 
“Lux fulgébit hódie super nos : quia natus est nobis Dóminus : et vocábitur Admirábilis, Deus, Princeps pacis, Pater futúri sǽculi : cuius regni non erit finis,” the Introit of the second Mass of Christmas sings. May the light that shines upon us on this day on which our Saviour is born enlighten our hearts and minds that we may each clearly see and persevere in walking along that path which leads to His Kingdom, of which there shall be no end. +