Guest Column: Christmas Homily 2015By Bishop Mitchell T. Rozanski, Guest Columnist
05:29AM / Friday, December 25, 2015 | |
 The living Nativity at First Baptist Church in North Adams. |
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. — Marking his second Christmas as bishop of Springfield, Bishop Mitchell T. Rozanski spoke at the Christmas Eve liturgy at St. Michael's Cathedral of the light which illuminates from the Christ Child and in turn our Catholic faith, a light that breaks through the darkest night.
Bishop's homily was part of the Cathedral parish's 4 p.m. Mass that was recorded for broadcast Christmas morning at 11 on 22News WWLP and again at 1 p.m. on the CW Springfield.
Music for the liturgy was provided by the Cathedral Choir of Boys and Adults.
Bishop also spoke of the recently begun Jubilee Year of Mercy,
"Earlier this month, Pope Francis opened the Year of Mercy by passing through the portal of the Holy Door, symbolic of moving through a new threshold to begin anew," the bishop said. "God, coming to earth in His Son Jesus is the sign of the opportunity to begin anew, to forsake the darkness that brings confusion, doubt and misery and choose the path of light that leads to clarity, hope and true joy."
A complete copy of Bishop Rozanski's homily follows:
This past Tuesday, we marked the Winter Solstice, which brings to the people of the northern hemisphere the shortest length of daylight that we experience all year. For these past weeks, especially since the change to Standard Time, many people leave for work before the sun rises and return home in darkness.
Many years ago, there was a segment on "60 Minutes" that featured "SAD" or "Seasonal Affective Disorder." As I was watching that show, I thought how silly it was to blame the shorter daylight time as the cause of feeling down, sad and even depressed. Yet, through the years, I do believe in "SAD" and the effects that shorter time spent in daylight has on our lives. A lack of energy, a sense of melancholy or a feeling of just wanting to stay home to avoid the dark and the cold may be a sign that this disorder has an effect on us.
Yet, in the midst of winter's throes, when cold and darkness abound, we gather as God's people to celebrate the light born into our world. The readings of our Mass speak of light. Isaiah tells of "the people who have walked in darkness have seen a great light, upon those who dwell in the land of gloom a light has shone." The shepherds who watched their flocks the night of our Savior's birth were surrounded by the light of the angels who heralded the good news. In a world that was literally filled with darkness, the glory of the Lord brought the light of God's presence among us.
We need not look far for the darkness' presence in our world. A daily reading of the newspapers shows the violence that is present around our globe and sadly, even in our own neighborhoods. Like the winter solstice, the darkness of evil seems to overtake the light that we seek and desire. We remember the Christmas story this day because of all the darkness that pervaded the earth when our Savior was born. A powerful emperor uproots the child's parents so that they are far from home when Mary is about to give birth. No pleasant place is available for such a crucial moment, so the Child is born in a cold stable, surrounded only by the warmth of his parents and the animals that are present.
A local governor, Herod is so intensely jealous of his own power that he is willing to murder newborn children so that a rival may not unseat him. Indeed, there was still darkness on the night that our Savior was born. But the presence of God pierces that darkness and reveals the light that not only illumines that one night, but will forever shine in our world.
The light also pierces the darkness in various ways. Mary and Joseph are able to welcome their child with joy despite the harsh surroundings. Shepherds, who were on the margins of society, experience the light that no other people were privileged to see.
Later in the Christmas story, the Magi are led to this most humble place by the light of a star. Distance and lack of knowing where this Child was did not prevent them from ultimately finding Him as they were guided by the light of that star.
All of us encounter darkness in our lives, not only in the depths of winter, but in our choosing to go our own way instead of following the Light that has come into the world. We can become mired in the darkness of sin, cynicism, egoism and doubt.
Yet, we can come together this Christmas to celebrate the birth of this Christ Child who leads us to the true light of God. Instinctively, we seek His Light, for we do not want to wallow in our own darkness.
Earlier this month, Pope Francis opened the Year of Mercy by passing through the portal of the Holy Door, symbolic of moving through a new threshold to begin anew. God, coming to earth in His Son Jesus is the sign of the opportunity to begin anew, to forsake the darkness that brings confusion, doubt and misery and choose the path of light that leads to clarity, hope and true joy.
The Savior who was born in Bethlehem is the Light of the World and no amount of darkness can ever obscure the joy that He brings.
Let us rejoice in this hope, this child, whose birth was witnessed by Mary, Joseph and the shepherds. His coming to us as a baby is God crossing the threshold of our humanity to reach out to us. In turn, Jesus calls us to be light for one another. How often He gives us these opportunities in our family members, our neighbors and those whom we do not know but can help through our care and generosity.
These are lights that shine in the darkness of our world, reminding us of the Light that emanates from the stable at Bethlehem. May we cross from any darkness that afflicts us into the beauty of the Light of Christmas, celebrating with joy this child whose birth illuminates even the darkest of nights.
The Rev. Mitchell T. Rozanski is bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Springfield.
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