No matter where we are today on our planet, Christmas Eve will be drastically different from any previous celebration we have ever known in our lifetimes. Our normal local, church or family traditions will not be quite the same this year due to restrictions of larger gatherings, quarantines, travel bans and all the continued safety and health concerns around the Covid-19 pandemic that has devastated our world in 2020.
We instead continue to “wait in hope” for the implementation of vaccines and anticipation of a return to some level of normality. As we officially end the season of Advent today, we as Christians move from a period of prayer, fasting and waiting into a time of rejoicing and celebration for the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
2020 forced many in the world to embrace, like never before, some of the traditional practices of a normal Advent season. Who among us has not spent more time this year praying for the countless folks on the frontlines of this pandemic who risked their lives to help others or offer prayers for so many in our lives who have suffered or died from the coronavirus? Who has not been asked this year to fast from most of our normal activities? The practice of almsgiving may never see a greater time of need as homeless shelters and food pantries are at all time high volumes with so many in need.
Yes, we as a people have endured a very long Advent season this year and must now again rejoice in “hope” returning to our shattered world. Tonight, we celebrate the birth of our Lord and His coming into a dark and difficult world to shine His light and love on all our lives. He came into our world to offer hope, salvation and a way forward. We must embrace His birth and His promise of new life even in the midst of our continued dark days. We must look again to find that star that will lead us home to a place where faith and hope overpower despair and sadness. Let us on this sacred night, recommit ourselves to be people of that Light and to allow Him to be reborn again this year through our actions, our love and how we continue to respond each day with our lives to the many needs around us.
Tonight, I will be sitting around the fireplace at the Marist Brothers Center in Esopus, NY and watching my favorite Christmas movie, It’s a Wonderful Life. I will be thinking how wonderful my life has been because of having so many amazing people and blessings as part of it! I wish you all a most Blessed Christmas and pray in hope that the coming New Year will not only bring a return to normality for our stricken world, but more importantly a greater appreciation by all of us of what really matters most in our lives, namely, the love of family and friends and our embracing the gospel with our lives.
Merry Christmas to you All and to all a Good Night!