The readings of the Mass of December 21 ably evoke the sentiment of joy as we look forward to the coming birth of Christ our Redeemer, and the need for dispatch in cooperating in Christ’s continuing work of redemption.
In the Book of the Songs of Songs (2, 8-14) we are told about how we are supposed to be happy since the “Beloved arrives leaping along the mountains, jumping across the hills…like a doe and like a young stag.” The Beloved exhorts us to “rise up quickly…and advance.”
In the Gospel of St. Luke, (cfr. Lk 1, 39-45) we are told about how Our Lady, already with the child Jesus in her womb, immediately went to visit her cousin Elizabeth who was already 6 months in the family way with John the Baptist in her womb, to be of help.
Our Lady clearly shows us here how ready she was ready to reach out, never feeling entitled despite the greatest privilege she enjoyed as being chosen as the Mother of the Son of God.
All these readings should somehow remind us that while we obviously are very happy and excited over the coming birth of Christ, we should realize more deeply that Christ came here to redeem us and that we ought to cooperate in that work of redemption.
We should find time to figure out how we, as Christian believers, can do our part in this continuing work of redemption. Is this concern very much in our mind and heart? And how can we pursue this concern in all the events and circumstances of our life?
In other words, we should get real as we celebrate another Christmas which is a wonderful way of having to begin again in carrying out our Christian duties. Let’s make our joy at the birth of Christ an impetus to be more faithful and generous in our Christian duties and commitments.
The fact is there is still a whole lot of work to be done in terms of redeeming mankind and of restoring the true face of the earth as created and designed by God. And everyone actually has a crucial part to carry out this work. The state of humanity and of the world today definitely has strayed from the path proper to it.
As to how this can be done, it should not be a big problem. It does not require some kind rocket science for us to carry out our Christian duties. If we are properly guided by our Christian faith, we know that every event and circumstance in our life, no matter how small and ordinary, can be and should be an occasion to encounter Christ and to cooperate with him in his continuing work of redemption.
We just have to do some tweaking in the way we understand things in order to align it to what our faith is telling us, a faith that is actually ever alive and active because the Holy Spirit is continually prompting us. We should just sharpen our ability to perceive what he is telling us every moment.
And we should not worry that by faithfully and generously carrying out our Christian duties, we would be heavily burdened all our life. Yes, while it’s true that we are meant to deny ourselves and carry the cross if we want to follow Christ, we are also told that Christ gives us rest and that his yoke is easy and his burden light. (cfr. Mt 11, 28-30)
The joy of Christmas can always be with us as long as unite ourselves to Christ as tightly as possible!