SILENT NIGHT, HOLY NIGHT, DIVINE NIGHT.
December 25, 2021
The Nativity of the Lord (Christmas)
Mass during the Night.
“For today in the city of David, a savior has been born for
you who is Christ and Lord.” (Lk 2:11)
A Romanian proverb says: “When the night’s darkest, the
dawn’s nearest.” And a Rwandese proverb adds: “The night might be long, but
whether you want it or not, the day will announce itself.”
Nights are always silent, except in the places where people
are accustomed to noises and sound nuisances. In our cities and towns where
life runs 24/7, many have lost the silence of the night. For many people, day
and night are equal, either for work (night shift) or for distractions and rejoicings.
Nevertheless, some nights still have a special coloration.
They are nights where a special light comes to break the monotony of darkness.
Christmas Night counts among those unusual nights. It is a silent night, a holy
night. The night in which human salvation is drawn and brought to day. Our
Savior is born today. Angels and Archangels sing the great Glory and announce
the unending Hallelujah.
This night is unique and altogether singular. For, it is the
night of the Incarnation, the night in which the divine, in a very particular
and unique way embraces the human. On this night, without losing his divinity,
the Son of God becomes the Son of Man. Without mixture, nor confusion, the
divine takes upon itself the human to save our humanity broken and disfigured
by sin.
The readings tell us about how this took place. We are told
by Prophet Isaiah, in the first reading, that “The people who walked in
darkness have seen a great light; upon those who dwelt in the land of gloom a
light has shone.” For, today, a son is given unto us. He came with a precise
mission: to take away from us the yoke of sin and give us peace. While we were
walking in the darkness of this world, in the solitary of our nights, a new
light has sprung forth. God through his Son came to bring us peace and
restoration.
The Psalmist therefore can invite us to sing: “Today a
savior has been born to us: he is Christ the Lord.” All are exhorted to sing a
new song to the Lord. Night of sin is getting over; the day is coming for a new
life. At dawn, we shall see the fullness of his light.
Today, as says St. Paul to his disciple Titus, God's grace
has been revealed to the whole human race. Salvation is at last made possible.
God, through His only Begotten Son, came to set mankind free from wickedness
and give us purification. Christmas is the dawn of human salvation. Light
breaks into the night of sin. The silent death of humanity is overthrown by the
holiness Christ brings about. The Angels in the Gospel can announce to the
shepherds and all of us: “In the town of David a Savior has been born to you.”
And Mary and Joseph are made instruments and first witnesses of this great
news. The baby in the manger invites us for rejoicing.
Today, our Advent pilgrimage has reached its end. The one we
were exhorted to prepare his way is in our midst. Hallelujah, Emmanuel, God
among us. Our hearts, tonight, are filled with joy as we commemorate the Birth
of Our Lord and Savior. With this grateful heart at the Lord’s Nativity, let us
bring the same joy to everyone we meet.
This Christmas must have a singular color for each of us.
God comes to be with us so that we might the more, be with our brothers and
sisters. The Lord God breaks unto our night so that we too might bring to our
brothers and sisters, a ray of light to dissipate the many darknesses of sufferings
that surround them. Christmas will not be Christmas without charity. Just as
each of us is igniting a Christmas light on a green and obscure tree in our
house and streets, so too may we light a new light of hope in others' hearts.
This year, may we make of our brothers and sisters the trees that need our
light. Let us help them to get out from the loneliness of the silent night and
to see the new light. With them, may we truly sing: “O Holy Night! The stars
are brightly shining, it is the night of the dear Savior's birth! Long lay the
world in sin and error pining till he appear'd and the soul felt its worth. A
thrill of hope the weary soul rejoices for yonder breaks a new and glorious
morn! Fall on your knees, oh hear the angel voices, Oh night divine, oh night
when Christ was born. Oh night divine, oh night divine.
Led by the light of Faith serenely beaming, With glowing
hearts by His cradle we stand. So led by light of a star sweetly gleaming, here
come the wise men from Orient land. The King of Kings lay thus in lowly manger,
in all our trials born to be our friend.
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