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 CHRISTMAS: Homily by Fr. Isaac Chima

Theme: It will be Christmas if…

Readings: Is 52:7–10; Heb 1:1–6; Jn 1:1–18

Dear friends in Christ, I would like today’s homily to centre on a theme different from those we heard in the readings of the Mass. During the Christmas music concert (Cantata) we held in Prantantico, Arezzo, Italy, on December 15, 2023, one of the fourteen songs we performed struck a special chord in my heart. I want today’s reflection to focus on that particular song. Its theme is “Sarà Natale se…” (“It will be Christmas if…”). I do not know whether everyone who sang or heard this song was touched by it in the same way I was, but it spoke deeply to me.

The song begins by telling us that “we have a special task this Christmas.” What is this task? It says, “it is to remind the world that it is Christmas.” This means we have a pastoral duty to remind those we encounter—our family members, colleagues, friends, and even our online communities—that today is Christmas and that we are in the Christmas season. We cannot be indifferent to those around us. We must tell them the reason for this season, remind them that our Saviour has visited us anew, wish them a happy Christmas, and speak to someone about the joy of Christ’s birth. We are called to become announcers of Christ’s presence.

The song continues, “if we put wings on our hearts, we will be angels that bring love.” Dear friends, this means our Christmas greetings must not be dry or empty. They must carry love. They must impart love to those who receive them. We are to be heralds of the good news of love, announcing with joy and tenderness that our Saviour is here—just as the angels announced His birth to the shepherds on that holy night.

The song goes on: “It will be Christmas if you love; it will be Christmas if you donate, and if you call someone to come and stay with you. It will be Christmas if you live, if you laugh, and if you extend your hand to someone who suffers more. It will be Christmas if you seek, if you believe, and if you sing every day with friends.”

What do these beautiful lines teach us? They remind us that Christmas becomes true Christmas only when we love others, when we give generously, when we laugh with others, when we extend a helping hand to those who suffer, when we bring cheer to those around us, and when we put smiles on people’s faces. Without these actions, we are not truly celebrating Christmas. This challenges us deeply. It is possible to enjoy all the merriment of the season and still fail to celebrate Christmas. If our celebration lacks these acts of love, then we have not truly celebrated the birth of our Lord Jesus.

Finally, the song says that “our Christmas will be real Christmas if it does not last only an hour or a day, but becomes Christmas for an entire year.” This invites us to make every day of our lives a Christmas. We are called to smile, to laugh with others, to give, to help, to believe, and to welcome others—not only on Christmas Day, but every day. The song invites us to do good always. Let us therefore make every day a Christmas.

Peace be with you as you make today a true Christmas. Happy Christmas.

Fr. Isaac Chinemerem Chima