 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Midnight Mass and ChristmasSt Mary's Cathedral By + George Pell This simple, beautiful story has brought many of us to this celebration every year of our lives. Even those uncertain of the importance of religion, or at least uncertain of the importance of regularly practicing their faith through prayer and worship, will come each year for Christmas Mass. Are these Christian claims true? Have the people walking in darkness seen a great light? How has this helpless child shone a light into the lands of the deep shadow, lifted the yoke weighing people down? Just recently we have heard more about myths and magic, fairy stories, beautifully woven make-believe worlds than we have for years. My short article on Harry Potter received more praise and criticism than any other short article I have written in Sydney. On Boxing Day Tolkien's Lord of the Rings (part one) will be in the theatres. We know all cultures have theories to help their citizens to behave well and to acknowledge the powers beyond human control. Usually these teachings are presented in stories – as myths. Some claim that the Christmas account of God becoming man, born a virgin, is only another beautiful myth which the gospel writers dreamed up. Others claim that to get to the truth of the matter all the gospel stories have to be demythologized. We should remember that a myth is not false simply because it is a myth. Myths are often beautifully expressed, sometimes in the finest poetry. They can awaken in us a longing for mysteries beyond our grasp; they can be expressions of a yearning for the Infinite. Many myths can reveal a hint, an unfocused gleam of divine truth falling on the human imagination. One writer who was fascinated by myths was the Englishman C. S. Lewis, author of the Narnia books, of science fiction and of the books on Christian teachings. He was brought up or rather became an atheist at a very early age. He thought, as some do today, that the Christian story of God becoming man dying for us was just another recasting of the old pagan myths of a dying God, like Osiris, Cybele, Adonis. He was first shaken in his skepticism when one of his acquaintances remarked that the evidence of the gospels was pretty good; that it almost looked as though all that stuff about a dying God actually happened once in Jesus Christ C.S. Lewis had long believed that myths were not poets deceptions; not demonic delusions, not even priestly lies, that they were often blurred intimations of important truths or events. He then made the crucial breakthrough and saw that the heart of Christianity is a myth which is also a fact. It actually happened 2000 years ago in Palestine. As Lewis wrote, "by becoming fact, it does not cease to be myth: that is the miracle". Christ is the highest myth because myth has become reality. For a Christian, in faith and in truth, the lights of Christmas reflect the radiance of the one eternal Light; the Word was the true light which enlightens all people. In the Christmas story, pagan poetry and common sense are stood on their heads. The Word was with God and the Word was God. The birth at Bethlehem is not another piece of charming poetry, it is the truth to which all the good myths aspire. It is the lynch pin, the key to meaning. The Christ child did grow to become the "Wonder–Counsellor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace," our Saviour and Redeemer. Christmas is a celebration of Godly love. We ponder the mystery of God sending his only Son to us, as a baby, to show us the importance of love. Suffering is real even in our lucky country. The love we receive from others when we are suffering makes all the difference. An awareness of God's love brings strength and consolation. Our love can lighten the burden of suffering for others. Without love suffering is much worse. Santa Claus, Christmas trees, turkey or prawns, plum pudding, nice presents; none of these can save us. The Christian claim is that Christ does save us. And if we are not saved, we are all lost or damned. Let us allow the beautiful Christmas poem of the Englishman John Betjeman to have the last word. No loving fingers tying strings Around those tissued fripperies, The sweet and silly Christmas things, Bath salts and inexpensive scent And hideous tie so kindly meant, No love, that in a family dwells, No carolling in frosty air, Nor the steeple shaking bells, Can with this simple truth compare - That God was man in Palestine And lives today in Bread and Wine." In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. |
||||
 :: Home | Go
back | Top of Page | Site
Map |
Copyright © 1999-2008 Catholic Archdiocese
of Sydney. Contact
us. Privacy.
|
|||||
