THE NATIVITY OF THE LORD
25 DECEMBER 2024
I
heard an interesting story on the radio not too long ago about a woman returning
to her car after shopping. In the
parking lot, she noticed a car with a magnet announcing that the owner needed a
kidney transplant. The owner specified
that her blood type was O negative and gave her phone number. The woman went home and talked about it with
her husband. Her blood type was O
negative, and she was in good health.
She contacted the person who needed the kidney and announced that she
was willing to give her kidney to a complete stranger. She went through the surgery, and both she
and the recipient are living healthy lives.
The reporter called this action an example of “extraordinary altruism.” She interviewed other people who had
exhibited “extraordinary altruism” by giving their kidneys to total strangers. This story brought a bit of light into so
many dark and tragic news stories these days.
We are
gathered here today, because we celebrate the ultimate act of “extraordinary
altruism.” Jesus emptied himself of the
privileges of divinity and gave himself to us as a tiny, vulnerable child. Dependent on two peasants who believed in the
impossible promises of God, he was born in poverty in a stable. Wrapped in swaddling clothes, he was laid in
a manger, the feeding trough for animals.
Taught by the humility, poverty of spirit, and self-emptying trust of
his parents, he grew up and gave much more than a kidney to total strangers. He gave his entire life in “extraordinary
altruism” as a total and completely undeserved gift by dying on the cross.
Today, the
angels announce to the shepherds three implications of what this act of
“extraordinary altruism” means to the human race. First, we have been given a Savior. This poor baby, born of poor parents, born in
poor circumstances would turn out to be ultimate source of redemption and hope
for humanity. He will offer forgiveness
and the promise of eternal life to those who accept him as Savior. Even in our darkest moments, we are never
alone, because we have been given a Savior, the light shining in our darkened
world.
Second, we
have been given the Messiah. This Hebrew
word is translated as Christ in the New Testament. It means “the anointed one.” King David and his descendants were anointed
with oil to set them apart to take care of the people entrusted to them. Throughout Advent, the prophet Isaiah has
promised that God would send an anointed one who would truly care for his people,
as a shepherd would care for his flock. As Christians, we understand Jesus Christ to
be the fulfillment of those promises, not only to Israel, but also to all
nations.
Finally, we
have been given the Lord. If you are a
fan of British drama or have watched any of the episodes of Downton Abbey, you know that servants
and ordinary town people refer to the head guy of the Abbey as “lord.” We understand the term “Lord” to be a title
of reverence and authority. In
confessing Jesus as Lord, we acknowledge his divine nature and supreme
authority over all of creation. We accept
that Jesus Christ has a claim upon all of our lives.
We
celebrate today the birth of our Savior, Messiah, and Lord. In the Mystery of the Incarnation, the
perfect “extraordinary altruism,” he is alive and well in our world. He is born in Bethlehem, the “House of Bread”. In this Mass, we express our gratitude for
this incredible gift. Nourished by his
Body and Blood, he sends us out to perform acts of “extraordinary
altruism.” We don’t have to donate our
kidneys to total strangers. But, we are
charged with renewing our faith in the Incarnation of Jesus dwelling in our
midst. That means recognizing the divine
presence in every single person we encounter, especially those with whom we
disagree and who drive us crazy. Like
Jesus, risen from the dead, we can remain healthy and share our acts of “extraordinary
altruism” in a way that makes our world just a little bit brighter.
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