Jesus God's Gift to the World--Homily 2--Christ Mass

https://calvaryepiscopalbatavia.church Fr Michael Rasicci's Homily 2 of a 3-part series focusing on the Nativity of Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. This is from the Christ Mass service held at 8:00 PM on Christmas Eve, 12/24/2020, at Calvary Episcopal Church in Batavia, IL. God has come, breaking into our world. Ever since God broke into this world in the person of Our Lord and Savior, Jesus, Christ, the world has had to contend with God in a new way. Right now, in lots of places, and in lots of ways, there are people who are questioning more vocally and, perhaps, more loudly than any time in the past, whether this God even exists and is worth believing in this Supreme Being that so many people still claim. Christmas is one response Christians make to all of that push-back. “We believe that God did come. The God that created this world knew that it still needed something more because creation had had its moments of rebellion, questioning, and rejection of what this Creator wanted. The first human beings rebelled against having anyone help them live their lives. That’s where “original sin” comes from. When we believe firmly and truly and live our lives according to those beliefs, we still have to face COVID-19 in all of its variations. We have to face the reality of loss and pain. Sometimes we have to face the reality that sometimes the world is not a very friendly place. It can be very hostile and some people thrive on that hostility. Christmas says that life doesn’t have to be that way. We who claim the name of Christian and who gather tonight here or wherever else, don’t deny that there is suffering and we recognize our own weaknesses. What we recognize is, because God is with us, because God intruded into this world in the person of Our Lord and Savior, Jesus, Christ, we know that, ultimately, love and love expressed in Light, justice, truth, and mercy and compassion and forgiveness, and generosity, that love is what, ultimately, wins. That love is what makes you and me as human beings totally alive. When people decide and accept that anything else other than that love that flows freely from the heart of God, they give up calculating ways of living—sex or drugs or power. (Readings: John 3: 16; Isaiah 9: 2-7; Titus 2: 11-14; Luke 2: 1-20) https://s3.amazonaws.com/ceb14j0715-C... (Bulletin is for the entire Holistic Eucharist.) YouTube Link: Holistic Eucharist--Christ-Mass-Service--8PM-12-24-2020    • Holistic Eucharist--Christ Mass Service--8...   YouTube Link Jesus--God's Gift to the World--Homily 1    • Jesus  God's Gift to the World--Homily 1--...   YouTube Link: Jesus--God's Gift to the World--Homily 3    • Jesus  God's Gift to the World--Homily 3--...   YouTube Link: Holistic Eucharist--Christmas Day Service--12-25-2020    • Holistic Eucharist--Christmas Day Service-...   Link: Tithe.ly--Our Online Giving Resource https://calvaryepiscopalbatavia.churc... Link: Calvary Stewardship 2021 https://calvaryepiscopalbatavia.churc...