Midnight Mass, Christmas 2025
Noah
Peace unto you, my friends. This “Holy Night” we meet again.
Who knows how many children have recited the Christmas sermon over the years? I wonder whether, now they have become adults, or perhaps even old men, they still carry wih their hearts a spirit of joy. Above all, are they still friends of Jesus?
Lilly
Where is your mind taking you tonight, Noah? Thinking deeply, are you?
But, true, have these friends of ours discovered anything better in life?
What could be better than having Jesus for a friend? All those who truly believed his words and followed his example not only found the greatest joy, but were used by Jesus himself to carry his love and his Word to others. The Word of God is the Word of Life and only those who find Jesus discover true life!
Joy
That is very true, Lilly. A few days ago I went to pray at the Adoration Chapel which is near our Centre. There was a Bible on the bench and when I opened it I could read these very words:
“In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God’’ (John 1:1).
Jesus loved us so much that He, the Son of God, became human like us so that we could meet God and remain with Him.
Isn’t that what we learnt during Cathecism? That’s what our friends the cathecists from Fondazzjoni Kenosis who look after us at the Centre taught us. By the way, Noah, do you know what this word Kenosis means?
Noah
Baby Jesus, who were are rejoicing with celebrating in this wonderfully magical night, not only was born in a grotto like the poorest child, but lived among us so that, although he is God, he would be a servant. This is what the word Kenosis means…Jesus who is everything became nothing for us (Phil 2:7).
Joy, look at what the Bible has to say about this:
“He (that is, Jesus), being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death – even to death on a cross.’’
Lilly
And who could do all this for us?
No one except Jesus! As Pope Leo the Great teaches us: “The birth of Jesus is the birth of peace’’ Although we are continuously hearing terrible news about wars and fighting we can find peace in our hearts today if Jesus dwells within us.
Joy
Today we rejoice because a Saviour was born and he will free us from the rule of darkness; yes, he will free us from the rue of darkness! We can do nothing right unless we recognise Him and confess to him our lack of worth and our poverty.
If you do this you will be able to receive the grace that was promised to you in baptism, and reach your full potential.
Noah
Dear Friends the word Kenosis reminds of Baby Jesus lying in a manger who came into the world because of our misery. It reminds us that He became human like us because his love for us is without limit. And, friends, don’t forget, that although the Jubilee of Hope is now almost at its end, hope for us Christians never ends!
Lilly
What Jesus did for us shows us how humbly we must live every day, as Jesus himself lived; He who was “meek and humble of heart’’. We must remember that if we want to place first we cannot choose first place but we have to be of service to those around us – first of all family and friends. And to be truly happy, we must willingly give our lives to others.
Joy
The prophet Nehemiah tells us that the joy of the Lord is our strength (Neh 8:10). Let us rejoice because today our Saviour was born. Let us rejoice because we want Baby Jesus to grow in our hearts and in our lives. Let us open wide the doors of our hearts for Him!
What wonderful news this is: The Son of God became Man and made us His brothers and sisters. Our love for each other truly brought us together.
LONG LIVE BABY JESUS
