4th Sunday of Advent 2022

Almost one billion people, or about 12-13% of the world’s population, live without electricity. Populations living mainly in the impoverished countries of sub-Saharan Africa, North Korea, and some Asian countries live without a dependable energy source. But the bar to qualify as living with electricity is set low. A household is considered to have access to electricity if it has power for at least four hours a day. I don’t think many of us would believe that limited access to electrical power as optimium. So the lack of dependable electricity deprives many more people of the full enjoyment of life. 

Access to electricity is vital because economic activity is stifled without it. Even rudimentary machines such as water pumps and sewing machines need electricity. Refrigeration for food preservation to prevent famine needs electric power, and without electricity, education is hampered if students can only study during daylight hours.

Living in darkness is very difficult. When darkness surrounds us, it can be very fearful. We don’t know if wild animals or dangerous people are lurking in the shadows. We can stumble, fall, and hurt ourselves trying to navigate without light.  

That is why I was very encouraged by two news items this week. One was that a US lab had successfully produced a nuclear fusion experiment that made more energy than it consumed. Harnessing power from fusion could be a source of inexpensive, clean electricity in the next few decades. Even more encouraging news is that MIT has produced more lightweight and affordable solar panels. These solar panels could make inexpensive electricity available to many more people. 

Having a source of electricity that would be affordable for all people regardless of where they live would be a significant advance. It would help impoverished people to improve their economic situation, make progress in controlling greenhouse gases and climate change, and help promote world peace by lessening conflicts over ownership of fossil fuels. 

Light is essential for life, providing vitamins like “D” and other nutrients to foster physical health. We need light to support our emotional health. Depression can be a problem for many people this time of year because days are shorter and darker with less light. When we are confused, perplexed, or left out of a situation, we say "we are in the dark". 

We need light for our souls too. There is no light in our souls when we deprive ourselves of God’s Grace. Neglecting our relationship with God causes the absence of God’s light in our spiritual lives. Pride, anger, selfishness, greed, and all sorts of dark things begin to dominate our souls. 

Light brings us hope and joy, so we like decorating with it during Christmas. Welcoming light is the reason we celebrate Jesus’ birth on December 25th- the first day after the Winter Solstice- in which the northern hemisphere experiences more light. We don’t know the exact date of Jesus’ birth. He had no birth certificate to prove its precise date. Since Jesus Christ is the light of the world, early Christians adopted a Roman feast celebrating the triumph of the Sun over darkness as the day to celebrate Jesus’ birth. 

Advent is the Church season when we anticipate Jesus Christ’s Light of the World, coming into our lives in new ways. Advent is the time to stop and consider how well we bring light into the world. During this Advent, I have made light the theme of my homilies and asked how we bring Christ’s light to the world as individuals and as a parish. 

Last week I shared with you various ways that Holy Redeemer Parish has been trying to be faithful to our vision for the parish by sharing time, talent, and treasure with the Lower Cape and the larger world. This week a parishioner gave me a bit of a scolding because I forgot to include my walk for CECH, the Chatham Ecumenical Council for Housing that raised over $5,000, in the list of projects. It was a good reminder of the many actions that we, as a parish and as individuals, do to bring Christ’s light to our world. There are so many that can slip our minds. 

Today’s Scriptures give us the first glimpses of the Christmas story. Only Luke and Matthew’s Gospels include nativity stories at their beginnings. Luke’s Gospel concentrates on giving us Mary’s perspective on the birth of Christ. It contains episodes like the Annunciation and Her beautiful response to the angel called the Canticle of Mary. 

Matthew comes at the Nativity from the perspective of Joseph. We just heard:

"Now, this is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about.

When his mother, Mary, was betrothed to Joseph,

But before they lived together,

she was found with child through the holy Spirit."

According to Jewish marriage customs in Jesus’ day, marriage was not a Sacrament but a legal contract between the bride and groom’s families. Betrothal began the marriage, but the couple didn’t live together until up to a year later. During this time, Mary became pregnant with Jesus through the power of the Holy Spirit, which confused Joseph because they had not had marital relations. Joseph decided to quietly walk away from his marriage to Mary by divorcing her. 

Theologians have considered why Joseph wanted to do that to Mary. Some speculate it was out of anger at the false belief Mary had been unfaithful to him. That would be a very human reaction. Confusion in the face of such a great miracle is another reason some speculate. The most common idea is that Joseph was stricken with fear. Fear is a widespread human emotion, and the Bible says the most common message an angel brings someone God sends them to communicate with is to tell them not to fear. 

That was the message the angel gave Joseph in his dream. Matthew wrote the angel told Joseph:

“Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary into your home. 

For it is through the power of the Holy Spirit that this child has been conceived in her. 

She will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus 

because he will save his people from sins."

Joseph must have felt in the dark at the news of Mary’s pregnancy. How could this happen? He must have thought he was in over his head. As he thought about the situation, he must have wondered what the members of their families, friends, and neighbors would think. Would they laugh at him and make him feel ashamed? 

The angel who came to Joseph in the dream shared God’s plan with him. The angel told Joseph not to fear and to trust God. The angel reassured Joesph he could courageously adhere to God’s plan for him because of his strong relationship with God the Father. Joseph should take responsibility for the boy and assume the honor of naming the boy Jesus. God would care for Joseph and the Holy Family. If Joseph could trust God, God would bring light to the world through Jesus. 

There might be more than a billion humans living without electricity, but there are millions, if not billions, more living in need of the light of Christ. More than anything material, they need the light of hope, help, and healing this Christmas. You can bring them that light by inviting them to share Christmas Mass with you. No one is offended by a sincere invitation. Everyone knows people who have fallen away from the practice of their Catholic faith. The Coronavirus pandemic caused many people to get out of the habit of attending weekend Mass. There are many more people who have never been introduced to God. They have no idea how powerful a relationship with God can be for them. 

If you are hosting Christmas guests this year, let them know that attending Christmas Mass will be a part of your celebration. Let them know they are welcome to come with you. If you are someone’s guest this Christmas, make sure they know your intention to attend Mass. Invite them to join you. Don’t allow yourself to feel awkward if going to Mass will cause you to have to miss any part of Christmas celebrations. Your faithfulness to Christmas Mass will not brand you a religious fanatic but a witness to your discipleship. 

Our world is full of physical, emotional, and spiritual darkness, but God invites us all to bring light to that darkness. You can grow in your relationship with God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit and become a brighter light by taking time to pray. If your prayer time has taken second place because of holiday preparations, recommit to it this week before Christmas. Strengthen your bond with Jesus by reading the infancy narratives in the Gospels of Matthew and Luke. Reflect on the joy and light of Christ’s birth. Mull over the suffering that was involved in Jesus’ birth. As Christmas approaches this week, remember there is no life without light and no light without the presence of God.