Christmas Eve Homily 2025
By Father Joseph Tedesco OCSO Superior of Mepkin Abbey
Christmas is just a great feast. We love Christmas. Lights, trees decorated, stars that blink, so much joy in the celebration. We all receive gifts. All these great parts of this feast focus on the greatest gift: the hope of a savior is fulfilled, Jesus is born into our world, into our lives. The thrill of New life, the greatest gift, a child is born who fulfills our dreams. This Christ child is our savior.
As we look around our world we can feel the excitement that Christmas brings us, because Christmas tells us what we sometimes forget. God is with us. Even though it doesn’t always feel like that. But we can touch this truth. We can celebrate tonight and onward by getting a firmer grasp on the challenge Christ who has come, gives us. Christmas reminds us we have this hope because we have Jesus.
All the prophesies of Isaiah have been fulfilled in Jesus. He resets the trajectory of humankind back to the Father, back to the Garden, back to unity, oneness with God and one another. The very way humans started out. We can rediscover this deepest reality that Jesus shows us, the heart of love and freedom and integrity with which we were created.
Yes, we can live with compassion and love for all. That’s our truest self. And deep down we know it. We just forget, because we are no longer in the garden, our selfish needs get in the way. And we lose hope, because we focus on ourselves. Isn’t this the problem in our world today.
Christmas reminds us of our true self and we wish for it so much. All we want to do is live from the promptings that come from our true self, but it is so difficult. That’s why God sent Jesus to us.
Isaiah says it: A people in darkness have seen a great light. There is abundant joy and great rejoicing, we are touching again on Christmas all we hope for and want as people of God, people of goodness and love.
That’s why Christmas eve is one of the nights many people get engaged to be married, because of this love and hope Jesus gives us. As a pastor for many years I always asked at Christmas eve mass who got engaged. And so many couple stood up. It’s the feast of God’s love for us. Even though the couples wouldn’t name it that way – IT ’s THE TRUTH. That touches us so deeply we share love and commitment like God has with us. Christmas is such a family time, that deep connection we feel, we want to be with those who matter to us.
So the letter of Titus we read every Christmas names it, the grace of God has appeared saving all. Training us to reject Godless ways and worldly desires and to live justly and devotedly. As we await our blessed hope the appearance of the glory of the great God and savior Jesus Christ.
Who gave himself to deliver us from lawlessness and be a people as his own eager to do good.
How much our world needs to hear this Word of God. That brings hope to others.
Our challenge is to make it happen now. So we live by His teaching, by His word to us. Love one another as I have loved you.
Our role is to show the world the way forward, and give hope to people, especially those suffering and struggling to make life work. All the marginalized, those who have lost hope in the American dream. And those suffering from war and unbelievable deprivations today.
So Christmas invites us to reach out, be for others, make things happen because we have a savior who shows us our life together is God’s desire. Jesus show us that our God is a communion: The father, Son and Holy Spirit. We seek this same communion with all people. That oneness we so yearn for. Let us do this and give people hope, the hope that Jesus gives us who believe. We who know the truth of God.
So as we sing our Christmas Carols tonight and during the Christmas season, let’s hold on to the rich sentiments they instill in us. And by our lives give people hope and brighten the future with acts of love and compassion that change the world.
Jesus has been born again in our hearts tonight, in our renewed faith and hope in Him.
Indeed, it is a feast of new life. Merry Christmas Everyone.
