CERTAINTY, SURETY, PAGEANTRY, & MYSTERY
Christmas Day Year A December 25, 2010 Midnight Mass: Is 9:1-6 / Titus 2:11-14 / Lk 2:1-14 Day Mass: Is 52:7-10 / Heb 1:1-6 / Jn 1:1-5.9-14 Preaching on Christmas day is doubly difficult, at least in the culture I am most familiar with, Philippine culture. Although I have spent more than enough Christmas seasons outside of my home country to know the difference, preaching is a little more challenging in my home country for a variety of reasons. For one, most people who are in front of me right now have been at it for nine days – attending Mass and doing the Simbang Gabi ( Misa de Gallo ) either at early dawn or late evening – everywhere in the world, where there are Filipinos! Secondly, with so many last minute Christmas parties galore everywhere there is a semblance of a group or club, or clan, or work-related associations and assemblages, (not to mention hordes of balikbayan relatives to do family reunions with!), people are generally tired, weary, and slee...