Christ is a home

Joseph Tuan Pham

November 1, 2022

First Reading: Isaiah 62:1-5 I

Second Reading: Acts 13: 16-17,22-25

Gospel: Matthew 1:1-25

The Nativity of the Lord (Christmas) Vigil Mass

A young man ran away from home 10 years ago. This year he wanted to come home for Christmas, and he wrote a letter to his parents saying how sorry he was for the worry he had caused them. At last, knowing where his son was, the father traveled three days by bus. When he found his son, the first thing he said was “My son, come home.”

Many of you have not been home for Christmas for a long time.

I have not been home for Christmas with my family for 15 years; they often ask, “Can you come home this Christmas?"

But what is “home”?

In Vietnamese culture, home is not merely a house where we live. “Home” is a symbol of the homeland, a symbol of life. It is the place where our mothers, fathers, grandparents, friends, and memories wait for us. Thus, “Home” is our dearest and sacred community. It is the place where we belong, where we love each other, and where we always want to return. Jesus also had an earthly home, earthly parents, and a family tree filled with kings, saints, and sinners. God has come to his earthly home incarnate “in human flesh.”

Christmas is the celebration of the Birth of the Son of God who entered our home in human flesh to fulfill what God has promised-- to save his people from sin.

So tonight, let us rejoice because we have the highest privilege of humanity to welcome Jesus, Immanuel, to dwell with us in our home. This is why the angel announced in joyful chorus to the shepherds, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For today in the city of David a Savior has been born for you who is Christ the Lord.”

Let our hearts be filled with God’s joy, for the Son of the Most High, who is true God, out of love, became true man and took the lowliest human form as an infant lying in a manger. This is the true meaning of the Incarnation: that Jesus became man for us and even gave up his own life for us all. For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life"? (John 3:16) Jesus became like us to make us like him. He became poor so that we might become rich in the eye of God. Jesus came to his earthly home to share what is lowly, and broken from humanity so that we may share what is honorable and precious from God. That is why Jesus come home.

Rejoice! for our God rejoices in us. For tonight is the night when Immanuel comes home to us to destroy what is evil and deadly, for “Tomorrow the wickedness of the earth will be destroyed: the Savior of the world will reign over us.”

Tonight, like Joseph, who was not afraid to take Mary into his home, let us not be afraid to let Jesus come to our home by celebrating the Eucharist, which is the very body and blood of Jesus Christ. In the Real Presence of the Eucharist, we sacramentally let Jesus come to our home to be Emmanuel. Jesus continues dwelling among us through the sacraments and in the Church, the Body of Christ. Let us receive Christ to become Christ for others.

There was a woman who was homeless in the Philippines for 5 years. One Christmas night she went around seeking a place to stay, and a very good family welcomed her and let her stay at their home. The householder asked the woman, “Why do you not go home for Christmas?” The woman answered that “For five years I have not had a home to go back to; all my family members died because of a Typhoon. I lost everything at once; I lost my home.” The owner told her, “I am so sorry for what you suffered. In my family’s tradition, everyone comes home for Christmas every year because Jesus came to his home at Christmas. So, if you do not mind, please let us welcome you as Jesus who comes to our home tonight.”

So tonight, let us not be afraid to take Jesus into our home by welcoming to our home and hearts our brothers and sisters who have no home or those family members who are far away.

Tonight, let us be at peace, for the Prince of Peace has come. Let wars cease, let conflicts be reconciled, let hatred turn to love, and let our darkness be scattered by Christ’s light.

Let us feel the love of Immanuel, for Jesus has come home to love us. He loves us to the end. Let us be Christ’s love and bring this love to all humanity.

Dear brothers and sisters, if you do not have a home to go to, please let Christ be a home for you. Wherever Christ is there is a home. Let Christ be our home tonight, tomorrow, and every single day of our lives. For “Christ is with us always, to the end of the age” (Matt 28:20). Merry Christmas