Child Peace

1. The woman and Christ

Carl Lewis wrote in 1958: “My brother heard a woman on a bus say, as the bus passed a church with a nativity scene outside it: ‘They bring religion into everything. Look, they’re even dragging it into Christmas now.’”

That woman was completely lost. She was sure Christmas was a feast, but she didn’t know the One who is honored in the feast.

But for us, Christmas is the greatest feast because today, the love that came down from heaven is found in the little Child we celebrate.

We have to say once again: "Men have forgotten this truth, but you must not forget it."

2. What is the meaning of Christmas

We call this day "Christmas Eve," which literally means the Mass of Christ, referring to the Mass in which we celebrate the birth of Christ, the Nativity.

Perhaps, as adults, we’ve lost the ability to be truly amazed by this truth, and the power of its meaning can become somewhat forgotten. Let me tell you a story from Papua New Guinea that connects with Canada, to help us rediscover that wonder.

3. The Peace Child.

Don Richardson, who would be 88 years old if he were alive today, was born in Vancouver, British Columbia. He was not Catholic, but a Baptist. He had heard about how many people were dying without knowing Christ, and so he and his wife decided to move to the remote regions of Papua New Guinea. There, he sought to reach the Sawi people, a tribe whose core value was betrayal. They pretended to be friends, only to deceive and ultimately kill and eat their victims.

Don and his family lived among the Sawi people, learning their language and sharing the story of Christ. After five years, Don finally told them the story of the betrayal of Judas. To his surprise, they laughed. "Judas is our hero," they said. "He betrayed with a kiss; that is amazing!"

Don was deeply discouraged, as his efforts seemed fruitless. Things grew worse when the two tribes began a war that dragged on for months and years. Exhausted, Don told the chief that if they did not stop the war, he would leave, taking all the medicine, tools, and supplies that had come from Canada.

The chief asked him to wait while he worked on a peace agreement with the other tribe. But Don was skeptical. How could he know if the peace would be real?

Then, one day, the two tribes met to negotiate peace. The Sawi chief walked over to the wife of the enemy chief, took her son from her arms, and handed the child to the other chief. The mother began to cry, knowing what was happening. The chief said, "This proves our peace. This child will live in your clan, and while he is alive, it will be a sign that we have peace."

That night, Don spoke with the chief. "Do you understand what you have done?" Don asked. "You have given what you love most to prove that your peace is sincere. Just as you gave your son, so God made peace between heaven and earth. And to show that His love is true, He gave us His Son."

The chief and his family became Christians, and eventually, the whole tribe followed.

4. God give the one that he loves the most.

We must all pass through this experience, because tonight, this Child is a proof of something greater. It is not only given to those who believe in God, but also a sign that God believes in humanity and loves each of us as one.

The proof of God’s love is that He gave us the One He loves most. So tonight, and in this life, there is no reason to be sad, for I know that God loves me and gave His Son for my ransom.

But remember the story of those tribes: the sign of peace is that the child remains alive. The same is true for us. You will experience the peace of God as long as His Son remains alive in you.

5. This peace if no a felling is the presence of God in my soul.

Jesus is present to us through the sacraments. Perhaps you might say, "Father, I receive Jesus at every Mass, but I still feel distant from God.

How can I experience His peace?" Prepare yourself to receive Him well. Make a good confession, rid yourself of your troubles, and accept the pardon of God. Then you will experience His peace.

Brothers and sisters, tonight is the night of peace. A Son has been given to us, to make peace. You receive this Son through the sacraments, and as long as Christ is alive in you by His grace, you will have the peace of this night.

I wish you a Merry Christmas, but more than that, I wish that you receive the Son of God, in His Word and in the sacraments.

Remember, Christ has come to you, to give your life, and life forever, and this life began with the sacraments.