Homily for Christmas Eve – 2025 – Cathedral of Sts Peter and Paul, Ennis
(Photos : Kind courtesy of Pat Hanrahan)
One of the highlights for me of the spiritual preparation for the Christmas season, apart from:
- Carol Services,
- Reflection on the Advent wreath,
- the Jesse Tree, and
- the Abbey Reconciliation Service
is a trip to visit the hundreds and hundreds of cribs in St. Brigid’s Church, Liscanner. They are traditionally displayed on the weekend of the third Sunday of Advent, Gaudate or rejoicing Sunday, the day we light the rose candle of joy on the wreath.
A Crib made of Bread
Of the many interesting cribs on display there, one of the most meaningful for me is one that is carved out of bread. Stale bread! So stale that it must be very malleable in the hands of the chisel and mallet of a skilled artist or tradesperson. The crib, made of bread is full of profound symbolism and getting to the heart of the Christmas celebration of:
- the incarnation,
- the nativity,
- the birth of Jesus
that we mark and celebrate this night,
- the word being literally made flesh
as the morning Gospel of St. John reminds us.
Bethlehem – House of Bread
The meaning of the place name where Jesus was born, Bethlehem means “house of bread”. Park that thought right here for a moment or two and we’ll return to it in a little while.
Our of small acorns great Oak Trees
Even though Bethlehem was only a small and insignificant location, still it was the birth place for two hugely significant figures in the bible. David and Jesus. Both had humble origins and both became great and significant leaders:
- David the greatest king of Israel and
- Jesus, Our Lord and saviour.
There is a great phrase in Connemara ‘is fánach an áit go bhfaighfeá gliomach’. Often it’s the strangest place you might stumble on a lobster. Out of small acorns, great oak trees grow. Through the small, humble and insignificant somethings great things emerge. A frequent way that God works in our world and in our lives.
The Manger – Source of Food
Back to Liscannor to the crib of bread and Bethlehem, the house of bread! What are the links? A further clue – the baby Jesus when he was born was placed in a manger. The manger is literally the place of bread for the animals of the stable, where they are fed, where they are nourished from, where they gain life and sustenance. It’s no small coincidence that Jesus was placed in a manger, the location of feeding, life and nourishment.
As a small aside – I saw a social media post today from my colleague, the Bishop of Kildare and Leighlin, Denis Nulty. He was posting from a place called ‘Manger’, in the parish of Baltinglass in Co. Wicklow. Manger, the meaning and significance…
I am the Bread of Life
Roll on the clock to John, chapter six in the bible and the adult Jesus at least 30 years later, in full flight teaches his disciples and followers that He is the bread of life and anyone who eats his flesh and drinks his blood has life and has it to the full. The Eucharist – the Mass our great gift, the source of our spiritual nourishment. The tabernacle, the eucharist the source of life giving bread.
The full Picture!
Maybe at this stage the jig-saw is coming together? The little baby, born in the stable on this Christmas night, in the manger, the source of nourishment is our spiritual nourishment and in Him we have life and food for the soul to bring us to eternal life.
Search for solutions to many hungers
As human beings we hunger for meaning and direction in life.
We have so many challenges in the every day.
In our own personal lives.
And on the broader scale of things.
World conflict, climate challenge, threats to life, political instability, fragmentation of community, a lack of hope.
There are so many different bakeries, take aways and gourmet restaurants that propose to offer food that nourishes, but do any really offer the genuine spiritual food that endures and lasts and ultimately offers eternal life.
Jubilee of Hope
Every 25 years we celebrate a universal jubilee of the birth of Jesus and next year, 2025 the theme for that Jubilee is hope. It is our belief that:
- Jesus,
- the Word of God,
- Prayer,
- the Sacraments,
- the Eucharist,
- Caring for each other
are the bread of hope, the pathway to human flourishing and well-being.
Blessing of the Holy Night
May that bread of hope come alive in our hearts and souls, in our worship, in the Eucharist this evening as we welcome the coming of Christ this night and right through the Jubilee of hope in the new year.
A very happy, joy and hope filled Christmas to you and yours and may your souls be nourished by the real bread of life, food and sustenance to heaven.
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