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Many of us may be approaching this Christmas with a variety of thoughts, emotions and reflections in our hearts. We have many wonderful hymns or carols that can help us reflect on the meaning and message of this holy season. Although many carols were written some time ago, they can still speak to us today.

Of course, the joy and blessings of Christmas are expressed in favorite Christmas hymns such as "Joy to the World" or "Hark the Herald Angels Sing," which we sing with great gusto! I am always struck by the line, "God and sinners reconciled." It is such a wonderful reminder that no one should feel excluded from God's love and mercy. Please God, we will also experience some of that joy of Christmas in whatever form we need, extending into the year ahead.

Perhaps we feel anxious or fearful. The media seems so full of bad news at home and around the world, and there are all sorts of uncertainties as we come to the end of a year and prepare for a new one.

Remember that Jesus Himself came into a very similar sort of situation when He was born to live among us. The Holy Family had to flee for their lives and became refugees in another land. Jesus fully identifies with those experiencing anxiety, fear or displacement. As another favorite Christmas carol, "O Little Town of Bethlehem," says: "The hopes and fears of all the years are met in Thee tonight."

This can lead us to reflect on another great gift from God to us that we associate especially with Christmastime: His gift of peace. The angels sing of "peace on earth" as they speak to the shepherds; the first words of the risen Jesus to His disciples are, "Peace be with you."

Many of our carols, such as "Silent Night," evoke that sense of peace and tranquility: "All is calm, all is bright." This gift of peace and a tranquility of spirit is something we all long for!

It is not so much a protection or insurance policy from difficulties, but rather the strength, courage, vision and insight to meet whatever comes our way in life. It is the gift that we receive when we allow Jesus into our lives as our friend and our guide: the joy of being disciples of our Lord, born for us at Christmas.

Sometimes, we can feel a bit jaded by Christmas, especially feeling that it has become so commercialized. Guess what? Christmas is commercial! The word "commerce" means an exchange of something between parties. At Christmas, we have such an exchange: God becomes a baby. He does this to bring or to "exchange" His mercy and love with us. In return, He asks us to say "yes" to Him. Thinking about this, it seems that we certainly have the better end of the deal!

Many of our carols echo this idea of a "most holy exchange" (as one of the prayers at Christmas Day Mass says). For example, the carol "Of the Father's Heart Begotten" reminds us about this exchange: "He assumed this mortal body, frail and feeble doomed to die, that the race from dust created might not perish utterly."

What do we exchange in return? Another carol, "In the Bleak Midwinter," puts it beautifully: "What, then, can I give Him, poor as I am? If I were a shepherd, I would give a lamb. If I were a wise man, I would do my part. Yet what I have, I give Him...give my heart."

Advent and Christmas are great times to pause, to reflect, to pray and then to resolve to give more to our God who came to us, and still abides with us, every second of our lives. One way to do this might be to take a favorite Christmas carol each day and spend a few moments prayerfully reflecting on its words and message. This can help us deepen and refresh our understanding and appreciation of this truly wonderful season.

Pope Francis said, "I invite all Christians, everywhere, at this very moment, to a renewed personal encounter with Jesus Christ, or at least an openness to let Him encounter them....No one should think that this invitation is not meant for him or her, since no one is excluded from the joy brought by the Lord."

(Father Barratt is pastor of St. Ambrose parish in Latham and director of the diocesan Office of Prayer and Worship. He holds a doctorate in theology and was a professor at St. John's Seminary in England before coming to the U.S. in 2004. Read previous columns at www.evangelist.org.)[[In-content Ad]]

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