Let us rejoice. It would be unlawful to be sad today, for today is Life's birthday; the birthday of that Life which, for us mortal creatures, takes away the sting of death and brings the bright promise of an eternal hereafter. It would be unlawful for any man to refuse sharing in our rejoicing. All men have an equal part in the great reason why we are joyful, for our Lord, who is the destroyer of sin and death, finding that all are bound under condemnation, is come to make all free. - Pope St. Leo the Great, Christmas Homily, Roman Breviary
29 December 2006
Patristic Quote for the Day
Let us rejoice. It would be unlawful to be sad today, for today is Life's birthday; the birthday of that Life which, for us mortal creatures, takes away the sting of death and brings the bright promise of an eternal hereafter. It would be unlawful for any man to refuse sharing in our rejoicing. All men have an equal part in the great reason why we are joyful, for our Lord, who is the destroyer of sin and death, finding that all are bound under condemnation, is come to make all free. - Pope St. Leo the Great, Christmas Homily, Roman Breviary
Fr. Weedon, this is a great quote to keep in mind, especially for those who have bitter memories/struggles in regard to Christmas. I am now especially thinking of one of my faithful parishioners who just lost her father this past Christmas Day. On Fr. Cwirla's blog I also somewhere read a sermon in which he mentions that the composer Irving Berlin lost his infant son on Christmas Day. In spite of these kinds of sorrows, Christmas is still a time of joy and rejoicing even for the sorrowful, for the Word became flesh and dwelt among us. And in that flesh He redeemed us and we all live forever in Him.
ReplyDeleteDear Fr. Cota,
ReplyDeleteAmen! I'd even say that Christ is still a time for joy and rejoicing *especially* for the sorrowful. We've had more than once when a coffin stood under the parish Christmas tree. It is the most fitting reminder about what they Child came among us: that death itself might be destroyed.
Blessed Christmas to you and yours! Maybe in this new year God will grant us to meet face to face.