As we await the blessed hope, the appearance of the glory of our great God and savior Jesus Christ.” — Titus 2:13
Recently I visited a parish religious education class of kindergarten through second-graders. The teacher asked the students about Christmas. One of the students said excitedly “Christmas is my favorite!” The teacher asked why and the young student answered “the presents.” Growing up, this would have been my answer as well. My family did not attend church on Christmas and the leadup was centered on what presents I would receive. We had traditions but they were not centered around Christ.
For many years I worked in retail. Ultimately I became manager of a photography store. The period between Thanksgiving and Christmas Eve was a very busy time and I worked long hours until the last minute before spending Christmas Eve with my family. This was an extremely important time for the business, so my preparation for Christmas was centered around working hard to meet financial goals for the store.
This continued until I started RCIA. I was still very busy at work but I was attending Mass every Sunday and also RCIA classes. My sister-in-law and I decided to attend Midnight Mass. I knew very little about this particular Mass other than it was at midnight. The parish offered a second Mass at midnight in the gym due to high attendance so we knew we needed to arrive early. We were in our seats about 90 minutes before Mass and listened to the readings and music. As midnight drew near, I had great anticipation. I can only describe it as the same excitement that I had previously felt at a concert performed by one of my favorite artists. The church was packed and the atmosphere was electric. I realized that there was more to Christmas than presents.
The following year I had become a lector and was asked to read prior to Midnight Mass. I felt honored to participate during a celebration that meant so much to me a year earlier. Over the next few years I invited family members to join me for Midnight Mass and this changed the dynamic of Christmas Eve for our family. Christmas became more than just coming together as a family for a meal and exchanging presents.
When I moved to Macon, Ga., to begin youth ministry full time, I wanted to stay in town to experience Christmas as a community. A wonderful family invited me to spend Christmas Eve with them and then I helped serve as an usher for the Mass at midnight. I arrived about an hour before Mass expecting the church to be partially filled, but the church was already packed! It was beautiful to see the community that I had recently joined excited in anticipation and this helped me feel at home in my new parish. My experience of Christmas has grown from family to community and it has strengthened my faith in Jesus and the meaning of His birth.
Now my Advent is filled with moments to prepare for Christmas. The joy of Christmas is not tied to the presents that I receive but tied to my faith, my family, my friends, and my community. I feel blessed when I am invited to spend Christmas with the wonderful family in Macon and attend Mass with them. I feel blessed to spend time during Advent with different parishes as they prepare. I feel blessed to spend time in the company of my family with the focus on more than presents but instead on the gift of each other. I feel blessed most of all for the gift of Jesus in my life!
— Tex Phelps is the Director of the Office of Youth and Young Adult Ministry for the Archdiocese of Mobile. He may be emailed at [email protected] Visit our website, www.ArchMobYouth.org Like us on Facebook at facebook.com/ArchMobYouth and follow us on Twitter and Instagram - @ArchMobYouth