The Jesus-meter
A Homily for a School Mass before Christmas
This was a homily given at the St. Jude the Apostle school Mass before Christmas break.
I used to teach 3rd grade, and one of my students would likely forget a book when we went to the library. When we would go out for recess in the winter, someone was bound to forget their winter hat. There was one thing the students never forgot: what they wanted for Christmas.
Could I have three students in kindergarten share what they would like for Christmas this year? …
All those gifts that were shared are wonderful. However, these gifts can always be better: a new basketball, shoes, or a 3D printer. The ball can bounce better, the boots fit better, and the 3D printer can always print better. All the gifts each of us want under the Christmas tree can somehow be better.
The gift of the Eucharist cannot be better. The Eucharist is Jesus, who is perfect. Therefore, the Eucharist cannot be better.
There is a big difference between the gifts under the Christmas tree and the gift from the Tree of the Cross: although good, the gifts under the Christmas tree are not perfect. The gift from the Tree of the Cross is perfect.
When I was around 12 years old, my younger brother, who was 4 or 5, would wake up at 6:00 am every Christmas morning running up and down the stairs. He would wake me up saying, “It’s Christmas! It’s Christmas! Wake up!” I recall sharing with my mom that this needed to end and that we should wait until 10 am to wake up because the gifts would still be there. My mom looked at me and said, “It looks like you have lost your Christmas spirit, and I hope you come to have the Christmas spirit that your younger brother has.”
The American Classic Christmas movie Elf has a scene with Buddy in which he says, “The best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear!” If you don’t mind, it would be nice for us to sing the song Santa Claus is Coming to Town to help us grow in the Christmas Spirit.
Please sing with me: “You better watch out…” …
I think you will remember this scene from Elf when Santa’s sleigh is running out of power because there is a lack of Christmas Spirit. Santa’s sleigh has what is called the Clausometer. When the people sing, the Clausometer goes up, and the sleigh can fly.
In Catholicism, there is a Jesus-meter. Unfortunately, for some, their Jesus-meter has run low. I agree with Buddy the Elf that singing at Mass and participating helps the Jesus-meter go up, just like singing helps the Clausometer in Santa’s sleigh go up.
Another great Christmas movie is The Polar Express. There is a scene where a young boy named Chris, who has the nickname of the Hero Boy, grabs a bell that falls from the reindeer’s harness. Only those who have the Christmas spirit can hear the bell’s sound. Chris cannot hear the bells until he picks up the bell and says, “I believe, I believe, I believe.” Then he is able to hear the sound of the Christmas bells.
So, too, it is with the Eucharist. There are many who cannot hear its sound, for they have lost faith in Jesus’s power. So, too, must we, like Chris from The Polar Express, boldly say, “I believe, I believe, I believe…in the power of Jesus.”
We need more young Catholics who have a similar courage as that of Buddy from the movie Elf and like Chris from The Polar Express, who are unafraid to sing and unafraid to say “I believe.”
Remember, the gifts under the Christmas tree can always be better. However, the gift that comes from the Tree of the Cross, the Eucharist, is perfect.
Thank you for singing Santa Claus is Coming to Town today. Let’s carry that same enthusiasm into the rest of the Mass. As Buddy the Elf wisely said, “The best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear!”
Fr. Luke Daghir
