We have gathered in the darkest hours of night to welcome “news of great joy”: a child born for us, a saviour given to us who is Christ the Lord.[i] In Shrewsbury, we cannot fail to remember those who across a thousand years came together on this hillside to celebrate the same Nativity, the same Christ Mass. Nor fail to recall the Franciscan Brothers, who seven centuries before us arrived at the foot of this hill establishing Saint Julian Friars, bringing their deep Eucharistic devotion and constructing the first Christmas Crib. Nor can we forget many who gathered within the walls of this new Cathedral through the darkest hours of the past two centuries, always in the same Eucharistic light.
For the darkness the Scriptures speak of, is not earth’s wintry movement away from the sun, it is our own turning away from Truth and Love by sin, which causes the deepest shadows of this world. Yet, in the words of Isaiah’s prophecy, a people that walked in darkness have now seen a great light and on those who dwell in the shadow of death a light has dawned.[ii] As Saint Paul declares tonight “God’s grace has been revealed” and “made salvation possible …”[iii] The Christian life demands a constant turning away from darkness to His wonderful light by the frequent Confession of our sins – as the Apostle urges we must “give up everything that does not lead to God”[iv] – and Sunday by Sunday we come know the light of His Real Presence in the Mystery of the Eucharist.
After Christmas work will begin to renew the lighting of our Cathedral. Yet, the light which draws us together is not provided by engineers. Like the shepherds of old we have heeded the voice of Heaven to make our way to Bethlehem and find “a baby wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger”.[v] Here we recognise the child who was born for us, the saviour now given to us under the lowly appearances of bread and wine. For in the memorable words of Saint John Paul II, “On this Holy Night, adoration of the Child Jesus becomes Eucharistic Adoration.”[vi] Together with a countless number who celebrated His Nativity before us, we recognise Christ’s presence anew in the darkness of this night and pray in the New Year ahead we may always remain in His light.
[i] Cf. Luke 10: 9-12
[ii] Cf. Is. 9: 1
[iii] Titus 2: 11
[iv] Titus 2: 13
[v] Lk. 2: 12
[vi] Homily of Pope Saint John Paul II, Midnight Mass 2004