Homily: December 24, 2024, Christmas Mass (Swaddling clothes )

"She wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger..."

This Gospel scene brings me back to one special day when I was in grade eight. My eldest sister was back at home from college for summer vacation. The rest of my family were out of the house for a parish event, and so it was just the two of us at home. Before leaving the house, my mother had pre-empted us that one of our she-goats on the farm was ready to give birth, although she did think it might happen in a few more days.

However, shortly after my parents and other siblings left the house, the she-goat or doe went into labor and gave birth to three babies: two males, one female. The baby doeling was very weak and looked unhealthy, my sister and I did not know what to do. So we called our grandmother on the phone, and she explained to us how to take care of the newborn kids.

Following her instructions, we used iodine to treat the navel cords to prevent infection, cleaned up the birth site, made a nice bed of hay, and wrapped the babies in clean cloth after their mother had fed them. Grandma was very specific: only clean cloth to be used.

I still remember wrapping the tiny doeling snugly with clean linen and holding her close to me gently but firmly, looking at her – so innocent, so beautiful. That was my first and only experience as a midwife for a goat. And that was the closest experience I had to being a mother of a newborn, to want to save, protect and love my helpless child. I named her Mini.

Baby Jesus was also wrapped snugly in swaddling cloth at His birth. Mother Mary must have held him close to her and looked at Him lovingly before placing Him in the manger of hay. He is Messiah of the world, but truly, He is Mary’s firstborn and only precious son.

This is the first thing Mary did for Jesus after His birth. She must have wrapped Jesus many times thereafter, after cleaning and bathing Him, and placing Him to sleep like most Asian mothers still do for their babies, to keep Him safe, comfortable and loved.

For any mother who has wrapped and swaddled their babies, this act of love and protection is powerful, beautiful and significant for the growth of the child. It is believed that the child would feel secure, safe and loved.

I often see mothers from our African and Asian communities carrying their babies wrapped in a shawl or sling. The babies are so close to their mothers, so precious and protected.

Mary again wrapped Jesus in linen 33 years later, after His death, and laid Him in the tomb. That was the last thing Mary did for Jesus at the end of His earthly life.

Our Savior entered the world as a human baby wrapped in swaddling cloth and left the world as a human sacrifice, also wrapped up, in burial cloth.

The swaddling act in Luke’s Gospel shows us Mary’s tender care for Jesus throughout His earthly life from birth to death. Though born into poverty, He never lacked affection, love, or care from His mother.

Clearly, God is showing us that we do not need material wealth, but we all need real and authentic love. We can be poor but with love, we can thrive. God is love.

Our parish is a young and growing parish in the diocese. We are young because we have more births than deaths. Yearly we have less than 10 funerals but over 70 baptisms! About one or two baptisms every week!

At every baptism into new life, Mary, who is Jesus’ earthly mother and our heavenly Mother, would swaddle these new Christians to provide and protect.

Throughout our life, if we seek her, she will surely cover us with her motherly mantle and continue to provide and protect us, from all evil or spiritual harm.

And at every death, Mary would also wrap us tenderly, to keep us pure and holy, bringing us to Jesus her Son.

This Christmas night, Baby Jesus calls us to look to Mary, the one who wraps us in swaddling cloth, who loves and cares for us, from birth till death.

Go to her always; she will take care of you and ensure you reach heaven safe and secure.

Tonight, let us pray especially for all our children, entrusting them to the loving care of Mother Mary.

Blessed Christmas everyone!