The following is the text of the Christmas homily on Christmas Eve 2005.

"Listen, I bring you news of great joy, a joy to be shared by the
whole people. Today in the town of David a saviour has been born to
you; he is Christ the Lord." An angel, a message, a promise
fulfilled. This is what those shepherds in Bethlehem experienced. The
shepherds were not only given the message but were given the signs by
which they could recognise this tiny infant.

And this is what we celebrate tonight - the birth of Jesus Christ our
Saviour. And we mark it with great festivities and celebrations. Just
look at the effort that we put into preparing for Christmas. It
started weeks ago. The planning and arranging of parties, the
choosing and buying of presents. Then the decorations were put up.
And tomorrow there is all the work in the kitchen with the cooking of
all the food that we bought.

So much effort and yet - in a week's time the decorations will have
begun to look tired. What was once a full fridge will be back to
normal - near empty. And the bones of the turkey will have long gone
into the bin. Christmas will be over. Are these the only sings that
we give to today's shepherds where to find this infant Savour.
And yet what happened on that day can and should make everyday
Christmas. Jesus has so much to offer us, that it is a terrible shame
to reduce his birth to a few days of celebration. It's a shame and a
waste if his birth and who he is, is just reserved for the times we
are in trouble. As Jesus himself tells us he "is the God of the
living - not just the dead". It would be fantastic - it is fantastic
when the joy of God's presence at Christmas outlives the presents and
the celebrations. Remember me.

And we can if we let it. It we listen not to the voice of an angel
but the the voice of Jesus himself. "I have come to bring good news
to the poor, to prisoners freedom and to those in sorrow, joy". In
2,000 years that voice has lost none of its inspirations and grace.
Listen to me.

Christmas is a time of giving. The gifts we exchange are tokens of
the love and respect that we have for each other. The gifts that we
exchange should be our sharing in the love that Jesus' birth brought
us. Jesus never asked for gold, frankincense or myrrh. All he asks is
that we receive him and each other with a generous heart. Accept me.

A birth is a new beginning - a new life. If we remember, if we
listen, if we accept, then everyday will be Christmas and we allow
ourselves to be continually reborn into a new and fuller life in the
love that is Christ. "I have come so that you may have life and have
it to the full".

That is my wish for all of us here tonight. But more important, it is
Jesus' wish for us. Not just a wish - but the greatest present that
you have ever received. Remember, listen and accept and you will have
life and have it to the full.

- Fr Paddy