Homily.
Christ is Born. Glorify Him.
And a happy and blessed new year.
If someone gave you new clothes you would be happy. If someone gave you a new car you would get excited. And if someone gave you a new house you would be hysterical. Getting new things always brings us great joy and that is one of the reasons Christmas is such a happy time of year.
In addition to all the new things you recently purchased, in the next week or two you will receive at least one more new thing. It will be something you did not have before and something that may be with you for a very long time. Look for it in the mail. You will get a specially marked envelope announcing to you that in addition to all the new things you purchased you now have new bills and you are the proud owner of brand new debts. So, congratulations on all your new purchases, your new bills, and your new debts.
There were a group of men in a very important meeting. They were all asked to turn off their phones and leave them in their jackets. But, during the meeting someone’s eel phone started ringing.
One of the men quickly answered in a low voice then left the meeting and said “Sorry honey I can’t talk for long.” The woman on the phone said “Don’t worry, I just have a quick question. I was at the mall today and saw a beautiful dress. It is a bit expensive, but…” The man cut her off and said “Sweety, don’t worry, just buy it. I gotta go.” She was so surprised at his positive answer, then said “Honey, one other quick question. Before I left I noticed a very nice gold collector’s edition watch. I’m not sure how much it costs but it looks so nice and….” The man quickly cut her off again and said “Sweety, don’t worry, just buy it. I gotta go.” I promise I only have one more question: “As I was driving home our car was giving me some trouble. I went to the car dealership and the salesperson gave me a great deal on a brand new car with thousands of dollars of extras, outstanding features, and...” He stopped her and said: “Sweety, don’t worry, just buy it. I am in a very important meeting and I definitely have to go. Good-bye.” She said “Have a good meeting and try to be home by 6 because I’m going to prepare the best dinner ever.”
He hung up then went back into the meeting and said: “Sorry guys, I just realized this is not my phone, but whosever phone this is, your wife wants you home by 6. She is preparing a great dinner for you and your family.”
We live with the joy of getting and giving new things but we also live with a delusion when we think these new things have a lasting value. Things that are new may seem exciting for a while but the happiness they bring us does not last very long. In fact, most of the things we purchased has either made us fatter or given us a bigger debt. Usually the joy we get from new things quickly turns to disappointment.
The Bible teaches us that we should be careful about becoming too happy when we acquire new food, new clothes, and new items. The Bible even warns us about new friends that like us for the wrong reasons. For example, we read in Proverbs 19:4. “Wealth brings many new friends, but a poor man is deserted by his friend.”
We all wished each other a happy new year? But what is happy and what is new about this year? If our happiness comes only from what we bought or received, then we will not have a lasting happiness.
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