The Christ Mass

Mass is not a word that we think a lot about these days.  It is often associated with Roman Catholicism.  However, every year around December 25^th everyone uses the word without really thinking about it.  It is the word that the majority of the world associates with the celebration of the Birth of Jesus: Christmas or Christ Mass. A little history and theology might be helpful in understanding what it actually means.

The word “mass” is a shorten form of “dismissal.” At the end of Sunday Service in churches around the world Christians, after receiving Communion, are dismissed to be on mission.  In traditional churches the service does not end with a blessing, but with a commissioning where someone says to all the people: “Go in Peace to love and serve the Lord.”    These are not antiquated words, but a real sending out of God’s people; to be His Hands and Feet to the world.  The question then is what makes December 25^th different that churches celebrate Mass together on that date, even if it is not Sunday?

Historically, the date December 25^th marks the end and the beginning of something on the Church Calendar.  It is the end of the Season of Advent and the beginning of the celebration of Christmastide (12 days of celebrations).  Like Lent is to Easter, Advent is a time of fasting in preparation of the great Feast of Christmas that lasts for 12 days.  December 25^th is the breaking of the Advent fast and it is done with a Mass in honor of the Birth of Christ.   And since every mass is considered a feast it is the first great feast of Christmastide.  It is a feast that is shared by Christians around the world.  That is why Christians keep vigil on Christmas Eve, for they have been waiting in expectation together for several weeks and now they share a great feast together.

Therefore, the Church waits through Advent, knowing that come Christmas Eve night the wait will be over and it will be time to celebrate the Birth of the Christ.  We will break our fast and expectation with the Christ Mass.  We will celebrate together the scandal of that faithful night when the Word Who created all things took His first breath and whimpered in His Mother’s arms.  It is right then for Christians to gather to pray, to worship, to celebrate, and to feast together that Holy Night.  Then when all of the festivities of that night are over we go into the world with a message of hope.  Like the shepherds we must not keep quiet, we must spread the Good News to the entire World that Christ has been born.  It is through this that the Church not only celebrates the Christ Mass, but also becomes the Christ Mass.