Music embellishes the wonder, expectation and joy of the days approaching the Birth of Christ, Christmas.  Yes our traditional hymns—Joy to the World, Silent Night, Away In The Manger, O Come All Ye Faithful, Angels We Have Heard On High, Noel, We Three Kings—will be sung at Christmas and within our gatherings for the Eucharist for the following two weeks.  Meaningful and hopeful, these hymns draw us more deeply and graciously into the gift of our faith, and the presence of our Savior in this too hectic world.
Within this genre there are many other ‘lesser known’ hymns whose lyrics and music call our attention to the premise of this Christmas Season.  Nearly fifty years ago the divergent musicians—Bing Crosby and David Bowie—brought grace to the song, “Peace On Earth/Drummer Boy.  A few years back I discovered the beauty of a song written by a family and their close friend several decades ago.  “Some Children See Him” was one of the many Christmas carols that was written by Alfred Burt and family friend, Wihla Hutson.  Each year they would team together to create a new hymn to be sent to family and friends at Christmas, continuing a long Burt family tradition.   Musically and lyrically it encompasses the hope of our universal Catholic-Christian faith, wherever the Eucharist is celebrated on this Christmas Day.  Baptized into one Body of Christ, regardless of the language spoken, the culture of the people, the skin of the face making the Sign of the Cross, we are 
“One, holy, catholic, and apostolic church.”
Some children see Him lily white,
The baby Jesus born this night.
Some children see Him lily white,
With tresses soft and fair.
Some children see Him bronzed and brown,
The Lord of heav'n to earth come down.
Some children see Him bronzed and brown,
With dark and heavy hair.
Some children see Him almond-eyed,
This Savior whom we kneel beside.
Some children see Him almond-eyed,
With skin of yellow hue.
Some children see Him dark as they,
Sweet Mary's Son to whom we pray.
Some children see him dark as they,
And, ah! they love Him, too!
The children in each different place
Will see the baby Jesus' face
Like theirs, but bright with heavenly grace,
And filled with holy light.
O lay aside each earthly thing
And with thy heart as offering,
Come worship now the infant King.
'Tis love that's born tonight!
Whether St. Henry Catholic Church in Finland, Holy Family Catholic Church in Gaza, St. Matthew Catholic Church in Sudan, Catholic Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Russia, St. Teresa Catholic Church in Venezuela, St. Joseph Catholic Church in China, Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Nigeria, Africa, or Ascension Parish in Boone County, Iowa, we are One Body, one community in Christ as we share in the Eucharist on Christmas.  
For our staff, our many volunteers, parishioners and visitors who share their faith and presence within our Sunday Eucharist, we are so blessed to bring forth Christian hospitality and a spirit of hope to all who come through our doors at St. John church, St. Malachy church, and Sacred Heart church.  We are blessed with a faith-filled staff, and numerous volunteers who seek to bring forth a Spirit of Hope, Healing and Joy to all who share in our Eucharist.  
May we “lay aside each earthly thing. . .come worship now the infant King; ‘tis love that’s born tonight.”
 
Christmas Blessings to parishioners and visitors alike, and a Happy New Year of ‘25,
Fr. Tim
 
FYI: We consider Christmas as the encounter, the great encounter, the historical encounter, the decisive encounter, between God and mankind. He who has faith knows this truly; let him rejoice. (Pope Paul VI)