Merry Christmas Noise

If the church ain’t cryin’, then the church is dyin’.

Merry Christmas!  As you head out early this evening, or tomorrow morning, to a ridiculously crowded church building, keep the above words in mind.  You will leave the comfort of your home perhaps an hour earlier than normal.  You will face a traffic jam just fighting for a parking spot.  You will send advance forces from amongst your family members to stake out a pew.  Don’t forget to send them with coats, despite the unseasonably warm weather, so that they can spread them across seats, along with hymnals and anything else that might mark your territory.

You may spot 2 or 3 familiar faces across an overwhelming throng of strangers.  You will cringe as late arrivals crowd you in your reserved pew.  You will strain to hear readings and a homily above the disruptive conversation happening behind you.  There will be individuals who are dressed more for a bar scene than for church, distracting your focus.  At least one individual, undoubtedly directly in your line of sight, will be wearing wholly inappropriate attire.

Coughing, and extra chairs moving in the aisles, and untimely talking will continue throughout the duration of mass.  And undoubtedly, a baby will cry.  That cry will trigger the response of another cry.  The parents, despite their travels around the church, found there was no room for them in the cry room.  Will that be the last straw that pushes your overheated, overcrowded body to a boiling point?  Or will that be the noise that reminds you of the miracle of this holiday? 

I wish everyone who celebrated with us at Christmas mass, would join the year round.  Admittedly, I am someone who struggles with the frustration of difficult parking, overcrowding, and overly noisy Christmas masses.  I should be excited to welcome, pray with, and certainly send a warm smile over to the members of our church who may not join us as often as we wish.  Amidst this ridiculously hectic time of year, it is somewhat of a miracle that so many are called back to share in something that they may only do twice a year…or perhaps that they’ve been away from since childhood.

Jesus entered an overly crowded Bethlehem, in an overly noisy and uncomfortable stable, and changed the world for all eternity.  I wonder if my smile at someone tonight might make them feel welcomed back to regular attendance at Mass.  I wonder if my smile might change a soul for all eternity.

Rather than a big, beautiful, peaceful, but empty church, tonight I’ll remember if the church ain’t cryin’, then the church is dyin’.  Don’t forget to enjoy the sounds of Christmas, that all started 2000 years ago with a baby’s cry.  Merry Christmas!

Matt Buehrig