- Hebrews 1:1-12
- John 1:1-14
Merry and Blessed Christmas to all. I hope that you will have a good family dinner today as we celebrate Christmas Day.
The gospel today gives this beautiful message coming from the gospel of St. John which tell us “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” John 1:1. The Eternal Son of God is the Word to us who self-communicate His love and salvation for us. Until today, as we gather at every Mass, the Word of God continues to come down from heaven to take flesh in the form of the Eucharist. The priest makes the mystery real by making Christ’s sacrifice present, not only sacramentally in the Body of Christ present on the altar but truly, really, and personally present. Indeed, God made himself manifest in the person of his only Son, Jesus Christ.
There was a little girl who was surprised knowing that the baby Jesus in the crib was gone. She cried and went to her room, and she asked God’s help. She prayed, “God the Father, if you don’t help me find the baby Jesus, I will totally put off all the light from the Christmas tree.” I believe that we need to find Jesus in our hearts.
Brothers and Sisters, I would like to share this one of the stanzas of a Christmas song, “Let sing Merry Christmas and a happy holiday! This season may we never forget, the love we have for Jesus. Let Him be/ the One to guide us as another new year starts.
And may the spirit of Christmas be always in our hearts.” To say that we have not found Jesus in our hearts, it means that we are walking in the dark and dwelling in a land of uncertainties. Let us ask, “When will I find Jesus in my heart again?”
This is the truth, Jesus has come, and Jesus must always in our hearts. God made himself manifest in the person of His only Son, Jesus Christ. So, let us reflect the powerful messages of the Goodnews.
First, Jesus, the Word, made flesh taking the risk to dwell with us in human history. ` St. Augustine says, “Begotten by the Father, He was not made by the Father; He was made Man in the mother whom He himself had made, so that He might exists here for a while, sprung from her who could never and nowhere have exited except through His power.” (sermon 191) Thus, Jesus humbles himself to journey with humanity proclaiming God’s perfect love and salvation for all.
Second, the Eternal Word taking on our human nature. What an enormous step taken by God who has desired to come close to us by taking on our flesh to prove this love over and over through His life and ultimately offering Himself on the Cross. St. Augustine reminds us of saying that, “What greater cause is there of the Lord’s coming than to show God’s love for us.”
Third, Jesus Christ, the Lord tells us: I am the light of the world; he who follows me will not walk in darkness but will have the light of life. Indeed, Jesus is the Light who shines continuously on his church, his community of disciples who are walking toward the Kingdom of God. As members of the church, as disciples of Jesus, we are challenged by this Christmas Day to continue the mission of Jesus to be Light in our world. But how? Look at neighbor helping neighbor as they provide for whatever is needed in the moment. We just to have to look around for the many examples of women and men who have responded to this call to be light to the world.
Brothers and Sisters, the mystery of the Incarnation is indeed the central doctrine of our Catholic Faith. Let us take time to meditate and take pleasure of how our life has been save by the tender child in a manger whose presence must always be in our hearts.
God bless you.
Fr. Arlon, osa