I have been reflecting on the gospel of St. John 1:1-14. We always hear the same gospel every mass as our last gospel. St. John wrote, “And the Word became flesh and made his dwellings among us.” It connects to our present experience of gathering ourselves to celebrate Christmas not in our permanent place of worship but borrowed. I would describe our community as if we are in diaspora or in exile. However, if we really look deeply and understand the gospel, it gives us a profound message of consolation. When we are encountering these words, “made dwelling among us,” in Greek it means “eskenosen”. The root word is “skenos” meaning tent. Other translation is to pitch a tent among us. The word “dwelling” doesn’t mean someone is making a permanent building for us. It suggests something different.
We are searching for our definite way as we continue to journey together, with no clear idea of our future, no clear sense of what we are pursuing. We are inside a tent, our temporary shelter or place of worship, because we are still thinking, planning, praying and searching for our permanent home. Many get entangled in messes according to our own making but our loving God continuous to set up a tent alongside ours and this is the reason to rejoice as we say to one another, Merry Christmas!
This year 2024 has been tied up with so many inconveniences, some are confused as to which way we need to take. There are times that some people cannot accept some detours as we travel, some are overwhelmed by the situation, however my approach is my strong faith in God and His divine guidance, for He never abandon us because He dwells with us. This loving and merciful God expects us to Hope, to be patient and to be resilient people not to lose our vision to be aware of His presence in the Holy Tabernacle.
I am just wondering why we have no Creche or Nativity Statues on display. It doesn’t matter to me because it has a message for us, Mary, Joseph, angels and shepherds are reminders, like us expecting a Savior, but Jesus did not just come to be adored but He came to join us in our journey. Maybe Jesus doesn’t want to be born again in a manger but in the hearts of those who are ready to accept Him.
Brothers and sisters, as we celebrate Christmas, Pope Francis opens the Jubilee Year at the Vatican. The coming year 2025 will be a year of renewal, and we are called “Pilgrims of Hope.” We must reflect on our present situation that in sadness, pain, hurts, there are Joy and healing from God for us. We are called agents and witnesses of the gospel in accompanying others to return to God, the Word made flesh and dwells amongst us that falls like morning dew in our hearts. Let us anticipate this joy blooming in the New Year 2025.
May this Christmas bring us the gift of understanding a little more of God in the Child Jesus, and may we also be able to understand each other better in peace and love. St. Augustine says, “Our Savior Jesus Christ has become our justice, our sanctification, our redemption so that as it is written; let Him who glories, glory in the Lord.” May God have you in the palm of His hand and let us say together: “Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to people of good will.” (Luke 2:14)
Merry Christmas and a grace-filled New Year 2025!
Fr. Arlon, osa
