Homily Nativity of the Lord
(Christmas Mass during the Day Year ABC: Fr. Michael Ufok Udoekpo
·
Isa 52:7-10; · Ps 98:1-6;
· Heb 1:1-6
· John 1:1-18
The Word Became flesh at
Christmas!
“A child is born for
us, and a son is given to us; upon his shoulder dominion rests. They name
him Wonder-Counselor, God Hero, Father –forever, Prince of Peace… and his name
will be called Messenger of great counsel” ( cf Isa 9:5-6).
This is the entrance
antiphon of today’s Mass, the words of prophet Isaiah. This prophecy fulfills
and explains the reasons why we are so joyfully and decoratively gathered
today. We gather to celebrate Christmas, the Birth of Christ our Lord and
Savior. Son of God and Son of Mary. The creative Logos/Word who became flesh
and dwelt among us, the Light of the world, Grace/Gratis, God’s gift of
himself to the world, the Divine Wisdom and God’s loving incarnate ( John
1:1-18).
In the 2nd
reading, the Letter to the Hebrews (1:1-6) God became Christ, human and divine
because he loves us always. In time past, from the beginning God spoke to
us, he manifested himself to us through the burning bush, through various
prophets down to John the Baptist. He also communicated with us through his
messengers, angels. Remember angel Gabriel who said to Mary Hail Mary, full of
Grace the Lord is with you, blessed are you among women and blessed is the
fruit of your womb Jesus (Luke 1). Remember the same Gabriel said to the
worried Joseph, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary your wife
home …for it is through the Holy Spirit that this child has been conceived in
her(Matt 1:18-24). Same Angel spoke to the shepherds about the birth of Christ
in Luke 2:1-14. Of course Angels also played a role in the birth of Samuel and
Samson and directed Tobias in the book of Tobit.
But today, these days God speaks
and communicates with us through someone who is superior to all of Israel
prophets. He is superior to John the Baptist. God speaks to us through someone
who is superior to the angels. In fact, the angels worship him. That
person is God’s Son, Jesus Christ born for us at Christmas. He is God’s
incarnate- during Christmas.
Christmas brings us, God’s incarnate,
Christ, the source of life. Christmas brings us Jesus, a friend of the poor and
of the rich. Christmas brings us God’s incarnate, Christ, lover of saints and
sinners, a Messenger of hope, a Prince of Peace and a Prophet of
reconciliation. Christmas brings us joy.
This is the joy that I have
always experienced here in our parish community. This is the joy that we are
invited to share in our homes, schools and places of work. The joy that mixes
with God’s love, and team spirit among various groups here in our parish, barracks,
diocese among the knights, the Columbietes, the staff, men, women and children
and in various pious societies.
I love our new church bell. It
swings and rings hourly or half-hourly. It adds to this joy, and often reminds
me of the response of the angels to the Birth of Christ. The angels broke
into a great song, “Glory to God in the Highest… peace to people of good will”,
which we began this Mass with. This song is hidden, in that poetic first
reading (Isaiah 52:7-10), a song of the redeemed:
“How beautiful upon the mountains
are the feet of him who brings glad tidings, announcing peace (not war, not
selfishness, not hatred, not greediness, revenge and division, but) bearing,
good news, announcing salvation, and saying to Zion “Your God is King.”
This King is Christ, born for at
Christmas. This King has always preexisted with God his father, "in the
beginning was the Word and the Word was with God...."(John 1:1-18). As a
pre-existence Son of God Christ is the source of all things: our lives, our
families, our energies to do our jobs, to participate in politics and manage
our economy, go to schools, keep our homes and raise our kids.
Christmas invites us to celebrate
the involvement of God in human flesh and in the human history: “the Word
became flesh and dwelt among us” (John 1:14). In his compassionate
ministry among humans, water would be changed into wine, women will be spoken
to, and children would be invited with care. The poor would be loved, the
hungry would be fed. Sinners would be forgiven. Zacchaeus would be visited.
Lazarus would be raised from the death. Christ born today would come to wash
the feet of his disciples. He will lecture Pilate on the meaning of
truth and Mary Magdalene on the importance of detachment.
How we receive Christ, the
Light of the world at Christmas and our how we welcome him in our hearts, in
our homes, and families and nation is important. It is true that we have
decorated our offices, churches, streets and homes, purchased and exchanged
gifts. Christmas carols and songs are booming in our homes and cars.
But sometimes you noticed that
our gifts are only being circulated among ourselves and colleagues. Today adds
to a couple of Christmases after the Election of Pope Francis and the Death of
Nelson Mandela of South Africa and Mother Teresa. Pope Francis and Mother Teresa
like Christ, we know have invested a lot of their time and energy and preaching
on the need to reach out to the poor and the needy. And Mandela and many saints
known to us attracted so many to their funerals and canonization because of what
they stood for, including, love, reconciliation, unity and oneness.
As we celebrate Christmas this
year, we might as God’s beloved sons and daughters, brothers and sisters, want
to joyfully take extra steps and reach out to the poor with acts of charity and
to our neighbors with love, oneness, unity and reconciliation.
“Joy to the world,
the Lord is come, let earth receive the King; Let every heart prepare him room,
and heaven and nature sing, and heaven and nature sing, and heaven, and heaven
and nature sing.!”
1.
Is there any way we can be more like Christ, this Christmas in
our relationship with one another?
2.
What does Christmas means for you spiritually, pastorally and
materially?
3.
What are the noticeable signs of God’s presence in our homes,
families, schools and work places?
