THE NATIVITY OF THE LORD
The Word Became Flesh at Christmas!
(Christmas Mass during the Day)
Fr. Udoekpo, Ufok Michael
v Isa 52:7-10;
v Ps 98:1-6;
v Heb 1:1-6
v John 1:1-18
“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 us at Christmas. This
King has always pre-existed 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, cribs, 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 as well reflect on the meaning and symbolism of the "crib." 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 well as paying attention to the "little ones," or " little things."
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.!”
Reflection Questions:
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?
