MONDAY DECEMBER 25, 2023
CHRISTMAS DAY (MASS DURING THE DAY)
Isaiah 52:7-10
Hebrews 1:1-6
John I: 1-18
HAVE YOU FOUND THE MESSIAH?
No one would have expected that the saviour of the World will come from Nazareth. No one would have known that God will be given birth to in human flesh in a manger. No one would have supposed that Jesus will be found in the midst of animals leaving and abandoning his splendour of heaven. Even the Shepherds sought him and only discovered him in a manger and they were marveled.
The most intriguing part of this story and mystery is that angels came singing his praises saying “Glory to God in the highest.” Why? Because God came down from heaven to dwell with men.
John’s gospel of today talks about the incarnation, Jesus taking flesh. He describes it as a great mystery of faith. “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us.” Recall that John had described the Word in different ways before this time. It is the same Word, that was in the beginning with God. “and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God; all things were made through him, and without him was not anything made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”
This same Word described by John as life, light and overcoming darkness became flesh and dwelt among us. So that light has come to be with us and man is offered life in abundance. And darkness has been overcome by the splendour of the Word that is light.
John the baptist even gave greater testimony to the reality and nature of this Word. John the baptist speaks of Christ as the one from whose nature we gain grace and blessings. John says, “And from his fullness have we all received, grace upon grace.” So the Word is not just made flesh for its sake but for the benefits of us all. His taking flesh is to transmit life, grace and light to us human beings. He came for you and me.
Isaiah the prophet, in the first reading calls us to rejoice, to make merry, to be happy, why? Because our God reigns. He tells us, “Listen, your watchmen lift up their voice, together they sing for joy;” For indeed, “all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God.”
The letter to the Hebrews, our second reading continue this note of rejoicing and describes the Messiah as one that has been expected. The messiah in Jesus is the fulfilment of the old prophecies and the desired of God to redeem the world. Because, “He reflects the glory of God and bears the very stamp of his nature, upholding the universe by his word of power.”
Our earnest longing in this celebration is to reflect on how we have accepted, welcomed and kept our Lord and Saviour. We begin with the basic question, have you found the messiah? Have you discovered him in his lowliness, simplicity and humility.
Do you recognize that he came for you specifically and wants your whole attention? And Are you ready to welcome him, who is life, who brings light and gives grace and do you want to be made into his Sons and daughter?
Our celebration of Christmas can only be relevant when we affirm our resolve to renew our faith in him, to seek his face and to make him welcome by living the life of grace and witnessing to him with our lives.
,
Lord, by your coming as man, save your people and renew our lives. May our faith and our resolve to follow you be firm. May the joy, salvation, peace that your coming brings abide with us and lead us to better life, filled with your graces and blessings through Christ our Lord. Merry Christmas.
Fr Norbert Uchuno
