Readings: Is. 52:7-10, Heb. 1:1-6, and Jn 1:1-18.
“The Child Born to Us Wants us to do the Will of God.”
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
1. Today we are celebrating the Birthday of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. This is the birthday of all birthdays because we are celebrating the reality of the Son of God, becoming Man. Jesus Christ who is of the same substance and nature with the Father and the Holy Spirit, took human form. We call this, the Incarnation – God taking human form. This is a mystery for which we cannot express enough gratitude to God for because it is a superabundant sufficient supply from God to humanity. It has no equal.
2. In the book of Genesis, our first parents sinned; they disobeyed and because of it, there was a total break or separation between heaven and earth, no human being was qualified or justified to ever see God again. God Himself gradually worked it (the initiative is always from Him) out to reconcile with human beings and this took a very long time in history:
- He revealed Himself and His will to his people in visions/dreams.
- He made covenants with his people beginning with Abram, renewed it with Isaac, and Jacob and above all with the entire nation of Israel at Sinai.
- He rescued His people from hunger thanks to Joseph, whom his brothers sold into slavery.
- Through the Exodus, He liberated his people from the Slavery in Egypt, provided for them and protected them in their journey to the Promised Land.
- He appointed worthy leaders like Moses and Joshua to lead and bring his people to the Promised Land respectively.
- He later appointed Judges to rescue His people when the need arose from their waywardness and from their oppressors with Samuel as the most influential of them. He introduced the Monarchy in Israel which became necessary and natural at the time.
- Then, He appointed Kings – Saul, David, Solomon etc. David was the ideal King, and He assured the people that the reign of David would never end.
- He brought forth prophets both Major and Minor in leading and guiding the people to do His will.
- The last of the prophet was John the Baptist, who introduced the New Testament in the manner at which Samuel introduced the Monarchy in Israel. John was the forerunner of Jesus Christ. He leapt for joy in the womb when Mary visited his mother, Elizabeth. He recognized Jesus when at last he came. Jesus Christ is born for us – the unique Savior of the World. His birth is seen as the fulfilment of the promise of the reign of David which will never end.
3. Jesus is born for us. He is Immanuel, God-with-us. The beginning of the letter to the Hebrews reads: “In times past, God spoke in partial and various ways to our ancestors through the prophets; in these last days, he spoke to us through a son, whom he made heir of all things and through whom he created the universe, who is the refulgence of his glory the very imprint of his being, and who sustains all things by his mighty word.” Heb. 1: 1-3). He lived with us, taught us, and eventually gave up his life for our salvation. He offered himself as the unblemished sacrifice for our redemption. The question thus arose – which is the greatest solemnity in the Church? Is it Christmas or Easter? It sounds so simple but Theologians at one moment in history spent a lot of time and energy to figure this out. Those who claimed that it was Christmas were not before long realized that his birth would not have been important if he never died for our salvation. Those who stood for Easter equally realized that he would not have died for our salvation if he was not given birth to. Each is important and gives meaning to the other. Since we cannot find meaning in one without the other, then the conclusion is that the two greatest solemnities of the Church are Christmas and Easter. The two are of equal standing and rating, they are equal in magnitude because each gives meaning and reason for the other. One would not be of significance without the other.
4. We are celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ our Savior and redeemer. He came and he died that we might live. We must be aware of his teachings and try to cooperate with God’s grace, wrought for us on the Cross of Salvation at Calvary. We must live aware of our salvation, of our liberation. In so doing, we cooperate with God’s grace using all the means He left for us for our Salvation. We should not live in fear but in gratitude, gaining wisdom in living – building a good relationship with God and with Mankind. We must live on earth happily, enjoying all the good things that life offers according to the will of God. Mary’s example of accepting to be the mother of God and singing the Lord’s praises teaches us, amongst many other things, that Christmas is also a time for recommitment to God’s will. It is a time to get engaged once more with Jesus, the Savior of the world; to seek out God’s will, the path to our own salvation.
On this day, therefore, let us renounce the pride of ego, and the stubbornness of the heart that always leads us to imagine all about our lives and those around us, begins and ends with what we want, how we want it, when we want, it and as long as we want it. No! Today, let us willingly surrender to God in the big and small events of/in our daily lives. Let us make ours this day the prayer of Pope St. Clement XI, “Lord, my will is that your will be done, in the manner you will, and as long as you will, because it is your will.” This explains why we need to know God’s will for us at each moment. Gain wisdom in living – build good relationships with God and with your brothers and sisters. May Christ coming enlighten all of us and help us to live worthier lives, looking forward to ever returning to him with good deeds prompted by his grace.
To God be the glory and honor forever and ever. Amen.
Fr Anthony D. Lawir SD,
Pastor, St. Agnes and Our Lady of the Snows Parish, Pittsfield and Dexter.