The Lord Has Come!

 

“ God Himself became a man. He was born as a real person into this world in the form of a man that we call JESUS. "

First Reading: Isa. 52:7-10

How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings glad tidings, Announcing peace, bearing good news, announcing salvation, and saying to Zion, "Your God is King!" Hark! Your watchmen raise a cry, together they shout for joy, For they see directly, before their eyes, the LORD restoring Zion. Break out together in song, O ruins of Jerusalem! For the LORD comforts his people, he redeems Jerusalem. The LORD has bared his holy arm in the sight of all the nations; All the ends of the earth will behold the salvation of our God.

Resp. Psalm: Psalms 98:1, 2-3, 3-4, 5-6

Second Reading: Heb. 1:1-6

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. When he had accomplished purification from sins, he took his seat at the right hand of the Majesty on high, as far superior to the angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs. For to which of the angels did God ever say: "You are my son; this day I have begotten you"? Or again: "I will be a father to him, and he shall be a son to me"? And again, when he leads the first-born into the world, he says: "Let all the angels of God worship him."

Gospel: John 1:1-5, 9-14

 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came to be through him, and without him nothing came to be. What came to be through him was life, and this life was the light of the human race; the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. A man named John was sent from God. He came for testimony,  to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. He was not the light, but came to testify to the light. The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world came to be through him, but the world did not know him. He came to what was his own, but his own people did not accept him.

But to those who did accept him he gave power to become children of God, to those who believe in his name, who were born not by natural generation nor by human choice nor by a man's decision but of God. And the Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us, and we saw his glory, the glory as of the Father's only Son, full of grace and truth. John testified to him and cried out, saying, "This was he of whom I said, 'The one who is coming after me ranks ahead of me because he existed before me.'" From his fullness we have all received, grace in place of grace, because while the law was given through Moses, grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God. The only Son, God, who is at the Father's side, has revealed him.

Reflection:

By Pietro S. Albano

When the TV and the surroundings (that includes our house) sounded or looked like Christmas, Chiara would often say “Santa Claus!”  “Would you like to see Santa, then?” I asked her. “Yes, Daddy!” she replied.  And so, one weekend the three of us drove to the city centre to visit the man in red trousers in his grotto.  There were lots of people in the shops and a number of them falling in line to buy a ticket to see Santa.  We were told that we have to wait for another hour or so as there were already loads of people going to the grotto – a small ‘castle’ surrounded with Christmas décor, gifts, and teddy bears having reindeer horns.  We went to do some shopping and then hurriedly went back to the grotto.  Chiara was so excited to see this Christmas icon (or at least someone who acts as such) that she almost entered the grotto when someone was still inside. So we told her to be patient. She did comply. Finally, her long wait was over. She sat with this bearded fellow who told her how a good girl she was, gave her a small present, and wished her a “Merry Christmas”. My daughter was so delighted.

And yet, we keep on telling our young daughter that there is someone greater than Santa who has arrived in our midst, whose Birth we celebrate at Christmas. More than a little baby, the Gospel gives us a glimpse of who this child is:  “all things came to be, not one thing had its being but through him.” On another line from the same Gospel, He is described as “the light of men” and “The Word [that] was made Flesh”.   Sadly, this same child was to be rejected by His own people.

There is a yearning in us, young and old alike, that cannot be satisfied with a mere visit to Santa’s grotto or by Santa Claus himself this Christmas.  We may go to various places and watch all sorts of events or eat and drink a lot, but we still feel empty.  We may buy anything that we could afford, but there seems something missing in our lives.  Though Santa may have given us the gifts we want, he is unable to provide us what we really need. 

Believe it or not, our yearning, according to St Augustine, can only be satisfied by God.  During Advent, that yearning is summed up in the words: “Come, Lord Jesus, come!” At Christmas, our faithful God responds to us through that new-born baby in a manger.

If there is a place we ought to visit this season, it is another grotto.  Not as spectacular like that of Santa’s, but a humble grotto where Jesus is born. That grotto is not necessarily the manger scene in church.  It could be the home of a poor or dejected family.  It could be the hospital, prison, charitable institution, or funeral parlour. It could be the devastated areas in Cagayan de Oro and Iligan.  Go there with the humility of Mary, the obedience of Joseph, the joy of John the Baptist, the poverty of the shepherds, the innocence of the angels, and the confidence and eagerness of a child, the Christ Child!

A Blessed Christmas to all!

Prayer

Dear Jesus, with humble hearts we kneel before Your crib to welcome You in our midst. You are the true light of this season, guide our feet into the way of peace. You are the real warmth of our celebration; drive away the coldness of our hearts. You are the Word through whom all things were created; consecrate us to live in humble service to You. You are the Word-made-Flesh; transform us into active witnesses of Your saving presence in the world. You are the Father’s great expression of His love; make us love one another as You have commanded us.  Amen.

Happy birthday, Lord Jesus! We love You!  Thank You!