Bible
Study: Isaiah 52, 7 to 10. Hebrews 1, 1 to 6. And John 1, 1 to 18.
Finally,
the day we have been waiting for has come. Yes, today is the day we celebrate
the birthday of Christ. Now we can celebrate and rejoice with a joy that knows
no bounds. For the past four Sundays, we did not sing the Gloria during mass.
Now we sing it joyfully reflecting on the meaning of the words: “Glory to God in
the Highest and on Earth peace to men…” Jesus is born this day and that is why
we are celebrating his birth. But one question I want to ask is: “Where is the
celebrant right now?”
Can we be
celebrating someone’s birthday when the person is not there? Can the ceremony begin
without the celebrant? Impossible. It is either we wait for the celebrant to
arrive or we cancel the birthday party. Isn’t it? Dear friends, until we meet
Jesus, until we allow Jesus to be present in our minds, until we realize that
Jesus is the reason for the season, our celebration is null and void. A lot of
people celebrate Christmas without even giving a single thought to the
celebrant, all they are really concerned about is how to catch fun. Such
celebrations are not Christmas but Funmass.
So, how
and where do we meet Jesus so that we can really celebrate a worthy birthday
for him? This is where our readings at mass this morning come in. In the Gospel
passage, John explains: “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
into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being... He was
in the world, and the world came into being through him; yet the world did not
know him… But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power
to become children of God… And the Word became flesh and lived among us…” John
1:1-14
This Jesus
whose birthday we are celebrating today is the WORD of God. And so, for us to
meet him, we must spend time with our Bibles. Jesus is the word that was with
God in the very beginning of creation. That is why God did not say “Let ME make
so and so…” instead, he said: “Let US make…” Everything that exists came into
being through Christ who is the word of God. Christ from the very beginning was
with God as the Word and when the Virgin Mary said “I am the handmaid of the
Lord, let what you have said be done unto me,” Christ the Word took flesh in
her womb.
Today we
are celebrating that Word of God, which has been born in our midst. The best
Christmas treat we can ever give ourselves is to spend time with the Word,
digest it and allow it to take flesh in our heart and lives. The Bible is not
an ordinary book, the words is contains as John tells us is God himself. No
wonder the book of Hebrews in our second reading today tells us that the Word
of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword. Jesus Christ is
the living word of God sharper than any sword we can ever imagine.
When next
you hold the Bible, don’t play with it, know that you are holding Jesus himself
and as you celebrate today, let the Bible be present in the midst of all the food
and drinks. Man shall not live by bread alone but every word that comes from
the mouth of God. Your Christmas would not be complete if you do not gather
with your family to share the Word of God this very day.
There is
great power in the word of God. No wonder the prophet Isaiah announces in our
first reading: “How beautiful are the feet of him who brings good news, (that
is, good words), proclaiming peace, good tidings and salvation. We are
celebrating today because Christ, the word of God took flesh and dwelt among
us. When we reflect daily on the Bible and pattern our lives according to the
written words it contains, the Bible becomes flesh in our lives and we then
begin to experience Jesus in a personal way.
As John
proclaims, Jesus “was in the world, and the world came into being through him;
yet the world did not know him. He came to what was his own, and his own people
did not accept him. But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he
gave power to become children of God.” Do not be surprised that many people
will never read the Bible, they would even do the opposite of what the Word of
God says in the name of celebrating Christmas. But for us who have heard this
message, let us be the ones to make a difference. Let us be the ones to receive
Him through the Word that we may have power to claim the position of Children
of God.
Let us
Pray: Lord Jesus, may your birth multiply my joy. Amen.
Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith.
It is well with you. God bless you and Merry Christmas
Fr. Abu.
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