Homily
for Christmas Day, December 25, 2017.
“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 were made through him, and without him
was not anything made that was made.” John 1:1-3.
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 Fun-mass.
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
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.
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. 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.
Merry
Christmas. Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you. God bless
you. (Christmas Mass during the Day. Bible Study: Isaiah 52:7-10, Hebrews 1:1-6
and John 1:1-18).
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