Meeting Christ on His Birthday.

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).

No comments:

Post a Comment