The mystery is revealed, and the Word is among us!

Readings: 1st: Is 52, 7-10; Ps: 97, 1-6; 2nd: Heb 1, 1-6; Gos: John 1, 1-18

This brief reflection was written by Fr. Njoku Canice Chukwuemeka, C.S.Sp. He is a Catholic Priest and a member of the Congregation of the Holy Spirit (Spiritans). He is a missionary in Puerto Rico. He is the Parish Priest of Parroquia la Resurrección del Senor, Canóvanas, and the Major Superior of the Congregation of the Holy Spirit (Spiritans), Circumscription of Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic. He was the chancellor of the Diocese of Fajardo Humacao, Puerto Rico. Fr. Canice is a member of the Academy of Homiletics. For more details and comments contact him at: canice_c_njoku@yahoo.com, canicechukwuemeka@gmail.com

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“Sing a new song to the Lord, for he has worked wonders. The Lord has made known his salvation. Acclaim the King the Lord.” Today is Christmas Day, the day we have long awaited and prepared for. Christmas is a milestone in our salvation history, so it is beautiful to know that “God is with us” to save us.  Today, God proved the depth of his love for us by allowing his son to be born of a virgin. The Word prophesied long ago has finally taken flesh. The central message of today’s celebration is the incarnation and revelation of Jesus Christ.

Our first reading from Isaiah finds its sphere of accomplishment in the birth of Jesus Christ, His life, and ministry. Therefore, it is suitable biblical reading for a day like this. Isaiah proclaims: “How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of the one who brings Good News.” Indeed, the Good News himself is here with and among us. The onus now lies on us to become “partners in progress” by spreading the good news

It is the Good News of love, peace, charity, hope, happiness, and above all, it is the Good News of salvation. The call of the prophet today is a call to celebrate Emmanuel, God with us.  It is a call to adore and worship the newborn king and prince of peace. It is a call to be joyful and take the message about the Messiah’s birth to all and sundry.

In our second reading, the letter to the Hebrews captures and presents what God did for us today most convincingly and spectacularly. The letter to the Hebrews reminds us that God has fulfilled the promise he made by revealing the hidden mystery of salvation. Now we are the favored ones. Revelation has reached its apogee today, and the hidden mystery of the old covenant has finally been revealed in Jesus Christ.

The gospel of John gives us the synopsis of what happened today, the divine incarnation of God: “The Word was made flesh, He lived among us, and we saw His glory.” The Word which was with the Father as Spirit is now with us as flesh. While not losing His sacred or spiritual nature, he has condescended to become like us. He did this by taking flesh in a poor, humble, willing, and lovely virgin. It takes love to do this. Therefore, what we celebrate today is love because: “God so loved the world that he sent his only begotten son (Jn 3, 16).

We must be ready to share this love. God sent Christ out of love, Christ accepted to come out of love, the messengers and prophets announced his coming out of love, and of course, out of love, Mary and Joseph cooperated with God to bring Him forth. So, we must not snap the silver chain of love instead. Instead, let us extend it to others. Therefore, this is a season we must be ready to offer ourselves to others. This season, as Christ has reached out to us, we too must reach out to others. 

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Finally, today we celebrate hope because Christ’s birth is a great hope raiser for all who would sincerely believe in him. Today is a day of joy. Therefore, let us “Sing psalms to the Lord with harp, with the sound of music… acclaim the Lord” who is with us. Merry Christmas!

Peace be with you all!

Maranatha!