Not every day is Christmas, but every day is perfect for thanking the Lord for his presence among us. Why?
In the first reading, from the book of Isaiah (Is 9:1-6), a promise of liberation and hope is described for a people living in darkness. In the past, there are many sins of an unfaithful people: wars and oppression, disloyalty and the search for “gods” who have neither eyes nor hearts. Leaving behind the dark side of history, Isaiah’s prophecy promises a hopeful future. Although it does not specify when this will happen, the New Testament identifies it with the birth of Jesus of Nazareth. That same prophecy also refers to one of the greatest and most mysterious truths in the Bible: the incarnation, “For a child is born to us, a son is given us; upon his shoulder dominion rests”. God would become part of the human race. A newborn child would be called “Mighty God, Everlasting Father”. The text shows both the humanity and divinity of Jesus, who came to save the world, to reconcile humanity with the heavenly Father, and to establish an eternal kingdom of justice and peace.
In the second reading, from St Paul’s letter to Titus (2:11-14), we read with gratitude that God’s grace has been revealed for the salvation of all humanity and not just for the people of Israel. In this text, Paul speaks briefly about the manifestation of God’s grace, but in reality he covers all aspects of it: The manifestation of grace covers the entire life and ministry of Jesus Christ, from the birth of Jesus, through the cross and to the resurrection; from Bethlehem to the Mount of Olives; from the heavens opening when the shepherds heard the voices of the angels singing, to the heavens opening when the disciples looked up and saw him disappear into the clouds of heaven.
In today’s Gospel reading from Luke (2:1-14), the coming of Almighty God contrasts with the birth of a vulnerable newborn. The baby born in Bethlehem in human flesh is the same one who comes as the Divine Word that gives life in abundance. This is the greatest miracle that God has performed: a weak, dependent, poor, simple and needy child embodies all the greatness of God the Father.
If we listen carefully to this passage from the Gospel, we see that not everything revolves around Jesus. We are told that he was wrapped in swaddling clothes and laid in a manger. We are told where he was born and who his parents are. We are also told that the shepherds came to worship him and that a choir of angels in heaven praised God. Jesus is silent, he does not move, and yet everyone around him moves and speaks. He is at the centre; everything comes from him and goes to him. A tiny, silent newborn, but capable of giving meaning to everything that happens around him, drawing everyone to him, to his simplicity, humility and poverty.
It is Christmas not because everything is shiny, it is Christmas because Jesus wants to and can be at the centre of our lives. We can no longer ignore our God who eagerly seeks our friendship, our response of love. In Christ, God the Father wants to be recognised today in the weak, the needy and the marginalised. Thanks to his birth, humans can be more like brothers and sisters and can also share his divine nature, because God himself shares in our human nature.
Each of us knows well what that means in our reality here and now. Let us open our hearts to him and entrust to him all our joys and sorrows, hopes and fears, desires and frustrations. Everything, for he has taken everything upon himself to heal it, reconcile it and make it bear fruit in abundance.
I sincerely believe that every one of us carries within us a seed of divinity that makes us worthy of being children of God and capable of loving according to His divine plan. Therefore, as proclaimed in today’s psalm (Ps 95 (96)): “Sing to the Lord a new song; sing to the Lord, all the earth. Sing to the Lord; bless his name”.
By: Salvador Muñoz-Ledo, M.Afr.