WORD MADE FLESH - CHRISTMAS DAY (12/25/2022)

CHRISTMAS DAY
December 25, 2022

Isaiah 52:7-10
Psalm 98
Hebrews 1:1-6
John 1:1-18


WORD MADE FLESH

The video series "The Chosen" is an interesting perspective on the gospel - an effective blend of Scripture and dramatic fiction. One scene that I found especially moving shows St. John writing the beginning of his gospel, which is what we hear at Mass today: "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." John, whose symbol is the eagle, wanted to soar into the very height of the Godhead, the inner life of the Trinity, to start his account of the life and ministry of Jesus - the Word made flesh.

ISAIAH

We have heard from Isaiah frequently during Advent, and today on Christmas we read him again. Here he tells how the watchmen of Jerusalem will see God return to the city to save her. This is fulfilled in the coming of the God-made-man to the earth, which we celebrate today. The coming of Jesus, the Word made flesh, brings salvation and joy to the people.

Jerusalem's redemption would be, according to Isaiah, a new era when the Lord himself would reign as king, not only over Israel, but to the ends of the earth - gloriously fulfilled in the birth of Christ. In the Responsorial, Psalm 98, we offer high praise to God for bringing salvation to the whole earth.

GOSPEL

The first 18 verses of St. John's gospel make up what is commonly called the Prologue. It is an exquisite hymn to the divine Word - eternally coexisting with God, taking on human flesh, and being sent to reveal the Father to us.

This gospel passage is among the most beautiful, poetic, inspiring, and theologically packed in all of Scripture! It is well worth much prayerful reflection on our part, especially in the Christmas Season. Consider just a few verses:

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God."

"...the light shines in the darkness and the darkness has not overcome it."

"But to those who did accept him, he gave power to become children of God..."

"And the Word was made flesh and made his dwelling among us."

"No one has ever seen God. The Son of God, who is at the Father's side, has revealed him."

HEBREWS

Our second reading, from the first chapter of the Letter to the Hebrews, contrasts the revelation God made to our ancestors through the prophets with the revelation through his Son Jesus "in these last days."

It offers a kind of parallel to John's gospel. Just as John says "all things came to be through him (the Word)," Hebrews says, "through whom - (the Son) - God created the universe." The reading goes on to call Jesus "the refulgence of his glory, the very imprint of his being..."

The passage speaks about the atoning death of Jesus and his exaltation through the resurrection and ascension to the Father. As powerful as the angels are, Jesus, the Son of God, is "far superior to all of them, and deserving of their worship."

CELEBRATING THE MYSTERY

Today on Christmas, we are brought face to face with the mystery of God's incomprehensible love. "For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son so that everyone who believes in him would not perish but would have eternal life" (John 3:16)

Today we celebrate that this love of God is not an abstract love, but one that takes on flesh - "The Word was made flesh."

Today, let us praise God with the multitude of the heavenly host saying, "Glory to God in the highest." Let us glorify and praise God with the shepherds. Let us bow down and worship with the Magi, as we offer our gifts to the Lord. And let us give thanks to the Lord for his incredible love and mercy to us!