25/12/2006 - CHRISTMAS
First Reading Isaiah 52:7-10 Psalm 97
Second Reading Hebrews 1:1-6 Gospel John 1:1-18
Mass during the Day
Today's Readings, especially the Gospel, help us to get past the climate of
sentimentalism, which, instinctively, already touch us every year, during the
Christmas season. This feast, which gives every Christian joy, celebrates a
most serious occurrence. The Baby, on whom we focus our attention, is the incarnation
of the Word of God.
What is the Word of God? The Word is what allows us to transmit, to others,
what is in our mind and heart. What can God transmit, if not His love? To whom
can He transmit it, if not to us? To us, who are distant from from Him! And
how can God make Himself understood by us; to communicate to us, sinners and
far from Him, all His love and wisdom? The answer is here, today: God does not
answer only so that we can understand, but so that we can taste all His goodness.
The new-born Baby is the answer, from God, to our question; He is the answer
to our search for the meaning of life; the answer to our desire for communion,
for sanity, for joy and for peace, at all levels of life. God speaks through
this Child, His lasting and definitive Word. His Word can be understood by all,
as long as they don't give up their smallness and simplicity.
The Baby in the arms of His Mother, amazed as we are, is "the justice and
truth" of God! Stopping before the Baby Jesus, we realize that we come
in contact with "the grace" of God; that is, with the love that He
wants to show and to communicate to all men. And, by looking at Him, without
words, we find ourselves contemplating "the truth", the beauty and
the depth of the face of God. Truth and grace are two words that mean the same
reality, the same gifts from the Father, who tells of His love and communicates
it to us.
Even with the help of the many nativity scenes, decorated by young and old,
our attention, these days, draws us to consider the way in which Mary and Joseph
welcomed the Son, and the way in which the shepherds rushed, in the night, to
bring Him gifts. We, too, thought about bringing gifts to those we wish to honour,
so as to give them a sign of God's grace and of the closeness of that Child!
Perhaps, we haven't thought about the gift that would make the Baby, Himself,
happy. He, certainly, isn't interested in sweets or complicated toys! He continues
to welcome the only true gift that commits our life. This gift, instead of drawing
His attention, it draws ours: it is the gift of listening. He is the Word! The
Second Reading reminds us that He is the Word of God, that Word that brings
the great and awesome God to our world, so He can change it, transform it and
make it a place of peace and harmony, a place of fraternity, and a welcoming
home for all! By looking at the shepherds on the nativity scene, we rush to
bring the gift of our ears. Let us listen to the Word which the Baby begins
to resonate in our heart: "let yourself be loved, love, forgive, understand,
hold on to me tightly and follow the examples of my Mother's hands"!
When we listen to the still, silent voice of the Baby, it will not be long before
the joy in our heart begins to show, that joy of which Isaiah speaks, and which
the Psalm invites us to express in song. "Shout out together in songs of
joy, you ruins of Jerusalem, because the Lord has consoled His people"!
Shout to the Lord, all the ends of the earth; ring out your songs of joy".
These songs are another form of gifts, which we bring to the Baby or, perhaps,
they are an occasion for Him to extend a gift to us so that, through them, our
heart may be open to the tenderness, the love and the attention to the needs
of our brothers.
The Son of God, who is made flesh, is a truly a great and serious mystery, because
He begins the transformation of man to God, the God who is love and who lives,
loving Him!
Let us welcome Him, with all sincerity, so that, through Him, our peace and
joy may be complete!