25/12/2010 - CHRISTMAS
Night Is 9,1-3.5-6 Ps 95/96 Tit 2,11-14 Lk 2,1-14
Morn. Is 62,11-12 Ps 96/97 Tit 3,4-7 Lk 2,15-20
Day Is 52,7-10 Ps 97/98 Heb 1,1-6 Jn 1,1-18
We prayed and sang for four weeks, "Come, Lord Jesus", and now we see
the fulfillment of our prayer. We called on him, and today he answers us saying:
"Here I am. " Here he is, but he's only a baby. We thought someone great,
powerful, was about to come, and yet, he is only a child: are we deceived? I believe
that two thousand years ago was difficult, as it would be today, to speak of joy
to an entire nation and throughout the world, simply because a child is born. How
many babies are born! It seems that children are all the same, but what difference
then as they grow! The child announced by Isaiah, was born and today is no different
from others, but of a different origin and a new mission. First of all, he said
that "it is born for us. "He does not come from itself, will not seek
to prevail, to build a name, to enrich himself, to close himself upon himself as
to avoid responsibility: he is a child "for us, " to be attentive to our
needs, our suffering. The names that are given to him show what will be his duty
and his responsibility: "wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father,
Prince of Peace. " All these titles tell us that we can turn to him in our
weakness, when we need protection, counsel, and even affection and security. That
child is just the one we need in all of our poverty. He shall become our psychologist,
our lawyer, our guide, the interior support. Joy must be really great for the birth
of a man who has no selfish desires, who does not live for himself.
His life is given entirely in a particular environment, the love of a couple who
are already living one aspect of that selfless love. Joseph and Mary make all their
steps in view of the child and for him, or rather to the God who gives them the
child. Even the angels and the shepherds move toward them. Now, only the poor can
see the Angels, and the shepherds are the poor who are considered only by the angels.
The angels sing and the poor run. A child is only appreciated by the poor. The rich
... since a child is not a source of income, barely tolerate him. The prophecy of
Isaiah is enjoyed then, especially by the poor. It is they who suffer and who want
justice and peace, they who get to enjoy the peace and justice can only turn to
God.
Who is this child? After having him for a few years and have been drunk from his
spirit, the apostle John in his gospel tells us that he is the light.
All the world walks in darkness: continue to take the wrong way, stumble, see others
men as enemies. The light that now shines reveals the face of others, of all men
as brothers, in fact, as children of God who shines on them. He is the light, because
he is life, new life, different, divine life. We welcome this light and it becomes
in us as life of children of God. Accompanied by the child that is born for us,
we are sure that we are no longer alone and that we have no reason to be afraid.
Christmas is a feast of light, because there is no darkness in human life as one
walks with Jesus, let himself be guided by him and see the faces of those who shine
his splendor. You come across someone who is still sad, disoriented, or unable to
love others? Tell him there is also a light for him, that Jesus was born, and that
Jesus has changed your life and made it valuable. Do what did the angels at Bethlehem:
proclaim joy to the world! Do what the shepherds did: witness your joy, let it grow
around you. Do what Mary did: take in your arms the Child Jesus and witness that
you know to love, by being a child with him. Rejoice and be glad, because from that
Child flow the fullness of grace, the fullness of God's wonderful love!