BEHOLD A GREAT LIGHT SHATTERS THE DARKNESS!
“The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light. Upon those who lived in a land of gloom a light has shone. You have brought them abundant joy and great rejoicing.” Isaiah 9:1-2
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came to be through him, and without him nothing came to be. John 1:1
In time the Word became flesh and dwelt among us…The angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town of Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the house of David, and the virgin’s name was Mary. And coming to her, he said, “Hail, favored one! The Lord is with you… Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son… He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High
THE GREATEST EXCHANGE OF GIFTS
At Bethlehem, humanity sees not only God-Made flesh but also receives an invitation to become God-like. God offers to make men and women by grace what Jesus Christ is by nature, namely, a beloved child of our heavenly Father. In Jesus, God took on human attributes, in Jesus humans can now take on the divine qualities of mercy, love, insight, and immortality.
In exchange for the humanity He takes, the Incarnate Word gives us a share in his divinity. God is born in time so we can be reborn in eternity. The Son of God becomes the Son of Man so men and women can become children of the one same Father in heaven.
CHRIST THE KING IS BORN; COME LET US ADORE HIM
Now there were shepherds in that region living in the fields and keeping the night watch over their flock.
The angel of the Lord appeared to them and the glory of the Lord shone around them…The angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.
For today in the city of David a savior has been born for you who is Messiah and Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find an infant wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger.”
“GLORY TO GOD IN THE HIGHEST AND ON EARTH PEACE TO THOSE ON WHOM HIS FAVOR RESTS.”
REFLECTION
God became man. What caused this transcendent almighty God to humble himself to take on humanity? Because He had something more He wanted to share. He had already created us out of nothing. Who does that, we don’t. Everything we make is from something else. God humbles himself that He might share His divine life with us, the life of grace here on earth and face to face in heaven.
Why do we gift others at Christmas; for the most part it isn’t their birthday. We gift others not because of shopping malls or internet deals but because we imitate God who has gifted us with the greatest gift of all, His only begotten Son and our Redeemer, out gateway into heaven.
One of my favorite images of the Birth of Christ is the star that lights and exclaims a new born king of heaven and earth is born today. ‘I am the Light of the World. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but have the light of life. John 8:12
This light has shattered darkness of sin and death. Jesus declares He is exclusive source of all spiritual truth. We can either walk in the light or in darkness. We choose! There is more. It is not just about us. We must be light (witnesses) for other people. People do not light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Matthew 5:15
The night the Christ Child was born, shepherds came and saw, then worshiped and spread the Good News. Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, just as it had been told to them. Luke 2:20…do I spread the Good News…Mary pondered all these mysteries in her heart…do I ponder the birth of Jesus in my heart… And Mary kept all these things, reflecting on them in her heart. Luke 2:19
FROM TOM AND JEANETTE BLOCK
STILL ROMAN CATHOLIC AFTER ALL THESE YEARS. COM