25 December 2016 - light of the world

[ Today's Readings ]

And the Word became flesh
and made his dwelling among us,
and we saw his glory,
the glory as of the Father’s only Son,
full of grace and truth.

We celebrate a hidden birth in a small town in an obscure point from history. But this hidden birth has unimaginable cosmic significance. The little baby Jesus is born, but this same Jesus is the Word who was with God from the beginning. Mary cradles him in her arms and yet he himself is the Word through whom the Father created the universe. This beautiful baby is somehow also the refulgence of the glory of the Father, the very imprint of his being. This child who is nourished at the breast of Mary is somehow the word that sustains the entire universe.

Because Jesus comes we can now see directly, before our eyes, the LORD restoring Zion. The LORD, now flesh and blood, can be seen with our human eyes. The inner light of the universe, the intelligibility in things that enables generation after generation to seek the good the true and the beautiful, is now manifest as a particular child at a particular place and time. 

Let us look to the infant and see the cosmic LORD! Let us realize that the whole abstract cosmic order is abstract no longer. Let us see that the infant is that very light made flesh. God comes down from heaven to meet us. He does not become anything less by doing so, but rather takes on what he was not before. He is now one who comes to us and makes his dwelling among us. Yet he is no less cosmic in power and significance. He steps down to us in order to list us up to himself.

But to those who did accept him
he gave power to become children of God, 
to those who believe in his name, 
who were born not by natural generation 
nor by human choice nor by a man’s decision 
but of God.

Jesus becomes flesh in order to come as close to mankind as he possibly can. This act is an act of the most profound love. This Christmas let us celebrate and give thanks for that love. Let us enter into it ever more deeply.

All the ends of the earth have seen
the salvation by our God.
Sing joyfully to the LORD, all you lands;
break into song; sing praise.