25 December 2018 - born this day

Today's Readings (Mass During the Day)

(Audio)

Jesus is the Son of the Father from before all eternity. Before time began the Father never ceased to pour himself out entirely into Jesus.

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

This Son, born in the Father's heart before time, is born for us today in time. 

For to which of the angels did God ever say:
You are my son; this day I have begotten you?

All the prophets were leading up to this morning. The law itself meant to point us toward him.

In times past, God spoke in partial and various ways 
to our ancestors through the prophets; 
in these last days, he has spoken to us through the Son, 
whom he made heir of all things 
and through whom he created the universe,
who is the refulgence of his glory,
the very imprint of his being,

The baby in the manger is the word who became flesh. He comes to be near to us. He comes to win our hearts over with his love. But we must not be lost in mere sentimentality. Jesus in his mother's lap is indeed a beautiful sight. But Jesus, even as an infant, is worthy of worship. He gives himself completely so that we can have grace and truth. We in turn must come and kneel by the manger and offer all that we have and are.

What is happening before us is more than something that simply stirs our emotions, though he surely does that as well. This is the LORD, directly, before our eyes, restoring Zion. He does it by becoming a helpless infant. God's wisdom is making foolish the wisdom of the world. If God can do this can we not, for a little while, let go of our need to be in control? Can't we let allow the love of God to fully express itself and to embrace the world without the need of power to set right everything bothering us? Yes, the surrender of the Son to become an infant calls forth our own surrender as well.

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.

We surrender ourselves to the mercy of the Father and to the arms of Mary. Jesus makes us sons in his own Sonship and shows us the way.

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.