31 December 2013 - accept no substitutes
What came to be through him was life,
and this life was the light of the human race;
the light shines in the darkness,
and the darkness has not overcome it.
In these days when the light of the sun is seldom seen we realize how important to us light is even on a natural level. When our lives are shrouded in darkness as though we walk through the shadow of the valley of death where do we turn to seek light? Do we turn to the glitz and glamour of the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life? Do we turn primarily to vacuous entertainments? When we feel the weight of darkness, actual, emotional, or spiritual, pressing in on our souls, do we know where the only light which cannot be overcome by darkness can be found?
The life of Jesus is the only source of that light. In order to stand in the light of which he is the only source we must accept him. We must know. We must believe in his name. If we do then he gives us the power to become the children of God. He gives us the power to continue to live as God's children.
He is the eternal word but becomes flesh so that we can see his "glory as of the Father's only-begotten Son, full of grace and truth." But he does not just come so that we can see it but so that we can receive it as well. "From his fullness we have all received, grace in place of grace." We can therefore share in his light, the "true light, which enlightens everyone".
Let us acknowledge him, even if it means repentance. Even when we know the truth we often need to be reminded that "every lie is alien to the truth." There are antichrists in the world which endanger not just nonbelievers. The endanger everyone who does not allow himself to be reminded constantly of who Jesus is and what that means. So let us know him, even if it means committing time to spend with him. Let us believe in his name, since we fail trying to live on our own strength. Let us believe in his name so that the names of "many antichrists" have no appeal for us. Let us believe in his name to persevere in the "anointing that comes from the Holy One".
It is still Christmas! The LORD continues coming to us to remind us who he is. He comes to us so that we might accept him as completely as Mary does. He comes to us so that we might know him and be bathed in the light as "glories stream from heaven afar." Let us rejoice in this light forever! Accept no substitutes!
The LORD comes,
he comes to rule the earth.
He shall rule the world with justice
and the peoples with his constancy.
Tuesday, December 31, 2013
Monday, December 30, 2013
30 December 2013 - promise not compromise
30 December 2013 - promise not compromise
Do not love the world or the things of the world.
If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
But wait, didn't "God so love the world that he gave his only Son"? Indeed. The word is being used in two senses. The creation is "good" and mankind is "very good". This is the world for which the Father sends his Son. All creation waits in hope for the time when it "will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God." It is not just OK to love created things in due proportion. It is sinful not to do so since they are made by God.
What, then, is the world which we may not love? What is the love that competes with and chokes out our love for God? The world in this context is "sensual lust, enticement for the eyes, and a pretentious life". These things are not from the Father. They are not even things, strictly speaking. They are disordered ways of relating to creation that make more out of it than it is meant to be. They are ways of seeking ultimate fulfillment in the here and now, fulfillment which can only come from God. This is the pretentious or prideful life which we imagine ourselves to rule over rather than God.
Before John even warns us about these potential pitfalls he reveals the secret whereby we can resist them. He does this by reminding us who we are. We are already forgiven and know the Father. We have already conquered the evil one. These things have already begun for us and remain true in us. We are strong in these truths because "the word of God remains" in us. Let us dwell in his word so that we do not forget who we are in him. As long as his word remains in us we remain in his victory.
The prophetess Anna in today's gospel is an example of someone who does not compromise with the love of the world. She knows who she is in God. The love of the Father is in her and so she worships "night and day". With her "fasting and prayer" she makes it clear that God is central to her life. It is for this reason that she is able to recognize Jesus when he comes into her life.
And coming forward at that very time,
she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child
to all who were awaiting the redemption of Jerusalem.
God proves that he loves the world by becoming part of it for our sakes. Let us not choose the gift of creation over the giver. Let us chose the King and his kingdom first so that all else may be added unto us as well.
Say among the nations: The LORD is king.
He has made the world firm, not to be moved;
he governs the peoples with equity.
Do not love the world or the things of the world.
If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
But wait, didn't "God so love the world that he gave his only Son"? Indeed. The word is being used in two senses. The creation is "good" and mankind is "very good". This is the world for which the Father sends his Son. All creation waits in hope for the time when it "will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God." It is not just OK to love created things in due proportion. It is sinful not to do so since they are made by God.
What, then, is the world which we may not love? What is the love that competes with and chokes out our love for God? The world in this context is "sensual lust, enticement for the eyes, and a pretentious life". These things are not from the Father. They are not even things, strictly speaking. They are disordered ways of relating to creation that make more out of it than it is meant to be. They are ways of seeking ultimate fulfillment in the here and now, fulfillment which can only come from God. This is the pretentious or prideful life which we imagine ourselves to rule over rather than God.
Before John even warns us about these potential pitfalls he reveals the secret whereby we can resist them. He does this by reminding us who we are. We are already forgiven and know the Father. We have already conquered the evil one. These things have already begun for us and remain true in us. We are strong in these truths because "the word of God remains" in us. Let us dwell in his word so that we do not forget who we are in him. As long as his word remains in us we remain in his victory.
The prophetess Anna in today's gospel is an example of someone who does not compromise with the love of the world. She knows who she is in God. The love of the Father is in her and so she worships "night and day". With her "fasting and prayer" she makes it clear that God is central to her life. It is for this reason that she is able to recognize Jesus when he comes into her life.
And coming forward at that very time,
she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child
to all who were awaiting the redemption of Jerusalem.
God proves that he loves the world by becoming part of it for our sakes. Let us not choose the gift of creation over the giver. Let us chose the King and his kingdom first so that all else may be added unto us as well.
Say among the nations: The LORD is king.
He has made the world firm, not to be moved;
he governs the peoples with equity.
Sunday, December 29, 2013
29 December 2013 - familiarity can breed compassion
29 December 2013 - familiarity can breed compassion
Today is the Feast of the Holy Family. It is so important to realize that it is no accident that Jesus is born into a family. It isn't just a historical curiosity. He is omnipotent. When he is made visible it is only through a family because he wants it to be so. He is emphasizing the value of family.
Out of Egypt I called my son.
How does the Father call his Son? He uses his earthly family to do so. He does not even work through the more perfect of the two. Instead, he honors Joseph's fatherhood.
When the magi had departed, behold,
the angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said,
“Rise, take the child and his mother, flee to Egypt,
and stay there until I tell you.
Earthly fatherhood is so important because it takes its identity from the Fatherhood of God. It is a necessary part of how the Fatherhood of God is revealed on earth.
For this reason I kneel before the Father,
from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named,
Before anything is made the Most Holy Trinity is already a family, existing in a perfect communion of love which is selfless and life-giving. It is for this reason that "God sets a father in honor over his children" and "a mother's authority he confirms over her sons". This structure of family is so important that even Jesus participates in it. Even he is called to obey his earthly "parents in everything, for this is pleasing to the Lord."
Family is a school where we learn "compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience". Only by "bearing with one another and forgiving one another" can family work. Even if two of the three members of a family are perfect and the other is "a righteous man" God does not bypass the family. There is still much for Joseph to learn and even important experiences for Mary. And beyond what they themselves gain the Holy Family reveals how a quiet and holy life together as family can reveal and make God present in the world.
May our families fear the Lord and walk in his ways so that we can reveal him to the world and receive his blessings:
Your wife shall be like a fruitful vine
in the recesses of your home;
your children like olive plants
around your table.
Families like this are the building blocks of the new Jerusalem.
The LORD bless you from Zion:
may you see the prosperity of Jerusalem
all the days of your life.
Today is the Feast of the Holy Family. It is so important to realize that it is no accident that Jesus is born into a family. It isn't just a historical curiosity. He is omnipotent. When he is made visible it is only through a family because he wants it to be so. He is emphasizing the value of family.
Out of Egypt I called my son.
How does the Father call his Son? He uses his earthly family to do so. He does not even work through the more perfect of the two. Instead, he honors Joseph's fatherhood.
When the magi had departed, behold,
the angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said,
“Rise, take the child and his mother, flee to Egypt,
and stay there until I tell you.
Earthly fatherhood is so important because it takes its identity from the Fatherhood of God. It is a necessary part of how the Fatherhood of God is revealed on earth.
For this reason I kneel before the Father,
from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named,
Before anything is made the Most Holy Trinity is already a family, existing in a perfect communion of love which is selfless and life-giving. It is for this reason that "God sets a father in honor over his children" and "a mother's authority he confirms over her sons". This structure of family is so important that even Jesus participates in it. Even he is called to obey his earthly "parents in everything, for this is pleasing to the Lord."
Family is a school where we learn "compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience". Only by "bearing with one another and forgiving one another" can family work. Even if two of the three members of a family are perfect and the other is "a righteous man" God does not bypass the family. There is still much for Joseph to learn and even important experiences for Mary. And beyond what they themselves gain the Holy Family reveals how a quiet and holy life together as family can reveal and make God present in the world.
May our families fear the Lord and walk in his ways so that we can reveal him to the world and receive his blessings:
Your wife shall be like a fruitful vine
in the recesses of your home;
your children like olive plants
around your table.
Families like this are the building blocks of the new Jerusalem.
The LORD bless you from Zion:
may you see the prosperity of Jerusalem
all the days of your life.
Saturday, December 28, 2013
28 December 2013 - all the way in the light
28 December 2013 - all the way in the light
When Herod realized that he had been deceived by the magi, he became furious.
He ordered the massacre of all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity two years old and under,
in accordance with the time he had ascertained from the magi.
Herod is obviously a twisted and evil person to order "the massacre of all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity two years old and under" but it is important to understand his motivation. He is trying to protect his throne. He knows that a challenger has appeared. If this challenger has his way Herod's rule will no longer be absolute. With Jesus on the throne Herod will no longer be the at the center of his kingdom or even his own life. He feels threatened. We shouldn't miss this because we all have this motivation within us to some degree. Hopefully we aren't killing children to keep ourselves at the center of our lives but many do. And we should understand that their motivation is no different from ours which is no different from Herod's.
We are all called by Jesus to "walk in the light as he is in the light". Yet if we say we are sinless "we make him a liar, and his word is not in us." It is true that our sins may not be as grave as those of others. Or perhaps they might be. But either way, they come from the same place of rebellion in ours hearts. We have the same need of "an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous one." The specifics don't matter because we are called to fellowship with God and with one another, a fellowship we can only know when Jesus "cleanses us from all sin."
The more extreme the sin the more it precludes this fellowship. Herod is called to fellowship with God and even with the Holy Innocents whom he kills but this is prevented by his attempts at self-preservation. And all sin precludes fellowship to some degree since in God there is no darkness at all (cf. 1 Joh. 1:5). To walk fully in fellowship with him and his people we must let him "cleanse us from every wrongdoing" and from the rebellion in our hearts. We must let him bring us fully into the light.
It is essential to be humble and acknowledge our utter dependence on God. When we do reject sin and walk in the light we only do so because of his grace.
Had not the LORD been with us—
When men rose up against us,
then would they have swallowed us alive,
When their fury was inflamed against us.
Saints like the Little Flower have this humility. They explain that without God's mercy they too would be great sinners. The lesson is that no matter what we have done, where we are, and what we think our strengths to be, the grace of God is more than enough to keep us in the light and to use us to build his kingdom. Even the Holy Innocents are able to offer themselves in testimony to the true King against Herod.
Our help is in the name of the LORD,
who made heaven and earth.
When Herod realized that he had been deceived by the magi, he became furious.
He ordered the massacre of all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity two years old and under,
in accordance with the time he had ascertained from the magi.
Herod is obviously a twisted and evil person to order "the massacre of all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity two years old and under" but it is important to understand his motivation. He is trying to protect his throne. He knows that a challenger has appeared. If this challenger has his way Herod's rule will no longer be absolute. With Jesus on the throne Herod will no longer be the at the center of his kingdom or even his own life. He feels threatened. We shouldn't miss this because we all have this motivation within us to some degree. Hopefully we aren't killing children to keep ourselves at the center of our lives but many do. And we should understand that their motivation is no different from ours which is no different from Herod's.
We are all called by Jesus to "walk in the light as he is in the light". Yet if we say we are sinless "we make him a liar, and his word is not in us." It is true that our sins may not be as grave as those of others. Or perhaps they might be. But either way, they come from the same place of rebellion in ours hearts. We have the same need of "an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous one." The specifics don't matter because we are called to fellowship with God and with one another, a fellowship we can only know when Jesus "cleanses us from all sin."
The more extreme the sin the more it precludes this fellowship. Herod is called to fellowship with God and even with the Holy Innocents whom he kills but this is prevented by his attempts at self-preservation. And all sin precludes fellowship to some degree since in God there is no darkness at all (cf. 1 Joh. 1:5). To walk fully in fellowship with him and his people we must let him "cleanse us from every wrongdoing" and from the rebellion in our hearts. We must let him bring us fully into the light.
It is essential to be humble and acknowledge our utter dependence on God. When we do reject sin and walk in the light we only do so because of his grace.
Had not the LORD been with us—
When men rose up against us,
then would they have swallowed us alive,
When their fury was inflamed against us.
Saints like the Little Flower have this humility. They explain that without God's mercy they too would be great sinners. The lesson is that no matter what we have done, where we are, and what we think our strengths to be, the grace of God is more than enough to keep us in the light and to use us to build his kingdom. Even the Holy Innocents are able to offer themselves in testimony to the true King against Herod.
Our help is in the name of the LORD,
who made heaven and earth.
Friday, December 27, 2013
27 December 2013 - the eternal made visible
27 December 2013 - the eternal made visible
Christmas is about the eternal life present with the Father becoming visible to us.
we have seen it and testify to it
and proclaim to you the eternal life
that was with the Father and was made visible to us—
Jesus, the Word of life, who dwells with the Father from all eternity becomes something which we can see with our eyes and touch with our hands. He becomes a concrete reality. He is true God. He becomes true man.
He becomes man so that we may share the fellowship he has with the Father and then that "our joy may be complete."
Jesus is made visible first as an infant but his revelation is not complete. All peoples do not yet see his glory. John sees him transfigured on the mountain. But the nations do not yet see his glory. He stands by him at the cross with Mary, dimly perceiving his glory even there. But the nations still do not know. These experiences give John hope which propels him to the tomb. He arrives first but does not enter. He does not enter alone.
This is the fullness of the revelation that Jesus comes to bring. He rises to prove that he is who he says he is. He rises to defeat death and bring everlasting life to mankind. John only enters with Peter. In other words, he enters together with the Church. He enters now into an experience which is meant not just for a few but for the whole world.
The mountains melt like wax before the LORD,
before the LORD of all the earth.
The heavens proclaim his justice,
and all peoples see his glory.
John enters the tomb and the Church enters with him. We enter with him. Together with him we see Jesus and believe. Indeed "all peoples see his glory" through this revelation of his resurrection. Mountains of doubt and disbelief melt like wax before the LORD.
This is all "so that our joy may be complete", so that all may share in our fellowship with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ.
Light dawns for the just;
and gladness, for the upright of heart.
Light dawns at the Nativity of the LORD. His resurrection is the noonday sun which never sets. Let us rejoice in this light.
Be glad in the LORD, you just,
and give thanks to his holy name.
Christmas is about the eternal life present with the Father becoming visible to us.
we have seen it and testify to it
and proclaim to you the eternal life
that was with the Father and was made visible to us—
Jesus, the Word of life, who dwells with the Father from all eternity becomes something which we can see with our eyes and touch with our hands. He becomes a concrete reality. He is true God. He becomes true man.
He becomes man so that we may share the fellowship he has with the Father and then that "our joy may be complete."
Jesus is made visible first as an infant but his revelation is not complete. All peoples do not yet see his glory. John sees him transfigured on the mountain. But the nations do not yet see his glory. He stands by him at the cross with Mary, dimly perceiving his glory even there. But the nations still do not know. These experiences give John hope which propels him to the tomb. He arrives first but does not enter. He does not enter alone.
This is the fullness of the revelation that Jesus comes to bring. He rises to prove that he is who he says he is. He rises to defeat death and bring everlasting life to mankind. John only enters with Peter. In other words, he enters together with the Church. He enters now into an experience which is meant not just for a few but for the whole world.
The mountains melt like wax before the LORD,
before the LORD of all the earth.
The heavens proclaim his justice,
and all peoples see his glory.
John enters the tomb and the Church enters with him. We enter with him. Together with him we see Jesus and believe. Indeed "all peoples see his glory" through this revelation of his resurrection. Mountains of doubt and disbelief melt like wax before the LORD.
This is all "so that our joy may be complete", so that all may share in our fellowship with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ.
Light dawns for the just;
and gladness, for the upright of heart.
Light dawns at the Nativity of the LORD. His resurrection is the noonday sun which never sets. Let us rejoice in this light.
Be glad in the LORD, you just,
and give thanks to his holy name.
Thursday, December 26, 2013
26 December 2013 - born in us
26 December 2013 - born in us
Jesus wants to be born in us. Just as on Christmas he enters the world so too does he desire to enter our hearts. But what does this look like? Stephen shows us.
Because Stephen is "filled with grace and power" and "filled with the Holy Spirit" the life is Jesus is made so present in him that he shares in the work of building the kingdom, in "working great wonders and signs" and debating anyone who will listen about the Kingdom of God and the world's need for repentance. The Spirit empowers Stephen to face false witnesses just as Jesus does. They bring accusations before him about Jesus just like the accusations Jesus himself faced. Stephen is empowered by Jesus to unabashedly proclaim the to them the truth of the good news.
The power of the Spirit at work in Stephen gives him the fidelity to keep his eyes fixed on Jesus even as the stones begin to strike his flesh. Even at this time he is a witness before those who kill him. He manifests the forgiveness of Jesus, who said, "Forgive them Father, for they know not what they do." Stephen in turn says to Jesus, "Lord, do not hold this sin against them."
The death of Jesus empowers Stephen's own martyrdom to the extent that some of the things Stephen says sound familiar. He is able to surrender his life to Jesus because Jesus makes present the surrender of his life to the Father in Stephen.
As they were stoning Stephen, he called out
“Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.”
Just as Jesus surrenders his Spirit to the Father so in turn Stephen surrenders his Spirit to Jesus. Without the surrender of Jesus we are overwhelmed by circumstances and turn back before the end. But only "whoever endures to the end will be saved." Since we "will be hated by all" because of the name of Jesus we need to surrender our illusions about living this way on our own strength. We won't be able to witness before governors and kings by preparing really clever defenses ahead of time. We have to open ourselves to the Spirit of our Father who wants to speak through us as he does through Stephen. Only the Spirit in us will make our testimony to Jesus persuasive. It is doubtlessly the Spirit in Stephen that plans seeds in the heart of Saul as he witnesses his death.
Even as Stephen is martyred he knows that Jesus is his rock of refuge, stronger than any of the stones that strike him. With Jesus as his stronghold he is not delivered from circumstance but is instead strengthened to endure to the end. He is able to win not this temporary battle but the lasting victory, the martyr's crown. He wins this victory only because of Christmas, only because Jesus is born in him. May this life be born in us as well.
Into your hands I commend my spirit;
you will redeem me, O LORD, O faithful God.
I will rejoice and be glad because of your mercy.
Jesus wants to be born in us. Just as on Christmas he enters the world so too does he desire to enter our hearts. But what does this look like? Stephen shows us.
Because Stephen is "filled with grace and power" and "filled with the Holy Spirit" the life is Jesus is made so present in him that he shares in the work of building the kingdom, in "working great wonders and signs" and debating anyone who will listen about the Kingdom of God and the world's need for repentance. The Spirit empowers Stephen to face false witnesses just as Jesus does. They bring accusations before him about Jesus just like the accusations Jesus himself faced. Stephen is empowered by Jesus to unabashedly proclaim the to them the truth of the good news.
The power of the Spirit at work in Stephen gives him the fidelity to keep his eyes fixed on Jesus even as the stones begin to strike his flesh. Even at this time he is a witness before those who kill him. He manifests the forgiveness of Jesus, who said, "Forgive them Father, for they know not what they do." Stephen in turn says to Jesus, "Lord, do not hold this sin against them."
The death of Jesus empowers Stephen's own martyrdom to the extent that some of the things Stephen says sound familiar. He is able to surrender his life to Jesus because Jesus makes present the surrender of his life to the Father in Stephen.
As they were stoning Stephen, he called out
“Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.”
Just as Jesus surrenders his Spirit to the Father so in turn Stephen surrenders his Spirit to Jesus. Without the surrender of Jesus we are overwhelmed by circumstances and turn back before the end. But only "whoever endures to the end will be saved." Since we "will be hated by all" because of the name of Jesus we need to surrender our illusions about living this way on our own strength. We won't be able to witness before governors and kings by preparing really clever defenses ahead of time. We have to open ourselves to the Spirit of our Father who wants to speak through us as he does through Stephen. Only the Spirit in us will make our testimony to Jesus persuasive. It is doubtlessly the Spirit in Stephen that plans seeds in the heart of Saul as he witnesses his death.
Even as Stephen is martyred he knows that Jesus is his rock of refuge, stronger than any of the stones that strike him. With Jesus as his stronghold he is not delivered from circumstance but is instead strengthened to endure to the end. He is able to win not this temporary battle but the lasting victory, the martyr's crown. He wins this victory only because of Christmas, only because Jesus is born in him. May this life be born in us as well.
Into your hands I commend my spirit;
you will redeem me, O LORD, O faithful God.
I will rejoice and be glad because of your mercy.
Wednesday, December 25, 2013
25 December 2013 - word made flesh, love incarnate,
25 December 2013 - word made flesh, love incarnate,
The LORD has bared his holy arm
in the sight of all the nations;
all the ends of the earth will behold
the salvation of our God.
It is as yet a small arm that we behold on this Christmas morning. But as we look at this babe we finally "see directly," before our eyes the LORD himself restoring the world. Our world until this morning is a tired repetition of sin and sadness. Finally in this Divine Child something new comes. Finally in the birth of this new Adam all things begin to be made new.
We tend toward the sentimental when we look at the child Jesus. There is some cause for that as we consider the greatness of his love for us and the beauty and humility of his plan. But we should be exultant as well. This tiny newborn hand is the hand that wins victory. The power of sin is broken forever. This baby's arm, which we see directly before our eyes, is the holy arm of God.
Sing to the LORD a new song,
for he has done wondrous deeds;
his right hand has won victory for him,
his holy arm.
In the old order of darkness God only "spoke in partial and various ways" but now, in Jesus, he speaks to us completely, holding no secrets back.
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,
and who sustains all things by his mighty word.
Jesus is God revealed to us. He reveals his glory and his might, his very being. And yet we see him in a manger laid. He is an infant. He reveals tenderness and humility. He reveals unquenchable love. We hear him say, "Now you are my friends, since I have told you everything the Father told me" (cf. Joh. 15:15).
We see his right hand and holy arm, now so small, that wins victory for him. And we remember that he wins this victory by stretching out that arm to be nailed to a cross. His glory and his majesty are so far removed from our stereotypes about power. He is the light of the world. We see in his light that our minds are still darkened somewhat, thinking according to the norms given by the world.
He is the light of the world. He is the source of all life and light. Purified by this light we see things as God sees them and can come to share in his own life. We receive the "power to become children of God" as we are enlightened by the light that comes from believing in his name.
This is what it means that "the Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us". It means that we behold the light of his glory and have the darkness cast out from our hearts and minds. He takes flesh precisely so that we can see him and touch him. He wants to be seen by the entire world.
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.
Joy and peace he brings. Let us open our hearts to him
From his fullness we have all received,
grace in place of grace,
because while the law was given through Moses,
grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.
The LORD has bared his holy arm
in the sight of all the nations;
all the ends of the earth will behold
the salvation of our God.
It is as yet a small arm that we behold on this Christmas morning. But as we look at this babe we finally "see directly," before our eyes the LORD himself restoring the world. Our world until this morning is a tired repetition of sin and sadness. Finally in this Divine Child something new comes. Finally in the birth of this new Adam all things begin to be made new.
We tend toward the sentimental when we look at the child Jesus. There is some cause for that as we consider the greatness of his love for us and the beauty and humility of his plan. But we should be exultant as well. This tiny newborn hand is the hand that wins victory. The power of sin is broken forever. This baby's arm, which we see directly before our eyes, is the holy arm of God.
Sing to the LORD a new song,
for he has done wondrous deeds;
his right hand has won victory for him,
his holy arm.
In the old order of darkness God only "spoke in partial and various ways" but now, in Jesus, he speaks to us completely, holding no secrets back.
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,
and who sustains all things by his mighty word.
Jesus is God revealed to us. He reveals his glory and his might, his very being. And yet we see him in a manger laid. He is an infant. He reveals tenderness and humility. He reveals unquenchable love. We hear him say, "Now you are my friends, since I have told you everything the Father told me" (cf. Joh. 15:15).
We see his right hand and holy arm, now so small, that wins victory for him. And we remember that he wins this victory by stretching out that arm to be nailed to a cross. His glory and his majesty are so far removed from our stereotypes about power. He is the light of the world. We see in his light that our minds are still darkened somewhat, thinking according to the norms given by the world.
He is the light of the world. He is the source of all life and light. Purified by this light we see things as God sees them and can come to share in his own life. We receive the "power to become children of God" as we are enlightened by the light that comes from believing in his name.
This is what it means that "the Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us". It means that we behold the light of his glory and have the darkness cast out from our hearts and minds. He takes flesh precisely so that we can see him and touch him. He wants to be seen by the entire world.
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.
Joy and peace he brings. Let us open our hearts to him
From his fullness we have all received,
grace in place of grace,
because while the law was given through Moses,
grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.
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