Merry Christmas. Feliz Navidad. joyeux Noel, buon Natale, frohe Weihnachten, Krismasi Njema, Mangui lay ndioukeul ci Noël bi (Wolof. Cultural language of Senegal)
As I sit here writing this reflection, it is the Monday of the 4th week of Advent. It is a fitting time for me because I am in the city of Dakar, Senegal with my wife, Elise, waiting for the birth of my twin grandsons which should be happening at any time. My eldest daughter, Danielle, is the one expecting and she also has a 2 1/2 year old son that we are trying to entertain during this period of waiting. I remember now why we should be having our children at a young age. Whew!!
I am putting myself in the sandals of Saints Joachim and Anne as they waited for the birth of Jesus. Then to have the two of them hop on a donkey and head from Nazareth to Bethlehem. Of course, they didn’t have to deal with the latest addition to dictionary of an existing grandchild…the word, “NO!!” “Moussa (my grandson’s name) would you like the very best piece of candy?” “NO!” Moussa how about a piece of cake?” “NO!” This, thankfully, gets balanced out with the funniest and memorable faces…or comments…or adorable actions. God is good in all ways.
When I realized a few weeks ago that I would be writing the reflection for Christmas Day, in my mind I was constructing something new. Something not written before about the birth of Our Lord. The pressure was on. Then I sat down this week to look at the actual readings. Apparently I failed to remember that the nativity narrative is read on the Mass of the Nativity. Not Christmas Day. As I looked at today’s list from Isaiah, Hebrews and John they appeared to be more cerebral. More theological. What a twist. Out the window with what I had planned. I was looking forward to discussing with you the question of who might have aided Mary and Joseph with Jesus’ birth. Did they have a midwife? Did Joseph help? Did Mary deliver on her own? Questions I will have to leave to ponder for another day.
So what about today’s readings? My initial disappointment was replaced with a renewed sense of responsibility when I discovered the message Scriptures are revealing to us today. It begins with Isaiah. As a reminder, we are in what is called Second Isaiah (also called Deutero-Isaiah). The author is likely not the author of the first 39 chapters. It takes place during the Babylonian exile of the Jews and the main theme is the return of the exiles to Jerusalem led by the Lord God. He will redeem ALL the nations. Not just Israel.
“For the LORD comforts his people,
he redeems Jerusalem.
The LORD has bared his holy arm
in the sight of all the nations;”
And as Paul writes to the Hebrews in today’s second reading he clarifies once again the themes of the old covenant (as seen in the Old Testament) and the new covenant (the New Testament). In the old covenant God speaks to His people through the prophets. But in the new, he speaks through His Son. And Paul also makes it clear to us that Jesus was not equal to the prophets. Jesus sits at God’s right hand and he is superior to the angels.
For to which of the angels did God ever say:
You are my son; this day I have begotten you?
Or again:
I will be a father to him, and he shall be a son to me?
And again, when he leads the firstborn into the world, he says:
Let all the angels of God worship him.
And John begins his Gospel leaving no doubt who Jesus is.
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.
And John the Baptist told everyone who Jesus is. That He is OF God not just sent FROM God. He came for all who believe in Him. Prophets and angels are not described as “an heir of all”, the “Alpha and the Omega”, or “The Word made Flesh”. The synoptic Gospels (Matthew, Mark and Luke) begin by taking us back to Jesus’ birth or His appearance on the scene as an adult (in Mark’s case). But John goes back to the VERY beginning. To when the world was created…and Jesus was there. There WITH God because He WAS and IS God. Otherwise, the rest of the New Testament means nothing. The story of the Resurrection means nothing. God became man in order to die once for the sins of all. Something no sacrifice of animal or grain could every accomplish. And if that is not enough for us, how about these verses that come from Jesus Himself:
Jesus came to them and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth. (Matthew 28:18)
“Very truly I tell you,” Jesus answered, “before Abraham was born, I am!” (John 8:58)
“I and the Father are one.” (John 10:30)
And why did God dwell among us and die:
But the gift is not like the trespass. For if the many died by the trespass of the one man, how much more did God’s grace and the gift that came by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, overflow to the many! (Romans 5:15)
Adam sinned and we were all condemned by the sin of this one man. How could these sins have been paid for? By the death of animals or even the death of mortals? No. The covenant between God and Man could only be repaired by the one sacrifice that could overflow to all. The sacrifice of God Himself.
So Merry Christmas. And know that today, yes “A Child is Born” but also know that “A Son is Given Us“. God’s Son. Given to us so that we might have life and have it to the full.
Update:
The twins were born today, December 22nd, 2021!! God is good. Babies and Mom are great following a Caesarean Section surgery. Not Christmas babies, but two healthy boys.
I don’t think I ever shared this with ACM readers. My older brother, Joseph, was born on Christmas Day. My parent’s names are Joseph and Mary and my brother was a skilled carpenter. And, finally, my parents thought he was god. 🙂
