Have you ever read a book that you just couldn’t put down? You are so wrapped up in the story that you can’t wait to see what the ending will look like.
The true Christmas story is like this, if we really catch on to the full grace of this season. What happened in Bethlehem is only the start of the story. Sadly most people think it is the end of the story as well. Already people are taking down Christmas decorations, exchanging un-needed gifts, and sinking back to “business as usual.”
St. John reminds us that the birth of Jesus, though it was the pivotal point in history, is just the first chapter of the full story. Today we listen as he explains to us the entire Christmas story which began even before the Nativity ever took place (John 1:1-18).
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God…All things came to be through him, and without him nothing came to be.”
Even before creation the Word existed. Everything God created was made through the Word…nothing came into existence in any other way!
“What came to be through him was the light of the human race; the light that shines in the darkness, and the darkness, has not overcome it…The true light which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world.”
There is only one light source. Our purpose, our meaning, our destination all comes from the Word who is the light of the human race.
“He was in the world, and the world came to be through him, but the world did not know him.”
Though the Word through whom everything came to be and in whom is the only hope for us humans, was neither recognized nor honored when he showed up on this earth. Only a handful of shepherds honored him at his birth.
The secret is out! The Word that John talks about is none other than Jesus Christ!
“He came to what was his own, but his own people did not accept him. But to those who did accept him he gave power to become children of God, to those who believe in his name…”
Did we catch this? The story gets richer, and we become part of the story. Jesus made the unthinkable happen! Those who accept him are given a power that lifts them above human race into citizenship in heaven. A new identity is granted to believers—that we actually become children of God, no longer mere citizens of this earth!
“…who were born not by human generation nor by human choice nor by man’s decision but of God.”
We have two birthdays, our natural one and our baptismal one. The life of Jesus was planted in us at baptism, and it is up to us to buy into this new life or it will fade away. It is up to us to decide whether the Christmas story continues in us. The ball is in our court. Will we shut down the story and let it start growing in our own lives?
In today’s first reading (1 John 2:18-21) we read,
“Children, it is the last hour; and just as you hear that the antichrist was coming, so now many antichrists have appeared.”
The “last hour” means there will be no new story, beyond Jesus. And just as Satan stole Adam and Eve’s identity and Herod tried to murder Jesus, so, in every generation, there will be antichrists who will try to destroy Jesus, as he lives in the hearts of Christians. Antichrists will promise a new “gospel,” and will entice lukewarm Christians to join their cause. The devil hasn’t given up, trying to “steal, kill, and destroy” Jesus as he lives and grows in each of us.
Today we are challenged to make a decision. Will we fall for the popular belief that Christmas is over, or will be commit ourselves to letting live and grow in the days ahead?
