Daily Gospel Reflection
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December 25, 2022
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.
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.
A man named John was sent from God.
He came for testimony, to testify to the light,
so that all might believe through him.
He was not the light,
but came to testify to the light.
The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world.
He was in the world,
and the world came to be through him,
but the world did not know him.
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,
who were born not by natural generation
nor by human choice nor by a man’s decision
but of God.
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.
John testified to him and cried out, saying,
“This was he of whom I said,
‘The one who is coming after me ranks ahead of me
because he existed before me.’”
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.
No one has ever seen God.
The only Son, God, who is at the Father’s side,
has revealed him.
After each of our children was born, my wife and I could do nothing more but delight in their presence and repeat: “You’re here. You’re actually here.”
Some of Saint John’s most famous lines anchor the Christmas festival—“And the Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.”—the celebration of Christ’s existence among us.
Just as I held my newborn daughters in my arms, a humble girl from Nazareth held the king of the universe in hers and joined all of creation, crying out, “You’re here! You’re finally here.” Gloria in Excelsis Deo! He “made his dwelling among us, and we beheld his glory.”
But how often must Mary have said these words?
I can imagine in exasperation upon finding the child Jesus in the temple, “Ah, you’re here!” Years later, at the wedding of Cana, the inflection implored: “But Jesus, You are here.” She may have said it with a mix of shock and sorrow, finding him in the court of Pontius Pilate. “No, you’re here.” But three days later, seeing her son in all his glory, she exclaims once again with joy, “You’re here!”
As we celebrate the Nativity of our Lord, how might we behold his glory today? We might say, “You’re here!” as we welcome guests with love to our Christmas feasts. We might pray in our hearts in faith, “You’re here!” before the Eucharist at Holy Mass.
To behold the glory of Christ is to remember that just as any newborn eagerly seeks the face of its parents, Christ himself eagerly seeks ours and says to us with delight, “You’re here!”
Prayer
Lord Jesus, you are truly the Son of God who desires an intimate relationship with us. In the form of a helpless child, you came into this world amid the poor and vulnerable. May we welcome you with joy into the quiet stillness of our hearts. Help us to recognize the greatness of your glory and the abundance of life which you offer us each day. For today you offer us abundant life and call us to proclaim this Good News to the whole world. In your Holy Name, Amen.
Saint of the Day
Today is the feast of Christmas, when we recall the birth of Jesus Christ, who saves us all from death and brings us into the divine life of the Trinity. In Jesus, light has come into the world, and captive humanity, slave to sin, has been set free.
Nativity scenes abound on campus at this time of year. Today's featured image is of a stained glass window from the Basilica, which shows the birth of Jesus. Relics of the nativity, including pieces from Jesus' manger, rest in the reliquary chapel there. A life-sized nativity scene stands in the Grotto.
The Church understands four reasons why Jesus was born and became a man:
1. Jesus’ birth saves us by reconciling us to God. Human nature is fallen, and Jesus came to heal it and give us goodness and life. We are captive by sin, we live in darkness. Jesus sets us free and gives light to our lives.
2. Jesus’ birth reveals to us God’s love. God, the transcendent spirit and creator of the world, wanted to be united with us and joined our human condition in Jesus.
3. Jesus’ birth and life among us give us a model of holiness. Jesus lived a life of self-emptying love of God and neighbor, which shows us how to die to ourselves and live new lives of love for God and each other.
4. Jesus’ birth allows us to participate in God’s divine life. We are unable to attain a life of divine holiness on our own. In communion with Jesus, who is also human, we can become sons and daughters of God.
This feast is much more than a simple birthday party for Jesus. While we recall the birth of Jesus today, that one-time event that happened more than 2,000 years ago in a distant land is the best example of how God works in our lives every day. Jesus is the extension of God’s invitation to join our lives. Jesus is the proof of God’s love for each of us—God’s interest in participating in every aspect of our lives.
On today's Nativity, let us respond to God's love by welcoming Jesus into our lives and living as sons and daughters of God.