Year B / Christmas / Christmas Day
Readings Isaiah 52.7-10 / Psalm 97.1,2-3ab, 3cd-4, 5-6 (R/v 3) / Hebrews 1.1-6 / John 1.1-5, 9-14
“The Word was made flesh, he lived among us.”
What joyful proclamation today! The angels herald it. The shepherds adore God’s Word alive in our midst. Mary and Joseph hold their new born and love him. We too should rejoice: Hallelujah! Glory to God and peace to all peoples.
But how much does Jesus’ birth really matter to you and me?
This Christmas isn’t going to be quite the same for many. Fewer will gather for the Christmas liturgies. Celebrations will be smaller and muted. Loved ones will be apart, some quarantined. Frontline workers will work harder to keep us safer.
Today it matters that we hear greetings of “Merry Christmas” or “Blessed Christmas.” Also, words of love and expressions of loving between family and friends. Some thanksgiving too for gifts exchanged and, hopefully, for the gift we are to one another.
But what we really want to hear, I suspect, are more comforting words. Like this: “Thank God, you are safe!” They assure us that God laboured through our sacrifices, hard work and vigilance throughout this pandemic, and looked after us. Yes, God has, and so we resound “All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.”
What must especially matter then this Christmas is this. Not just that God loves, cares and saves us. But that He is indeed God-with-us, especially in hard times now, as illness, anxiety and uncertainty swirl around us.
By giving us his only Son God offers all who believe eternal life, not death. This is God’s faithfulness, the Gospel announces. Throughout this pandemic, we’ve experienced the depth of God’s faithfulness: Jesus walks with us.
Yes, Jesus is God’s Word come down to us. Come down as radiant light to guide. Come down as daily bread to feed. Come down as healing balm to restore. Come down as consoling wisdom to guide. Come down as grace upon grace for us to have life to the fullest. Come down to save us.
Come down so true and real in this pandemic. Indeed, God’s love always acts in our favour. This matters. How can anyone miss this Christmas truth coming alive this year? “None” I dare say because Jesus’ coming encourages humankind to look for the face of God. More importantly, Jesus’ coming teaches many how to reveal God’s saving love.
Regardless of faith, race or tongue, we have learned to do this because we have all stood once before the child Jesus in Christmas cribs in churches or shopping malls, and even metaphorically, in story and music. A child, vulnerable and helpless — with outstretched hands, waiting. Waiting for our response.
Many still look, see and move on. But for those who dare to quieten ourselves before Jesus, open our hearts and listen, something happens. Jesus’ quiet prompting in our hearts, oftentimes soiled and messy, moves us to care. To welcome him who is little and least. To uplift him who is weak. To care for him who is poor. To love him who is infinite and infant. Will we still?
Our Advent hope is for God to come and save us. At Christmas, God fulfils our hope. God also hopes we will welcome Jesus into our lives. Then, God can make our hearts big, even bigger in time, to love. He will by humbling us to see him in every face of all in need, pleading for our care. Particularly, the small and weak, the least and last, the poor and outcast.
This is God’s plan. Not for today and tomorrow; it extends into the future – our future with one another on earth, and with God in heaven.
Today, we rejoice for Jesus dwells amongst us. In him, we know we are God’s own. Let us respond gratefully in the best human way we can – in deeds of care for many, not words. Then, we can best show forth what must really matter: that God’s glory is indeed Jesus caring for all with love beyond all telling. Let us.
A Blessed Christmas.
Preached at St Ignatius Church, Singapore
Photo: humanitarian aid relief trust website (internet)
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