GOD IS BORN FOR US

CHRISTMAS DAY

Isa 52:7-10; Ps 98:1-6; Heb 1:1-6; Jn 1:1-18

In the Beginning was the Word

We begin the celebration of Christmas, the birth of the Eternal Word in human flesh. We celebrate the greatest event in the created order, for humanity and the whole created order have never witnessed anything like this and will never witness such again. The uniqueness of this event is the reason the prophet described the feet of the harbingers of the news of the event as beautiful. “How beautiful on the mountains, are the feet of one who brings good news, who heralds peace, brings happiness, proclaims salvation, and tells Zion, ‘Your God is king!’” Their feet are beautiful because of the greatness of the event they witnessed. Their joy is unbounded because they have seen what the human mind cannot comprehend, namely, the face of God. “Listen! Your watchmen raise their voices, they shout for joy together, for they see the Lord face to face, as he returns to Zion.” How is it possible for mere mortals to behold the face of God? The human mind cannot explain such a mystery; only a loving heart can piece it together. Only love can explain how God, incomprehensible to the mortal mind and invisible to our physical eyes, reveals himself as a child for our salvation. God the Father, full of love for us mortal, sent his only Begotten Son in human nature to save us from sin and damnation.

The Father made us for himself and knows that only his presence can redeem man from damnation, which is the just punishment for disobeying God’s will. He did not abandon man on his path to hell but availed us of his divine presence in a way most suitable for our fallen condition. God revealed himself in our nature and in a way that will most attract our attention; he revealed himself as a child to attract every heart to himself. God demonstrated his love for us by the salvation he offered us, not in any way, but in a way most suitable and attractive to our fallen nature. In doing this, he leaves himself defenceless in men's arms. God's vulnerability as a child is the second demonstration of his love for us men. The lover offers himself in a most vulnerable state to the beloved. Hence, both the prophet Isaiah and the Psalmist sing about God’s revelation of his salvation to all nations. “All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God. Shout to the Lord, all the earth, ring out your joy.” The sight of the great salvation God has offered everyone makes the feet of the preachers beautiful, for the fullness of joy exploding in their hearts causes them to leap like gazelles on the mountains. It can only be on the mountains of the mysteries of God laid bare before human eyes.  

The author of the letter to the Hebrews expounds on the cause of the unbounded joy. God has put aside the intermediaries and revealed himself to our mortal senses. “At various times in the past and in various different ways, God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets; but in our own time, the last day, he has spoken to us through his Son, the Son that he has appointed to inherit everything there is.” To speak sensibly to us, and communicate his love for us, the Father sent his Son to appear in our nature. Thus, his speech is not just a mere communication of words but a holistic speech that involves everything human. The speech is by his presence in our nature, through which he speaks to every human situation. The speech of God in our nature is such that no one can pretend not to hear or understand the speech. The failure of communication is no more from the side of God but due to our absence to the presence he has established within our nature.

Saint John educates us that the One who is in our nature is no other than the One who existed from the beginning with the Father. Because he shares divine nature with the Father, he receives full communication from the Father. “In the beginning was the Word: and the Word was with God and the Word was God.” Sharing our nature with us, he communicates fully and comprehensibly with us. “He came to his own domain and his own people did not accept him. But to all who did accept him he gave power to become children of God, to all who believe in the name of him who was born not out of human stock or urge of the flesh or will of man but of God himself.” So, he is present in our nature to communicate God, who is our salvation to us. His saving presence is with us if we receive the communication, just as he receives his Father’s communication and remains with the Father. Those who receive this communication are the men of good will angels enjoined to sing glory to God. His appearance in our nature has ennobled human nature beyond understanding by making it be with God. We must love and cherish all who share in this nature. Hence, Christmas is a time to share love and give gifts to each other in thanksgiving for the gift we have received from the Father, God himself.  

Let us pray: O God, who wonderfully created the dignity of human nature and still more wonderfully restored it, grant, we pray, that we may share in the divinity of Christ, who humbled himself to share in our humanity. Who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever.