GOD'S LOVE, A DIVINE CONCERN FOR MANKIND.
December 25, 2023.
The Nativity of the Lord (Christmas - Day) – B.
“And the Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us,
and we saw his glory…” (Jn 1:14)
A Filipino proverb says: “It is easy to be born human, it is
difficult to be a human being.” An Ecuadorian proverb adds: “No matter if the child's
born with a flat nose, as long as it breathes.”
At Christmas, we realize that God's love is before all a
divine concern for mankind. Without that concern, how would an Almighty and
Omniscient God choose to lower himself and become one with mankind?
May we seize the great meaning of the Incarnation. It adds
nothing to the being of God in Jesus. It rather reduces him to a weak human
being. As St. Paul said in his address to the Philippians: "Christ Jesus,
Who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God
something to be grasped. Rather, he emptied himself, taking the form of a
slave, coming in human likeness; and found human in appearance, he humbled
himself..." (Ph 2: 6-8)
The Incarnation, thus, is an act of humility and even to the
deep meaning, a humiliation. But this was for a reason, love, a love that was
aimed to save. "For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so
that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal
life." God’s love is a divine concern for mankind. It is because of love
God became man.
We are celebrating today, with great solemnity, this
mystery. And the readings, especially the Gospel, point out this dimension of
Christmas, the love and concern of God for man. "In the beginning was the
Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God... And the Word became
flesh and made his dwelling among us." He became one of us, our brother
and co-human in Jesus, for our salvation.
Today is the new dawn of salvation. Isaiah makes it clear in
his prophetic vision for the new Israel. He announces that all the ends of the
earth will behold the salvation of our God. He foresees on the mountain,
"the feet of him who brings glad tidings, announcing peace, bearing good
news, announcing salvation..." Jesus is the perfect incarnation of what
Isaiah announced centuries ahead. He is the Prince of Peace, the bearer of
God's good news for his people, and the means and instrument of human
salvation.
With his birth, the time has definitely come for everything
to be fulfilled. What God, from of old announced through the Prophets and seers
is now made manifest. "In times past, God spoke in partial and various
ways to our ancestors through the prophets; in these last days, he has spoken
to us through the Son..."
A Son is given to us, the angels announced to the shepherds
last night, "A savior has been born for you who is Christ and Lord. And
this will be a sign for you: you will find an infant wrapped in swaddling
clothes and lying in a manger.” What then do we see and behold or contemplate
in our Belens or Mangers? A frail and fragile baby surrounded by his father and
mother, Joseph and Mary, and with animals. But from that fragility shines a
great light, the hope of the world, the brilliant star of human salvation.
Heaven and earth concord to sing Gloria and Hosanna. A son is born for our
salvation.
If God, the Most High has chosen to become one of us, it is
for us to also become one with our brothers and sisters, especially the most in
need. Christmas is the feast of relationships and concern, the feast of love.
We are urged by the newborn baby to make ourselves close to all mankind and to
serve our brothers and sisters. Salvation starts with charity, the perfect
expression of love. It takes form in corporal works of mercy: feeding the
hungry, clothing the naked, visiting the sick and caring for them, visiting the
prisoners, caring for the migrants... It also can be expressed through social
justice and raising war against corruption, abuse of human rights, discrimination,
ecological and environmental concerns...
Our world is filled with so much darkness and despair. Let's
bring the light of the Newborn child to everyone and become the light of the
world. For it is a time of openness to God and neighbour and of closing oneself
to self-centredness and indifference.
May we close this meditation sharing with you these wishes we received from one confrere: “Wrap yourself. It's never too late to prepare your very self as a gift to the Lord. Christmas is not just all about giving and receiving gifts. It is also a season of closing and opening of ourselves. It's a moment of closing the door of anger and hatred and opening the windows of mercy and compassion. It's closing the door of greediness and selfishness and opening the windows of generosity and caring. It's closing the big door of unforgiveness to open the window of love. Just let God enter in and allow Him to purify everything that is in you. Christmas will be celebrated throughout the year through you. Though how long it takes, loving God is worth the wait.” In doing so, Christmas will be celebrated throughout the year through you. Even though it takes time, loving God is worth it. For he was the first to love us. Merry Christmas!
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