Christmas Mass for the Day (B)

(Edited) Reflections: Christmas Mass for the Day (B), December 25, 2011

Liturgical readings

Isaiah 52:7-10
Psalm 98
Hebrews 1:1-6
John 1:1-18

"The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us."

In a sermon for Christmas, St. Bernard (a Cistercian abbot of the monastery of Clairvaux in the beginning of the 2nd millenium), describes the mystery of Christmas as follows:

"A little child has been given to us, but in Him dwells all the fullness of a divine nature...the smaller He became through His human nature, the greater was His goodness; the more He lowered Himself for us, the dearer He is to us."

What may humble all human pride, is the challenge to have faith in this little child, who has the fullness of divinity, the Wisdom of God - a Wisdom not only for the known universe, but also for what is unknown. In a little child, the hope of humanity is borne in the lowliness of a baby, born of a simple maiden from Nazareth.

Looking at the traditional Christmas crèche, and taking time to contemplate how God-became-flesh-in-Jesus, can fill any soul with an inner hope not like any other liturgical season of the Catholic faith. Even when present external circumstances appear to be heading towards a downward trend, the mystery of hope and joy which the Christ-Child can present to the whole world, is enough to dispel any form of negativity encountered in life this year. It gives to all those in need a source of hope for the future. And when one reflects on the meaning of the Christmas spirit in the Mass for the day, that hope and joy anticipated in Advent is now magnified to its fullness by the knowledge that all Christendom rejoices.

It has been two millenia since the mystery of the Word-became-flesh quietly entered human history in Bethlehem. But the Spirit of God-became-flesh was poured out to all humanity through the zeal of the apostles and their followers. It continues to be poured out to all at present through the Church and its staunch missionaries. Though there are still others who may not as yet see the light of truth in the mystery of the Incarnation, all Christians know by heart that as long as the light of hope which the Bethlehem event brings is alive in the lives of the missionaries of the Church, it will continue to inspire a world in need of this Christmas spirit.