[Salvation]

The Word Among Us

Meditation: Hebrews 1:1-6

The Nativity of the Lord

What a glorious day filled with the unexpected! No one thought a virgin could become pregnant. No one expected a little baby to turn the world upside down. No one thought that this young carpenter’s name would be revered centuries after his death. No one thought that this man, who stood against the rich and the religious elite, could possibly be the Messiah. They didn’t expect him to preach forgiveness, turning the other cheek, and loving one’s enemies. No one expected Jesus.

Jesus confounded the rich, and he aggravated the religious. He called the poor rich, and said that those who are blind could receive their sight (Luke 4:18). He said that the Messiah wasn’t born to lead the Israelites out of physical captivity but to lead sinners out of spiritual captivity so that they could love and serve God. Even today, it all sounds so radical and so foolish.

So let’s look at that baby in the manger. Let’s ask, “Why did God entrust his Son to human care? Why did Jesus accept death on a cross when he could have prevented it? Was he being foolish, or did he know exactly what he was doing? Why does the Spirit stay with us and persist, even when we can be so quick to turn away from him?”

Why? Because of love.

Love makes us fools. We can be pretty irrational when we are in love. And our God is in love with us. He does irrational things like sending his Son to save us and his Spirit to comfort and guide us. He does foolish things like forgiving us and giving us the Eucharist. Today, as we celebrate Christmas, Jesus wants us to put our trust in God’s foolish, perfect love. For those who consider themselves to be “fools” for Christ are on the right path (1 Corinthians 4:10; 1:18). Have a blessed and happy Christmas.

“All glory and praise to you, Lord Jesus, for your love! May all your children come to embrace you, and may the foolishness of your gospel prevail over the ‘wisdom’ of this world!”

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

[Salvation]

Vultus Christi

In principio erat Verbum

By

Father Mark

on December 25, 2008 10:24 AM |

You Can No Longer Fear Me, You Can Only Love Me

Last night, in his Christmas homily, Pope Benedict XVI said, "The medieval theologian William of Saint Thierry once said that God - from the time of Adam - saw that his grandeur provoked resistance in man, that we felt limited in our own being and threatened in our freedom. Therefore God chose a new way. He became a child. He made himself dependent and weak, in need of our love. Now - this God who has become a child says to us - you can no longer fear me, you can only love me."

The Wood of Crèche and of Cross

This is an extraordinary painting of the Nativity, principally because of the crucifix on the rustic shelf inside the stable. It is the work of Lorenzo Lotto (1480-1556). The nakedness of the Child in the manger presages His nakedness on the cross. His arms are outstretched in the manger as on the cross. In Bethlehem, the Virgin Mother and Saint Joseph contemplate Him; on Calvary the Virgin Mother and Saint John will look upon Him pierced.

Adoring Silence

According to an ancient monastic tradition, there is no homily at the Mass of Christmas Day. The Prologue of Saint John -- the mystery of the Word out of silence -- calls for an adoring silence. At Mass today I will sing the Gospel of the Prologue of Saint John to an exquisite First Mode melody. The Prologue is a Gospel that simply has to be sung. And after it, there has to be silence. After the Word -- no other words. Tacere et adorare.

Saint John the Theologian presents us with the ineffable mystery of the Word: the Word facing the Father from all eternity; the Word made flesh, pitching his tent among us, that we might see his glory. Before the glory of the Word, all other words fall silent. In the presence of the Word, human discourse stammers and fails. Silence alone is worthy of the mystery.