Christmas Day – Year C
December 25, 2024 10:30 AM
Saint Cecilia Catholic Community
Deacon Sharon Kay Talley
Isaiah 52:7-10 | Psalm 98:1-6
Hebrews 1:1-6 | John 1:1-18
+In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, AMEN.
Today, I am absolutely thrilled to extend my Christmas blessings to all of you present today, either in person here at St. Cecilia’s or joining us online. As we gather together in celebration of the birth of Our Savior, Jesus, I am overflowing with gratitude for each and every one of you! May this Christmas Season be filled with love, peace, and happiness as we reflect on the miraculous gift of Jesus!
Some of you may recall that Robert Louis Stevenson was a Scottish novelist, essayist, poet, and travel writer who is best known for works such as “Treasure Island”, “The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde”, “Kidnapped”, and “A Child’s Garden of Verses”. He also wrote a Christmas prayer that I’d like to share with you today.
Loving Father, help us to remember the birth of Jesus, that we may hare in the song of angels, the gladness of shepherds, and the worship of the wise men. Close the door of hate and open the door of love all over the world. Let kindness come with every gift and good desires with every greeting. Deliver us from evil by the blessing which Christ brings and teach us to be merry with clear hearts. May this Christmas morning make us happy to be Thy children, and this Christmas evening, bring us to our beds with grateful thoughts, forgiving and forgiven, for Jesus’ sake. Amen
In today’s Gospel from John, the prologue presents a powerful and complex message about the nature of Jesus and His role in salvation. This passage opens with the famous declaration, “In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God.” This statement affirms the eternal existence of Jesus as the Word of God, who is both distinct from and united with the Father. Although some of our protestant sisters and brothers contend that the Bible is the Word of God, our Gospel today tells us that is not correct. Jesus is the Word of God as John tells us today when he highlights the divine nature of Jesus and His role in creation, as the Word through whom all things are made.
The prologue then goes on to describe the coming of Jesus into the world as the light that shines in the darkness. This imagery conveys the idea of Jesus as the source of spiritual enlightenment and redemption for humanity. Just as light dispels darkness and reveals truth, Jesus brings the light of God’s love and grace into a world darkened by sin and ignorance. This metaphor serves as a powerful reminder of the transformative power of Jesus in our lives, illuminating our path with the truth of God’s Word.
As the prologue continues, it emphasizes the rejection of Jesus by the world, highlighting the theme of incarnation and its significance for salvation. Despite the rejection and disbelief of many, those who receive Jesus and believe in His name are given the right to become children of God. This theme of adoption and inclusion underscores the universal scope of God’s love and grace, available to all who place their faith in Jesus as the Son of God and Savior of the world.
This prologue also reveals the dual nature of Jesus as both fully divine and fully human, a mystery known as the incarnation. The Word became flesh and dwelt among us, becoming one of us to reconcile humanity to God. This profound truth is central to Christian theology, affirming the unique and incomprehensible nature of God’s love for us in sending His Son to become one with us in our humanity.
On this Christmas Day, we are reminded of the profound significance of Jesus’ birth as the fulfillment of God’s promise to bring salvation to humanity. The light of Christmas shines in the darkness, bringing hope to a world in need of redemption. As we celebrate the birth of Jesus, we are called to reflect on the mystery of the incarnation and its implications for our lives.
The prologue of John’s Gospel challenges us to consider our response to Jesus and to recognize Him as the source of our salvation. Will we accept Jesus as the Word of God, the light of the world, and the source of eternal life? Will we believe in His name and become children of God, heirs of His Kingdom and the recipients of His grace? These are the questions that Christmas invites us to ponder and respond to with faith and humility.
As we gather to celebrate the birth of Jesus, let us remember the profound truth of the prologue of John’s Gospel today and its message of hope and salvation. Let us embrace the mystery of the incarnation and the transformative power of Jesus in our lives. And let us share the light of Christ with others, so that all may come to know the love and grace of God revealed in the Word made flesh. This is the true meaning of Christmas, a celebration of God’s greatest gift to humanity, the gift of His Son, Jesus Christ, Our Lord.
Amen.