Mass Readings and Meditations “The Word Among Us” Wednesday, 25
December 2013
Meditation: John 1: The Word Became Flesh
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and
the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things came into
being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come
into being 4 in him was life,[a] and the life was the light of all people. 5
The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.
6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7 He came
as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. 8
He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light. 9 The true
light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world.[b]
10 He was in the world, and the world came into being through
him; yet the world did not know him. 11 He came to what was his own,[c] and his
own people did not accept him. 12 But to all who received him, who believed in
his name, he gave power to become children of God, 13 who were born, not of
blood or of the will of the flesh or of the will of man, but of God.
14 And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have
seen his glory, the glory as of a father’s only son,[d] full of grace and
truth. 15 (John testified to him and cried out, “This was he of whom I said,
‘He who comes after me ranks ahead of me because he was before me.’”) 16 From
his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. 17 The law indeed was
given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has
ever seen God. It is God the only Son,[e] who is close to the Father’s
heart,[f] who has made him known.
Footnotes:
a. John 1:4 Or 3 through him. And without him not one thing came
into being that has come into being. 4 In him was life
b. John 1:9 Or He was the true light that enlightens everyone
coming into the world
c. John 1:11 Or to his own home
d. John 1:14 Or the Father’s only Son
e. John 1:18 Other ancient authorities read It is an only Son,
God, or It is the only Son
f. John 1:18 Gk bosom
The Nativity of the Lord (Christmas)
The Word became flesh. (John 1:14)
This is a day for falling in love. This is the day when Mary and
Joseph look up from the baby in the manger and invite us to gather around. Even
as they savor the moment, they are eager to share it with us as well, this
“good news of great joy
… for all the people” (Luke 2:10).
And so Joseph and Mary invite us to join them on their journey
of discovery. Here, says Mary, as she lifts her newborn from the hay. He is
yours too—he came for you. Take him. Hold him close. Share in the love that
Joseph and I have for this little one.
Like the angels’ birth announcement, the invitation is for
everyone. No one is left out—however unworthy, unspiritual, or unprepared we
may feel. So whoever you are, wherever you are, whatever your state today,
receive this gift of Jesus. Take the child in your arms. Gaze on his face, and
see how much he loves you. Let him lock eyes with you, as babies will, so that
he can search your heart and reveal you to yourself. Let down your defenses,
and fall in love with this Christ child—with God made flesh for you.
According to a wise spiritual director—most likely Fr. Pedro
Arrupe, former superior general of the Society of Jesus—falling in love with
God in this “absolute, final way” is the most practical and far-reaching thing
you could ever do:
“What you are in love with, what seizes your imagination, will
affect everything. It will decide what will get you out of bed in the morning,
what you will do with your evenings, how you will spend your weekends, what you
read, who you know, what breaks your heart, and what amazes you with joy and
gratitude.”
Jesus has come. The Word has become flesh. Fall in love with
him. Stay in love with him. It will decide everything.
“Mary and Joseph, thank you for bringing Jesus to me! Pray that
I might love him as you did—more and more each day.” Amen!
Isaiah 52: 7 How beautiful upon the mountains
are the feet of the
messenger who announces peace,
who brings good news,
who announces
salvation,
who says to Zion,
“Your God reigns.”
8 Listen! Your sentinels lift up their voices,
together they sing for
joy;
for in plain sight they see
the return of the Lord
to Zion.
9 Break forth together into singing,
you ruins of
Jerusalem;
for the Lord has comforted his people,
he has redeemed
Jerusalem.
10 The Lord has bared his holy arm
before the eyes of all
the nations;
and all the ends of the earth shall see
the salvation of our
God.
Psalm 98: Praise the Judge of the World
A Psalm.
1 O sing to the Lord a new song,
for he has done
marvelous things.
His right hand and his holy arm
have gotten him
victory.
2 The Lord has made known his victory;
he has revealed his
vindication in the sight of the nations.
3 He has remembered his steadfast love and faithfulness
to the house of
Israel.
All the ends of the earth have seen
the victory of our
God.
4 Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth;
break forth into
joyous song and sing praises.
5 Sing praises to the Lord with the lyre,
with the lyre and the
sound of melody.
6 With trumpets and the sound of the horn
make a joyful noise
before the King, the Lord.
Hebrews 1: God Has Spoken by His Son
1 Long ago God spoke to our ancestors in many and various ways
by the prophets, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by a Son,[a] whom
he appointed heir of all things, through whom he also created the worlds. 3 He
is the reflection of God’s glory and the exact imprint of God’s very being, and
he sustains[b] all things by his powerful word. When he had made purification
for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, 4 having become
as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than
theirs.
The Son Is Superior to Angels
5 For to which of the angels did God ever say,
“You are my Son;
today I have begotten
you”?
Or again,
“I will be his Father,
and he will be my
Son”?
6 And again, when he brings the firstborn into the world, he
says,
“Let all God’s angels worship him.”
Footnotes:
a. Hebrews 1:2 Or the Son
b. Hebrews 1:3 Or bears along
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