THE NATIVITY OF THE LORD: MASS DURING THE DAY

Isaiah 52: 7-10;
Psalm 97;
Hebrews 1: 1-6;
John 1: 1-18

BREAKING NEWS: GOD HAS BECOME MAN

Today we celebrate the mystery of the Incarnation: God has become man; Jesus is born. This is an old news but always a breaking Good News. The Eternal Word of God has been made flesh and he lives among us. God has become one of us so that by faith we may become children of God. From his fullness, we have received grace upon grace (John 1, 1-18).

In the little child lying in a manger at Bethlehem, we contemplate God. The invisible God has been made visible. Man can now touch God, hear God crying and being consoled. In this little child, God communicates and reveals his love and mercy to mankind (Heb. 1, 1-6). He identifies himself with each one of us. He shares our human condition, our pain and joy, our misery. In this new born, God comes to live with us, to console us, to be our friends and walk the path of life with us.

And this is the Good News that is announced to us today: “How beautiful on the mountain, are the feet of one who brings good tidings, who heralds peace, brings happiness, proclaims salvation…” (Is. 52:7-10). This is the Good News we must carry to our world of fragile peace and broken promises. This is the good tiding we must bring to our brothers and sisters. This is the joyful news we must share in our homes. Christmas is a season of joy and sharing.

As the song goes: “Great things happen when God mixes with us, great and beautiful, wonderful things…” May this year’s Christmas bring you a breakthrough in whatever difficult situation you may find yourself. May the Infant Jesus, the Prince of Peace grant you peace, joy and fullness of life. Amen.

Merry Christmas!!!

Rev. Fr. Géorges KOUWONOU
(Priest of the Diocese of Atakpamé, Togo)

SOLEMNITY OF THE NATIVITY OF OUR LORD (MASS OF THE DAY)

Isaiah 52:7-10
Psalm 97:1-6
Hebrews 1:1-6
John 1:1-18

And God Became Man

This is the day the Lord has made, we will rejoice and be glad in it. Yes, today is Christmas Day, a day on which we celebrate the great mystery: God has become one of us.

God had spoken to our ancestors in various fragmentary ways, says the second reading. But in our time, he has spoken to us through his own Son, Jesus Christ (Heb. 1:1-6). The Word has become flesh, and he lives among us, and we have seen his glory as the only Son of the Father (John 1:1-18).

Thus, in this newly born Baby, lying in a manger, we contemplate God. In this little child, we see the radiant glory of God, the perfect copy of who God is. The Invisible God has become visible. Christmas, therefore, is not the celebration of the birthday of Jesus, where we will be adding a year to his age each time we celebrate Christmas. Otherwise, Jesus would be too old with time.

Christmas is rather the celebration of God’s love for us, when he left his abode to make his home among us. God wanted to be with us. He wanted to identify himself with our human condition, marked with frailty, struggles, suffering and death. He wanted to take what is ours to himself so as to give us what is his.

This is the great Good News to the world of today. We are therefore the heralds of this Good News. We must bring this good news of peace and joy to all (cf. Is. 52:7-10).

I with you, therefore, a Happy Christmas and a Prosperous New Year. May the newborn King reign in your heart. May he give you peace, joy, success and good health.
Amen