Solemnity of the Nativity of the Lord – Mass during the day – Deacon Owen

TODAY IS NAMED THE NATAVITY OF THE LORD

The celebration of the mass on Christmas Day. It is the day we set aside for the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ our savior and king.  Christmas is a time for hope and waiting of looking forward expectantly to find just what we will receive.

Our Gospel this morning is a great heady document developing the whole outline of the Gospel of John.  It is the description, the beginning of God’s relationship to man and man’s to God.

There is a series of definitions that give us a jumping off place for our study.

We are told that the Word was with God and the Word was God.  Jesus was the Word, we are told elsewhere that Jesus was the Word.

He was in the beginning with God and He was God.

We are told that all things came into being through Him and the definition of what came into being was life, and this life was the light of the human race, it was the light shining in the darkness and darkness wasn’t able to overcome it.

The reading then goes on to identify the man John who was sent from God to identify and to testify about the light.  This true light which enlightens everyone and comes into the world.  We are told that although John was not the light or the source of the light but he is the source of the he was here and was sent here and brings God’s message.  He explained that Jesus was the Light,

That he was in the world and the world came to be through him but the world did not know him.  He came as man so that He could come to those who were in the world to whom he would be able to speak and teach with them and his message.

Jesus came into the world to his own and although his own didn’t accept him they were given the power to become to become children of God.  From this unique relationship produced a new generation formed not by Man’s plan but by the path  allowed by God.

And so the testified word of God became flesh.  Jesus became the Word and made his dwelling was made among us.  And those of us who reached out to the Word.  Saw his glory and the glory  of the  of God’s only son full of grace and truth.

John testified to him saying  this Word is the one who is coming after me ranking ahead of me because he existed  from the initial Word.

Christmas is a time for hope, a time for waiting,

At Christmas we all wait.  We wait for presents, we wait for family get-togethers, and we hope.  We hope for happiness.  We hope for good times.  We hope for family peace and joy together.

Sometimes we find what we’re looking for and sometimes we miss it by a mile.  But Christmas is about expectation.  About waiting.  About wanting.  About hoping.  About lonjging.  This is true for all of us, pessimists and optimists alike.  Usually we find what we expect.  Sometimes we are surprised.

Christmas is special.  Isaiah tells us that “The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light.”  And, “How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who bring glad tidings, announcing peace, bearing good news, announcing salvation and saying to Zion,  “Your God is King.”

And if that doesn’t make it clear enough the Letter for the Hebrews today’s second reading tells us that although.  In times past God spoke in partial and various ways to our ancestors through the prophets, in these last days, he had spoken through the Gospel.  And although we are so blessed.  Do we realize how blessed we are??   I hope we understand  how we got here because here we are now.

But that isn’t always how we feel.  We are here, doing our duty, teaching our children to be grateful and to realize that Christmas isn’t just presents but is God truly with us.  But we have been so busy.  So stressed, so intent on getting the right gifts, doing the right thing.  Keeping everyone happy.

Now is the time we need to let go.  This is Christmas.  God is truly with us.   God is here.  Right here!! Right now!! We are incredibly blessed.  What more can we want??  Jesus is here for us!! God loves us.  What more can we want??

If we are still looking for the special argument what will identify for us God’s message   we have only to keep looking.  And then turn-it-over-to-God.

He teaches us about himself how we come to possess him as he became one of us. And as we are possessed by him.

The message is not the same for each of us,

The characters in the nativity narrative tell a whole nuther story the angels carry messages from almighty God to special people their information was always accurate and unquestionable.

The three kings are the representative from God to the most influential politicians in the world.

The shepherds carried the message from God to the common people, with whatever special message was needed by them.

There is a special Christmas message for each of us, all we have need to do is to listen intently and then step out in faith.