GOD’S WORD FOR THE DAY (based on Catholic Liturgical Readings)
DATE: 25TH DECEMBER 2016
NATIVITY OF THE LORD
(CHRISTMAS DAY)
1ST READING: Isaiah 52:7-10
PSALM: Psalm 98:1-6
2ND READING: Hebrews 1:1-6
GOSPEL: John 1:1-18
THEME: GOD’S GIFT OF LOVE
A story of love that inspires me whenever I think of the essence of Christmas is the “Gift of the Magi” written by O. Henry and first published in 1905. In this story, a young couple, Della and Jim, were very much in love with each other. They were poor but each had one unique possession. Della’s hair was her glory and Jim’s gold watch which he had received from his father was his pride.
As Christmas approached, each secretly thought of what to give to the other as a gift. Della went out the day before Christmas and sold her hair and with the proceeds bought a platinum chain for Jim’s precious watch. Unknown to Della, Jim had also gone to sell his gold watch to buy an expensive tortoise-shell comb for her hair. It was only when the time came to exchange gifts that they both realised what they had done. Each had chosen to give to the other all there was to give.
True love gives all there is to give. Today, we celebrate God’s gift of true love. He did not give us something external to himself; he gave us his very self – “And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father’s only son, full of grace and truth” (Jn 1:14).
God’s Word is the very expression of himself. He created everything through his Word (cf. Gen. 1:3ff) and by means of the prophets he spoke this Word to our ancestors in faith (cf. Heb. 1:1ff). In time, this Word became flesh and dwelt among us.
The translation “dwelt” (from the Greek, “skenoo”) literally means to make ones’ tent (to tabernacle). Therefore, in a literal sense, “the word became flesh and made his tent (tabernacled) among us”. In the Old Testament, the tent of meeting was the place of God’s presence among his people (cf. Ex. 25:8-9). The implication is that you do not have to go far to look for God anymore. The baby in swaddling clothes lying in the manger is Emmanuel, God-with-us. In him, God has given one conclusive answer to all life’s problems and questions. Jesus is God’s answer to every question and God’s response to every request of ours.
Yes, the Word of God became flesh and dwelt among us. May Christ be born in every situation we find ourselves. May the glory of God be revealed in our lives. Merry Christmas.
Prayer: Eternal Father, on Christmas day you gave your best to me – Jesus, your only begotten Son. Inspired by your gift of love, lead me to give my best to someone today. Amen
Andrews Obeng, svd
DIVINE WORD MISSIONARIES
BIBLICAL PASTORAL MINISTRY
(Ghana Province)
“May the darkness of sin and the night of unbelief vanish before the light of the Word and the Spirit of grace. And may the heart of Jesus live in the hearts of all people” (St. Arnold Janssen).