The Christmas mystery offers to us and to the whole world a fundamental truth about God, that God is not distant.
God is Emanuel. God is with us. The Infant Jesus of Bethlehem who is truly God is also truly one of us. God is enfleshed in the flesh of the Infant Jesus which He received from His Virgin Mother who bore Him in her womb.
An early Christian theologian, Tertullian, used an expression to capture this mystery of God enfleshed in the Infant Jesus: “caro cardo salutis.” That is, the flesh of Christ is the heart of salvation. This truth of the closeness of God can offer us and the whole world joy and hope. God couldn’t get any nearer to us than appearing in our human form.
The angels at Jesus’ birth announced Glad Tidings, Good News which we can hear again this Christmas 2013. That News which brings joy is that we are so loved by God that God became flesh to make it easy for us to know God’s love. Jesus is God’s Eternal Word who enters time and history as a human person. He speaks human words. His presence among us by His birth in Bethlehem speaks God’s Word to us about the love of God for each one of us.
This Christmas 2013 may we hear God’s word of love. May we hear in our hearts and in our souls and experience in our lives that we are loved by God. May this knowledge of God’s love bring us joy and hope.
Christmas is about God entering into the world to share human life with us. Saint John in His Gospel uses a very powerful image to express this mystery of God: “The Word became flesh and dwelt among us.” God has lived among us. God has made Himself at home among us. The Greek language of Saint John can be translated as, “the Word became human and set up a tent among us.”
This is not a temporary arrangement. This is about God moving in. This is about God’s adoption of us as children. This is a message of Great Joy for us and for the whole world!
In the Christmas Carol, O Holy Night, the third line has always been a favorite: “Long lay the world in sin and error pining – Til He appeared and the soul felt its worth.”
May our souls feel their worth this holy Christmastide. May we know that we are worthy of such a Savior, the Child of Mary, the Son of God who is neither difficult to know nor to understand. This Divine love is God’s Gift of a Savior who brings hope to us and to the world.
A Blessed Christmas to you and to your loved ones. May the love of God be with you each day throughout the New Year. May you know your worth as loved by God. May this truth bring joy and hope to your life.
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