It is well known: a new-born does not speak – little by little, the infant will learn to make sounds that, eventually, will become words.
Is it not amazing that, on this Feast of the Nativity of the Lord, as we look at the baby in the manger, we are told that he was ‘the Word’.
In today’s gospel, the very first line of John’s gospel text says it clearly:
“In the beginning was the Word…” (John 1:1)
The 2nd reading text proclaims the same thing in similar words:
“In the past, God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways,
but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son.”
This is, in fact, the meaning of Christmas:
God is coming to us because he wants to relate to us, relate to us in a special way.
And this relationship starts with a word… a living word –
it has become alive in this new-born child that we look at in the arms of his human mother.
A new-born child of our race, he is one-of-us, and he will speak as we do.
He will be giving us God’s message for us.
This message is one that brings LIGHT to our lives.
“In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind” (John 1:4).
The prophet Isaiah had foreseen it and spoke of it in these words:
“The people walking in darkness have seen a great light;
on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned” (Isaiah 9:2, 1st reading, night mass).
Looking at ourselves, seeing what is happening in our world, we become aware that we really need light.
Hearing people speak around us, we can easily detect the dark areas of sadness, discouragement…
Opinions of all kinds create confusion; new ideologies cause questioning and a sense of loss…
But we are assured that:
“The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” (John 1:5)
So, we become aware that all the puzzles us,
the personal life-situations that cause questioning and anxiety,
the world-events that seem so meaningless and unsettling,
all these are seen in a new light.
The light of this new-born-child named “Emmanuel”, “God-with-us” who, having grown up will remind us:
“I am the light of the world.
Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness but will have the light of life.” (John 8:12)
Note: A Christmas video (in French, under the title: “Noël de Lumière”) continues this reflection: https://youtu.be/6RhHjE4cWYw
Another reflection is available on a different theme in French at: https://image-i-nations.com/nativite-du-seigneur-annee-c-2024-2025/
We are not to try and figure out how many years and decades will pass as we expect the glorious return of Jesus.
Yet, Jesus has said clearly: