THE WORD BECAME FLESH

HOMILY FOR THE SOLEMNITY OF THE NATIVITY OF OUR LORD

Rev. Fr. Ezekoka Peter Onyekachi

Its finally Christmas Day! I am guessing that the bulk of the preparations is over, and that there’s now a pervading sense of peace and quiet in your household. For some people, this day seems to be no different from every other day; after all, the sun rose this morning and it will set this evening, and the pains of everyday life will still be raw. For other people, this day has dawned with a huge sense of hope, especially where there is a white Christmas. Yes, for them the pains of everyday life might still be raw - but they feel an overwhelming sense of healing and joy which mitigates the pain. The celebration of Christmas as the “Christ Mass” belongs to a chosen lifestyle which influences our attitude and response to the gift of life. Furthermore, this joyful, festive lifestyle comes with a message: the message of the Word made flesh.

St. John’s Gospel today opens with a vision of the Word as being present with God before creation (cf John 1:1-18). What Jesus was to be in the moment of His birth from the Virgin Mary, He was also from eternity before creation began. This is the eternal status of the logos (the Word). There never was a time that He was not, that He didn’t exist. However, His being born in our midst marks the beginning of the plan of God regarding our redemption from sin. According to the writer to the Hebrews (cf. Second Reading; Heb. 1:1-6): God has spoken to us through His Son in these last days as the completion and fulfilment of all the prophets and of all the prophecies of old. Through history, God has manifested Himself to humanity in progressive stages which reach the apex, the highest point, in Our Lord Jesus Christ. The Incarnation, when the Christ became flesh as a zygote in the womb of Our Lady, is the apex of divine revelation.  

It is St. John who illumines humanity with the truth that the Christ is none other than God’s creative, life-giving and light-giving Word. The Word is, as it were, the Mind of God, the power of God with which the world was created, and the reason behind the continued sustenance and functioning of the world. The gospel of John begins with the same wording with which the book of Genesis (Gen1:1) opened, with the words ‘in the beginning’. By this, John deliberately implies that the Word was not among the things that were created. The Word is eternal - in the beginning was the Word. There was never a time when the Word was not. There was never a time when the Word lived apart from God – ‘the Word was with God’. The Word has the full substance of God. The Word has every attribute that God has, in such a manner that everywhere and at all times, He is God – ‘the Word was God’. It follows that the Christ is perfectly consubstantial with the Father. In Him, we see perfectly Who God is and how He works (cf. John 14:10-12). 

With the Word of His mouth, the Lord made man, and breathed life into him (cf. Gen 2:7). At creation, the Word made all things. At the Incarnation, the Word became flesh, thereby making Himself the product of Himself. The omnipotence of the Word was manifested in the Incarnation. Having given life and order to creation, He made himself a creature in order to redeem everyone that He has created! The Word refreshes: The Lord sends out His word and it melts every hardened structure (Psalm 147:18). This Word guides: The word of the Lord is a lamp for our feet and a light for our paths (Psalm 119:105). This Word is pure and protects: every word of God proves true and is a shield to those who take refuge in Him (Proverbs 30:5). With poetic flair, Isaiah (cf. First Reading: Is. 52:7-10) visualised a herald heaping so nimbly across the mountains that only the footprints of the herald are visible. This herald, who disappears from sight faster than the sound of his voice, utters powerful words, words of glad tidings, peace, joy and salvation. At Christmas, we desire to hear such words, and our mouths must be ready to utter them, to articulate them, to speak them, to pass them on to others.

Now, in between these two births – the Word of God born from eternity, and the God-Man born at Bethlehem as the Child of Mary - St. John inserts a titanic battle between light and darkness: the light shines on in darkness, a darkness that did not overcome it. Every time that goodness was rejected, the battle between light and darkness was fought all over again. But light always triumphed over darkness, and the light of Christ continues to win to this day. Even when the light is not recognized, or even when it is rejected, it continues to shine in various ways. The light cannot but shine! That’s what light does. And this light continues to shine in our world today. This light warms us up, it gives us life and energy, and it illumines us to illuminate others and to shine on them. We have seen His glory; others too must be allowed to see His glory through us. 

It is Christmas. We shall return home to open our presents, to have our Christmas dinners, to visit friends and to have happy times. All too soon, though, the decorations will be put back in their boxes. A few of the Christmas cards might be kept back, but most will be sent for recycling. The holidays will come to an end. When these festivities are finally over, we must bear in mind that the reason behind what we have just celebrated will always remain with us. Christmas is a lifestyle. It never ends. Let us try, then, never to forget the love and joy we have shared throughout this season. Let’s continue to treasure the warmth of this day forever, and for our hearts to glow with that same warmth and joy. Merry Christmas! God bless you.