THE WORD
FIRST READING: Is 52,7-10
How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of the one bringing good news,
Announcing peace, bearing good news, announcing salvation, saying to Zion,
“Your God is King!”
Listen! Your sentinels raise a cry, together they shout for joy,
For they see directly, before their eyes, the LORD’s return to Zion.
Break out together in song, O ruins of Jerusalem!
For the LORD has comforted his people, has redeemed Jerusalem.
The LORD has bared his holy arm in the sight of all the nations;
All the ends of the earth can see the salvation of our God.
SECOND READING: Hb 1,1-6
Brothers and sisters: In times past, God spoke in partial and various ways to our ancestors through the prophets; in these last days, he spoke to us through a son, whom he made heir of all things and through whom he created the universe, who is the refulgence of his glory, the very imprint of his being, and who sustains all things by his mighty word. When he had accomplished purification from sins, he took his seat at the right hand of the Majesty on high, as far superior to the angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs.
For to which of the angels did God ever say: “You are my son; this day I have begotten you”? Or again: “I will be a father to him, and he shall be a son to me”? And again, when he leads the first-born into the world, he says: “Let all the angels of God worship him.”
GOSPEL: Jn 1,1-18 (or Jn 1,1-5.9-14)
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came to be through him, and without him nothing came to be.
What came to be through him was life, and this life was the light of the human race; the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
A man named John was sent from God. He came for testimony, to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. He was not the light, but came to testify to the light. The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world came to be through him, but the world did not know him.
He came to what was his own, but his own people did not accept him.
But to those who did accept him he gave power to become children of God, to those who believe in his name, who were born not by natural generation nor by human choice nor by a man’s decision but of God.
And the Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us, and we saw his glory, the glory as of the Father’s only Son, full of grace and truth. John testified to him and cried out, saying “This was he of whom I said, ‘The one who is coming after me ranks ahead of me because he existed before me.’”
From his fullness we have all received, grace in place of grace, because while the law was given through Moses, grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God. The only Son, God, who is at the Father’s side, has revealed him.
IN OTHER WORDS
A story is told about St. Arnold Janssen that, one Christmas night, when everyone was already asleep, Fr. Arnold went to the Church where the Nativity scene could be contemplated and from the manger he took into his arms the statue of the baby Jesus. That night, he spent time cuddling him.
How do you spend Christmas? Many of us are busy with parties, gift-giving, alumni homecomings and family reunions. Of course, we also find time to go to Church and attend masses. But how many of us really spare some of their time to “cuddle” the baby Jesus? How many of us take moments of silence to appreciate more deeply the awesome mystery of God becoming a human being like us? Perhaps, St. Arnold’s gesture was his way of understanding and relishing concretely the mystery of the Incarnation. The Word who is God became flesh, and made his dwelling among us. God became a powerless, defenseless, vulnerable baby. Doing so, He has shown us the way that leads to genuine and lasting peace. He has brought light to the darkness of our pride, greed, ambitions, violence, and selfishness. By not clinging to his being God and becoming a baby, he wanted us to understand that we could truly enter God’s Kingdom if we could see things through a child’s eyes.
Christmas then should turn our attention to the little ones, to find the wisdom that God has hidden in them. What strikes me most about babies and little children is their total dependence on those who are taking care of them. Defenseless and powerless they need to receive in order to live and grow. The Word, the Prince of Peace, who became a baby, shows us that genuine peace is through powerlessness and self-emptying. The birth of Jesus happened for the great purpose of bringing hope and change to our wounded and broken world. Let us nd time to celebrate Him who is the reason for the season. A poem by Helen Roberts entitled The Celebration of Jesus’ Birthday is worth pondering on:
Each year when Christmas comes ‘round,
I sometimes wonder if we really understand what it’s all about.
We are so busy talking about Santa Claus,
and rushing to the shopping malls,
trying to hurry and buy them out,
That we never stop and think
that it’s Jesus’ Birthday
We are to Celebrate.
This Christmas, when we open our gaily wrapped Christmas Gifts,
with their Ribbons Bows, and Tinsel,
Let us Remember it’s Jesus’ Birthday.
That’s why It’s Christmas.
Like the wise men with their Gifts, of Frankincense and Myrrh,
Let us give the wonderful gift of peace and love.
For Jesus, was born as the Savior, of the world.
When we sit down to our Christmas Dinner,
Let us bow our heads, and pray,
Let us remember it’s a celebration of Jesus’ birthday.
- Edwin Fernandez, SVD | DWC, Laoag
The Word in other words 2016
An annual project of Logos Publications, The WORD in Other Words Bible Diary contains daily scripture readings and reflections written by priest, brothers, and sisters of the three congregations founded by St. Arnold Janssen (the SVD, SSpS, and SSpSAP). It hopes to serve as a daily companion to readers who continually seek the correlation of the Word of God and human experience.
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Production : Fr. Carlos Maria de Guzman, Jr., SVD and Staff of Logos Publications |
| Cover Design : Malou E. Domingo |
| Liturgical Calendar : Fr. Atilano Corcuera, SVD |
| Production Consultant : Fr. Gerardo del Pinado, SVD |
| Scriptural Texts : New American Bible and Daily Roman Missal |
| Cover artwork based on photos by Fr. Bar Fabella, SVD |
| Published by : Logos Publications, Inc. 1916 Oroquieta St., Sta. Cruz, Manila |
| Email Address: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. |
| Telephone : +63 2 711 1323 |
| Fax : +63 2 732 273 |
| Copyright © 2015 Society of the Divine Word |
