Christmas

Jan 07 2025

The Gaze Turns to Love

It is Christmas Day! The long night of Mary’s labor is over. The holy night when the angels sang has turned to day. The sun has risen. Jesus is here! Red and wrinkled, the baby rests in Mary’s arms. Joseph gazes at the boy’s little fingernails as Mary sleeps. Even the cave where the animals are stabled begins to brighten and warm. Time stands still. The everlasting Word has become flesh and dwells among us. He is here. He is now.

What happens when a newborn arrives? The hours after birth, if not interrupted by emergencies, are a time to gaze. A first-time mother can’t quite believe that her enormous belly is now that tiny child; two eyes, that nose, and “look at his hair!” A father gets shaky inside at how protective he feels when he looks at this little one. Someone exclaims, “Oh, look, he’s got the family chin!” Words feel trivial, unable to capture the amazement. Time stands still.

And then something happens. Time begins anew. Inside of each of these “watchers,” a miracle rises up. Little by little, those who look upon the helpless creature are changed by their gazing. They begin to fall in love. Warmth spreads in the chest. Tears of joy run down the cheeks. Wonder overwhelms the mind. This child is here. This child is now. Can you feel it?

Christmas Day is a moment for gazing. Christmas Day is a time to look at Baby Jesus, the Word who became flesh and who dwells among us. In the manger, in the Eucharist, in moments of prayer, in the bond of family and friends, in service to the community: Look! Jesus is here! Let the tears of joy run down your cheeks. Jesus is here!

Consider/Discuss

The experience of today’s Christmas may be joyous. Or it may be difficult. How is God with you on this day? How is the Word taking flesh and dwelling with you today?
Think back to your most tender, most loving Christmas. What comes to mind? What was it that warmed your heart? How can that memory transform your experience today?

Living and Praying with the Word

Emmanuel, God who is with us, sometimes there is nothing to say. Today is your Christmas. Allow me to have some quiet time just to gaze at you, the newborn in the manger, the Word become flesh. Holy Spirit, come and fill the quiet of my gaze with the strength of your love. You may warm my heart. You may overwhelm my brain. You may send tears of joy down my cheeks. Give me the grace just to sit here and gaze at you with love.

Jan 07 2025

Scripture Study for

The Isaian passage, from near the end of the Babylonian exile, is a proclamation of salvation made by one who brings “glad tidings” (in the Greek translation of the Hebrew Scriptures: euangelion). An important element of the proclamation is the notion that this salvation will be visible to “all the nations” and “all the ends of the earth.” This public salvation is intended to manifest to the whole world both the graciousness and the power of the God of Israel. Thus, the redemption of Israel will contribute to a larger project, seen in other parts of Isaiah, of drawing other nations to praise and worship the God of Israel, and thus share in Israel’s salvation (see Isaiah 2:1–5; 56:3–8).

The Letter to the Hebrews focuses on Christ’s relationship to God as son, heir, and “imprint of [God’s] being.” Precisely as God’s Son, Jesus has accomplished what could not be done otherwise. Although God had truly, but partially, spoken through earlier prophets, now in Jesus—God’s Son and imprint—God speaks fully and clearly. Whereas earlier God had provided for regular and repeated purification from sin, now God has provided a great High Priest who accomplishes purification once and for all (Hebrews 4:14— 5:10; 7:1—8:6). Jesus, as heir, reigns in heaven with God and thus is worthy of the worship of all creation.

The beginning of the Gospel of John announces that Jesus Christ, as the Word (logos) of God, has come into the world and made his dwelling among us (literally, “tabernacled among us”; see Exodus 40:34–35). The Greek word logos reflects, among other things, the “mind” and wisdom of God, or God’s creative plan that governs the world. Thus, the Word-made flesh brings light, grace, truth, the very life of God. Those who believe in him, accepting this free gift, become children of God. Already we hear a key Johannine theme: the gracious gift of God demands a response.

Dec 13 2024

God’s Word Made Flesh

Some friends living in Kingston, New York used to see their grandchildren only when they traveled down to Virginia or over to Connecticut. These visits were occasional, but nowhere near the frequency that doting grandparents desired. What a blessing Skype has become for them, allowing them to visit not only by voice, but by sight. Yet there is one thing better: being there in the flesh.

Today’s readings give us a glimpse into the heart of God and God’s desire to be with us “in the flesh”; they signal how great God’s love was from the start. God’s word first brought creation into being. Then God’s word entered into a relationship, first with Noah, then with Abraham, and then with Moses and the people of Israel. God’s word invited them into an intimate relationship called a covenant. And God kept calling them back again and again from infidelity into intimacy through the words of the prophets.

But all this was not enough. As the author of Hebrews reminds us, “In times past, God spoke in partial and various ways to our ancestors through the prophets; in these last days, he has spoken to us through the Son . . . “ (1:1). God said, “Jesus.” And in the eagle-soaring words of the John’s Gospel: “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.” Beyond only seeing him, the text then proclaims: “From his fullness we have all received, grace in place of grace.”

Consider/Discuss

What do you need this year to absorb more deeply the mystery of the birth of Jesus, the Son of God, the Word made flesh, and what it means for you?
What do you need this year to absorb more deeply the mystery of the birth of Jesus, the Son of God, the Word made flesh, and what it means for our world?
Could it be silence? Time for prayer? Talking about this with another person of faith?

Responding to the Word

God of creation, God of compassion, God of all beginnings, help us to begin anew to enter into the mystery of your Word become flesh that this event might penetrate our minds and hearts and transform our lives not only during this season, but for the coming new year of grace.

Dec 13 2024

Scripture Study for

Isaiah announces the good news of salvation in various ways. First, the moment of proclamation resembles a messenger who swiftly runs to announce that exile and displacement are over. Zion’s God has been victorious over their enemies and is coming to dwell among the people. In a second picture, the arm of God is bared, revealing the source of the divine power. This demonstration of strength reminds the people of the might of their protector. Just as the messenger heralds peace and salvation to Zion, so the deliverance of the city heralds the mighty power of God to the ends of the earth.

The passage from Hebrews acclaims Christ as the agent of revelation, creation, and salvation. As a reflection of God’s glory and an exact representation of God’s being, Christ could rightly be called the revelation of God. As Son of God, Christ is the heir of all things and the agent through whom the world was made and through whom it continues to be sustained. Besides preeminence, this assertion suggests preexistence. Since it was through Wisdom that God created, and Wisdom is the pure emanation of the glory of God, the author concludes that Christ is also the Wisdom of God.

The Gospel of John characterizes Christ as the preexistent Word. Furthermore, like Wisdom, the Word was actively involved in creation. Finally, the Word is the true light that comes into the world. This Word resided in some primordial place, but now has entered human history. Though several translations state that the Word “made his dwelling among us,” a better reading of the Greek might be “tented.” It calls to mind the tabernacle in the wilderness where God dwelt or tented among the people (Exodus 40:34) as well as the tradition about Wisdom establishing her tent in the midst of the people (Sirach 24:8). The Word of God, who is also the holiness and the wisdom of God, now dwells in our midst.

Dec 09 2024

Wham! It’s the Holy Spirit!

He called from his basement bedroom, “Mom, something ran over my blanket in the night!” “It’s fine, go back to sleep,” I called back. He moved upstairs the next night and slept on the living room floor. Again he called, “Mom, something ran over me!”

There was something. It was making noises in the house. My daughter pointed. “Mom, there’s something above the curtain.” I looked up. Two little round eyes looked down at me. We could not catch it. But it was there.

For several days, we heard little noises. I heard a rattle in the cupboard. I opened the door. Suddenly, springing from among the cups, a flurry of motion buzzed my head and stopped on the stairway behind me. I turned around. I saw it. A flying squirrel stared at me from the fourth step.

In today’s story of the baptism of Jesus, we often overlook the third character in this story. We clearly see John the Baptist and Jesus of Nazareth. But the Holy Spirit is here as well, breaking in, doing something new. Were there noises in Jesus’ life before his baptism by John? He had many hidden years that we know nothing about. Then suddenly—wham!—the “dove” of the Holy Spirit—whoosh— buzzes past his head! And his ministry begins.

Why does God work like that? The Holy Spirit is quiet, silent, maybe making a few little noises, then you turn the corner and whoosh! Wham! Something happens.

The author of Titus must have experienced it, too. In today’s reading, he writes of a bath of rebirth and renewal. Strikingly, he uses the Greek word “gushed out” for the way the Spirit moves. Gushed out. Whoosh! Rebirth and renewal happens.

This new year of 2022—is the Spirit rattling around in your house?

Consider/Discuss

Sometimes we turn a corner and whoosh! There is God. For some it comes early in life. For others, a major transformation comes in early midlife, as the baptism was for Jesus. Some may hear the noises of the Holy Spirit for many years and have no idea who that is until a very late age. It can be like turning a gradual corner. It can be abrupt, like a flying squirrel buzzing your head. How have you experienced God transforming you and your life? What has that been like?
We don’t know the “when.” We cannot catch the Spirit’s presence, but there it is, nevertheless. The baptism of Jesus set him on a new track. This week, take a little extra time to pray to the (sometimes overlooked) Holy Spirit: “Come, Holy Spirit, and renew the face of the earth.” Then be ready for whatever comes! To what path is the Lord calling you in this New Year?

Living and Praying with the Word

Holy Spirit, you are often so quiet. You make little noises in our lives. In Jesus’ day, the people were on tiptoe with expectation as they waited for the Messiah that John promised. Help us to be on tiptoe with expectation for you as well. We have no control over when you come. But ready us for your gush! Come, Holy Spirit, come, with your transforming power! We are watching for you.