The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary for the Mass on Christmas Day invite us to rejoice in the implications of the Word Made Flesh.
The Prophet Isaiah declares Let Zion Rejoice
Psalms 98 praises the Judge of the World
* [Psalm 98] A hymn, similar to Ps 96, extolling God for Israel’s victory (Ps 98:1–3). All nations (Ps 98:4–6) and even inanimate nature (Ps 98:7–8) are summoned to welcome God’s coming to rule over the world (Ps 98:9). (Psalms, PSALM 98 | USCCB, n.d.)
The Letter to the Hebrews proclaims God Has Spoken by His Son
* [1:1–4] The letter opens with an introduction consisting of a reflection on the climax of God’s revelation to the human race in his Son. The divine communication was initiated and maintained during Old Testament times in fragmentary and varied ways through the prophets (Heb 1:1), including Abraham, Moses, and all through whom God spoke. But now in these last days (Heb 1:2) the final age, God’s revelation of his saving purpose is achieved through a son, i.e., one who is Son, whose role is redeemer and mediator of creation. He was made heir of all things through his death and exaltation to glory, yet he existed before he appeared as man; through him God created the universe. Heb 1:3–4, which may be based upon a liturgical hymn, assimilate the Son to the personified Wisdom of the Old Testament as refulgence of God’s glory and imprint of his being (Heb 1:3; cf. Wis 7:26). These same terms are used of the Logos in Philo. (Hebrews, CHAPTER 1 | USCCB, n.d.)
The Prologue to the Gospel of John declares The Word Became Flesh.
* [1:1–18] The prologue states the main themes of the gospel: life, light, truth, the world, testimony, and the preexistence of Jesus Christ, the incarnate Logos, who reveals God the Father. In origin, it was probably an early Christian hymn. Its closest parallel is in other christological hymns, Col 1:15–20 and Phil 2:6–11. Its core (Jn 1:1–5, 10–11, 14) is poetic in structure, with short phrases linked by “staircase parallelism,” in which the last word of one phrase becomes the first word of the next. Prose inserts (at least Jn 1:6–8, 15) deal with John the Baptist. (John, CHAPTER 1 | USCCB, n.d.)
Cynthia Schmersal praises the Infinite One, who came as an infant.
Don Schwager quotes The Word Became Flesh and Dwelt among Us.
The Word Among Us shares a Meditation on John 1:1-18.
Friar Jude Winkler reflects on the texts for Christmas.
Richard Rohr urges Christians to move beyond sentimentality to a mature understanding of the implications of the incarnation.
We celebrate the Nativity and ponder the consequences in our life of the Word Made Flesh .
References
Hebrews, CHAPTER 1 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved December 25, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/hebrews/1?1
Isaiah, CHAPTER 52 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved December 25, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/isaiah/52
John, CHAPTER 1 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved December 25, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/john/1?1
Psalms, PSALM 98 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved December 25, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/98?1
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