2023-12-24 11:51:04
All the readings from today’s Mass, December 25, Nativity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, speak to us regarding the power and majesty of God. Isaiah announces: “Your God reigns! And the ends of the earth will see salvation.” The psalm invites us to acclaim the King. Paul proclaims that “the Son is seated at the right hand of the Majesty of God” and John, at the beginning of his Gospel solemnly affirms the divinity of Jesus Christ: “the eternal Word made flesh who dwelt among us full of grace and truth and of whom “We saw his glory as the only begotten of the Father.”
Today’s liturgy is – or should be – as majestic, solemn, joyful and beautiful as we can celebrate it. These holidays, like Easter, are the most important of the year for Christians.
Well, a very widespread and appreciated custom is that, once the Eucharistic rite with the blessing has ended, we attendees approach to kiss the foot of the naive figurine of a tiny child barely covered with a white diaper. The fact is that we faithful naturally accept the paradox of venerating the Majesty of an Omnipotent God in the image of a newborn.
Yesterday, at the celebration of Vespers, twice Luke’s story did not give the sign: the redeemer has been born to you and you will find him wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger.
An evangelist friend explained to me a long time ago the meaning of the “sign”: the lambs that were offered in the temple of Jerusalem, as prescribed in Leviticus, had to be perfect, without any stain or defect and, therefore, to protect them from any bump or stain, they were wrapped in strips of cloth… like those used by midwives to wrap newborns. That is, “diapers.”
I think that for Joseph and Mary (good Israelites who know the laws of worship) the detail would not go unnoticed and, in some way, they would capture the sign as an omen and announcement. The prophecies would be fulfilled and the King would work out the salvation announced through sacrifice.
God came to us as a helpless little one. A King has been born to us… and he will be sacrificed. The most surprising thing regarding the Christian faith, it seems to me, is this paradoxical character, this disproportion and excess according to human logic, of the love that God has for us.
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#Gospel #Reflection #Homily #Monday #December