By Fr Francis Gonsalves SJ –
The Nativity of Our Lord – Cycle B – December 25, 2020
Readings of the Midnight Mass: Isa 9:2-7; Titus 2:11-14; Lk 2:1-14
Readings of the Mass at Dawn: Isa 62:11-12; Titus 3:4-7; Lk 2:15-20
Readings of the Mass of Day: Isa 52:7-10; Heb 1:1-6; Jn 1:1-18
“And the Word became flesh and lived among us” (Jn 1:14)
Prologue: 2020 being the Covid-19 year of sickness, separation, deaths, lockdowns and anxiety, worldwide, it is perhaps best to focus on divine love made manifest in ‘God’s Word becoming flesh and living among us’. God is with us in Jesus; and God’s Spirit never fails to give us hope and strength. One can reflect upon the priceless gift of Jesus, The Face of God, as well as the
Holy Family—Jesus, Mary, Joseph—with a special focus on Joseph since Pope Francis has announced the ‘Year of Joseph’ from Dec. 8, 2020, to Dec. 8, 2021. Indeed, the mystery of Christmas, the ‘Christ-Missa’—i.e., God’s mission in sending His Son to save us—overflows into the mystery and mission of the Holy Family, which is a model for all Christian families.
Three Signposts from Scripture:
- Readings of Isaiah regarding the Messiah: are many. The prophesies of Isaiah—written over a period of two centuries spanning before and after the Babylonian Exile—are pregnant with hope and joy. Isa 9:2-7 was originally a coronation anthem. Every new
Davidic king was welcomed with the hope that he would be the ideal king. Such an ideal king would bring in an era of great happiness expressed in two ‘joy-full’ images:
(a) of harvesters after a bountiful harvest; and,
(b) of victorious hunters/warriors. The “for a child has been born for us, a son given to us” (v.6) refers to the king, who, upon his enthronement would rule as if he were God’s own son (see Ps 2:7). This prophesy would find fulfillment only in Jesus, the Messiah, true Son of God. Isa 62:11-12 is written after the return from the Exile when the people suffer loss of their identity: both,
communitarian and religious. The prophet consoles them, prophesying to this so-called ‘daughter of Zion’ (v.11, referring to Jerusalem) that “your salvation comes” but now not only for them but “to the end of the earth”. Thus, the “Redeemed of the Lord” have reason to be hopeful and happy. Isa 52:7-10 is similar in tone to the previous prophesy.
The bearer of good tidings who assures us: “Your God reigns” (v.7) has “beautiful feet”: a poetic way of expressing gladness. While the returnees from Exile are told: “Break forth together into singing,” even amidst “the ruins of Jerusalem,” they are informed that future freedom will not merely be a return from some exile, but that: “all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God” (v.10), foretelling universal salvation.
- Readings of Luke and John fulfilling Law and Prophets: can be used as a kind of preface to the forthcoming feast of the Holy Family. While the readings of the previous weeks of Advent—especially from the gospel according to Luke—describe the extraordinary workings of God’s Spirit in the lives of very ordinary people like Zechariah, Elizabeth, John, Mary and Joseph of Nazareth, the gospel according to John deals theologically with God’s Word present from the very beginning of creation. In present times of the pandemic, it would help not only to reflect upon the persons and events of the Christmas story in a historical perspective, but also to see their theological significance in the whole plan of salvation—from creation where God’s word and spirit work in
harmonious conjunction with each other (Genesis chapters 1 and 2) to the Incarnation, where God’s “Word becomes flesh” to live with us.
Seen in the larger landscape of God’s providential functioning in our lives, we are able to make meaning out of totally unexpected events like the Covid-19 pandemic. All the ups and downs, births and deaths can be seen as part of God’s loving plan; i.e., God becoming one of us, humans, that we might become more and more Christlike and godly. What we—especially the
‘least’ of our sisters and brothers—are enduring, God’s Son, Jesus, has endured in the startling circumstances of his birth in poverty, hardships, rejection, danger to life, etc.
- Paul’s Letters to Titus—which are the second readings of the Masses of midnight and dawn—speak of the first and the second comings of Christ (see 2:11,13); as well as describe the salvation that Christ brings in terms of the interplay of human collaboration with divine grace (2:14). Titus was a Gentile convert of St Paul who became his faithful companion and fellow-missionary. Paul tells him that salvation is not merely meant for some exclusive ‘chosen people’ but for all people all over the world. This is “renewal by the Holy Spirit” (3:5), which God has “poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Saviour” (3:6). Thus, while the Incarnation is an act of God, totally gratuitous and unmerited by human beings, we ought to rejoice at becoming “heirs according to the hope of eternal life” (3:7). This is a reiteration of the traditional theme: ‘God becomes one of us, so that we might become more like God’, explained above.
Covid Christmas Call: Amidst the apparent helplessness and hopelessness of the Covid crisis, we are called to surrender our hearts to God, giving God not some-thing, but some-one: myself.
In Lighter Vein: The beasts at Jesus’ manger were overjoyed to have a godly guest in their midst. “I’ll take the holy family for a joy-ride!” brayed the donkey. “I’ll gift him my eggs!” clucked the hen. The cow mooed, “He’ll never lack milk as long as I live!” The shaggy sheep said, “With my wool, his mother will make him a coat!” Last, the little lamb said, “I’m ready to die for him. Lamb chops will be great for his parents to celebrate his birthday feast!” What shall I give him?
Food for Reflection:
Poetess Christina Rossetti wrote: “What can I give Him, poor as I am? If I were a shepherd, I’d bring Him a lamb; If I were a wise man, I would do my part; Yet what I can, I give Him–give my heart!” Give Him your heart—have a hearty, Spirit-filled Christmas!
Fr. Francis Gonsalves, SJ is the Executive Secretary, CCBI Comm. of Theology & Doctrine and President, Jnana-Deepa Vidyapeeth, Pune and former Principal of Vidyajyoti College, Delhi. He is also the Executive Secretary of the CCBI Commission for Theology and Doctrine. He has authored many books and articles and is a columnist with The Asian Age and The Deccan Chronicle national dailies.