Today’s Reflection
Gospel: Lk 1: 67-79
December 25, 2022 | Sunday

Today’s Gospel

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 were made through him, and without him nothing came to be. Whatever has come to be, found life in him; life, which for human beings, was also light, light that shines in darkness, light that darkness could not overcome.

A man came, sent by God; his name was John.

He came to bear witness, as a witness to introduce the Light, so that all might believe through him.

He was not the Light, but a witness to introduce the Light; for the Light was coming into the world, the true Light that enlightens everyone.

He was in the world, and through him the world was made, the very world that did not know him.

He came to his own, yet his own people did not receive him; but to all who received him, he empowers to become children of God, for they believe in his name.

These are born, but not by seed, or carnal desire, nor by the will of man: they are born of God.

And the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us; and we have seen his glory, the glory of the only Son of the Father: fullness of truth and loving-kindness. John bore witness to him openly, saying, “This is the one who comes after me, but he is already ahead of me, for he was before me.”

From his fullness we have all received, favor upon favor. For God had given us the law through Moses, but Truth and Loving-kindness came through Jesus Christ.

No one has ever seen God, but God-the-only-Son made him known: the one, who is in and with the Father.

Today’s Reflection:

Nowadays the celebration of Christmas is overshadowed by superficial merriment. More than the material things we give and receive, Christmas is, first and foremost, God’s giving of himself to humanity without expecting anything in return. Secondly, Christmas is a mysterious exchange and encounter between divinity and humanity. God allowed himself to become human, so that we could become divine. More than the traditional exchange of gifts, this joyous season should teach us how to give ourselves entirely to God by serving those in need, so that we, who are poor, would become rich by God’s mercy. God, who is rich in grace, became poor for us. Christmas shows us that “God loves all, and turns his back on none; good or twisted, ignorant or wise. Christmas is a time to give your heart to everyone,” a popular poem recites. /Vulnerasti, 2022