The “Helmut Catch” play in the 2007 season Super Bowl was unbelievable. The “Miracle on Ice” in the 1980 Olympics was unbelievable. The Fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989 was unbelievable. The First Man on the moon in 1969 was unbelievable. The fall of the World Trade Center towers was unbelievable. The rise of the internet and smart phones was unbelievable. Watergate and Nixon’s resignation was unbelievable. The assasination of John F. Kennedy was unbelievable. The passage of time is unbelievable. The rescue of baby Jessica from the well in 1987 was unbelievable. The Rwandan Genocide in 1994 was unbelievable. These are just a few of the unbelievable events that have happened in my lifetime. You could go back in time collecting all such events. Together they are as nothing compared to the Incarnation.
The fact that God, the creator of all things, would become a man for our salvation. And not even just a man but a helpless baby. To live 30 some years in relative obscurity and eventually suffer and die for us. THAT is unbelievable! Jesus could have just appeared as a full grown man. But God chose that He would come into human existence as a child just like each of us. Why did he do this? The Catechism of the Catholic Church answers this question in a four part answer.
- The Word became flesh for us in order to save us by reconciling us with God.
- The Word became flesh so that thus we might know God’s love.
- The Word became flesh to be our model of holiness.
- The Word became flesh to make us “partakers of the divine nature”.
Or to put these in the Words of the Sacred Scripture
- Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.
- No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.
- This is my commandment: love one another as I love you
- I made known to them your name and I will make it known, that the love with which you loved me may be in them and I in them.
Or to put them in the Words of the Mass
- Behold the Lamb of God, behold him who takes away the sins of the world.
Blessed are those called to the supper of the Lamb. - And you so loved the world, Father most holy, that in the fullness of time you sent your Only Begotten Son to be our Savior. Made incarnate by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary, he shared our human nature in all things but sin
- Open our eyes to the needs of our brothers and sisters;
inspire in us words and actions to comfort those who labour and are burdened.
Make us serve them truly, after the example of Christ and at his command. - By the mystery of this water and wine may we come to share in the divinity of Christ who humbled himself to share in our humanity.
Saint Faustina was a Polish nun, mystic, and visionary known as the “Secretary of Divine Mercy” who received visions of Jesus, inspiring the Catholic devotion to Divine Mercy, emphasizing God’s unending merciful love for humanity. Once when she was meditating on the Lord’s Passion, Jesus appeared to her as the Child Jesus. They had the following exchange.
I said, “Jesus, You are so little, and yet I know that You are my Creator and Lord.” And Jesus answered me, I am, and I keep company with you as a child to teach you humility and simplicity.
Yet another time a similar experience.
When I started the Holy Hour, I wanted to immerse myself in the agony of Jesus in the Garden of Olives. Then I heard a voice in my soul: Meditate on the mystery of the Incarnation. And suddenly the Infant Jesus appeared before me, radiant with beauty. He told me how much God is pleased with simplicity in a soul. Although My greatness is beyond understanding, I commune only with those who are little. I demand of you a childlike spirit.
This childlike spirit of the Christmas season is exemplified in stories, books and movies that inspire the message of Christmas.
Fighting armies exchanged friendly talks and even played soccer during the famous Christmas Truce of 1914, an unofficial ceasefire along the Western Front of World War I, where soldiers spontaneously met in “No Man’s Land” to share carols, gifts, and humanity amidst the brutal war, though senior commanders quickly banned such fraternization from happening again.
Charles Dicken’s A Christmas Carol inspires us with the message that change and salvation are possible even amonst the most broken of us. The movie Its a Wonderful Life presents a beautiful message of how intertwined our lives are and how even the routine and humdrum can have positive meaning. A Miracle on 43rd Street has a profound message of believing and having faith even when all seems darkest. Yes, Virginia, There is a Santa Claus talks of the most real things in the world are those that neither children nor men can see. How the Grinch Stole Christmas has the message that Christmas is much more than the presents and food and trimmings. The same message in A Charlie Brown Christmas.
The story of Santa Clause has developed from the stories of a real life saint – Saint Nicholas. Saint Nicholas lived during the 4th century and was a bishop. Before entering the priesthood the story goes that there were three sisters in his neighborhood that did not have money for a dowry. This was a big thing back then and may have relegated them to a life of servitude or prostitution. The story goes that Saint Nicholas on three separate nights tossed a bag of gold into the girls’ stockings hanging by the fire, thus providing them their dowries. He was known thoughout his life for his generosity, especially towards children and the poor.
The message of Christmas is one of love, joy, peace, humility, sacrifice and goodwill. We love these Christmas stories because they contain the transcendentals of truth, goodness and beauty and thus point us to God. The transcendentals are inseparable attributes of God and reflect His divine nature in creation, drawing the human intellect, will, and senses toward Him.
But are we merely celebrating a past event? The Word was made flesh and dwelt among us. These are beautiful scriptural words that are in the prayer the Angelus. But does not God still dwell among us? According to the Gospel of Matthew the last words that Jesus spoke before he ascended to heaven were “…And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age.”. The Bible has many references to God dwelling with, among or in us.
- I will set my tabernacle in your midst, and will not loathe you. Ever present in your midst, I will be your God, and you will be my people. – Lev 26:11-12
- And the Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. – John 1:14
- I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, God’s dwelling is with the human race. He will dwell with them and they will be his people and God himself will always be with them [as their God]. – Rev 21:3
- Jesus answered and said to him, “Whoever loves me will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our dwelling with him. – John 14:23
- Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me and I in him. – John 6:56
- For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them. – Matt 18:20
On this Christmas Day and season and always , let us remember that God is in our midst. As close as a prayer, the Scriptures, a smile or kind word, a hug, the Eucharist. Let us dwell with Him and share Him with others. The Angelus is a beautiful prayer to recite during the Christamas season. It concludes with a request for the Grace of God in:
“Pour forth, we beseech you, O Lord, your grace into our hearts: that we, to whom the Incarnation of Christ your Son was made known by the message of an Angel, may by his Passion and Cross be brought to the glory of his Resurrection. Through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.”
In conclusion let us recall the Word of Scripture covering the Incarnation.
And 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. – John 1:14
All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet:
“Behold, the virgin shall be with child and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel,”
which means “God is with us.” – Mat 1:23
Now there were shepherds in that region living in the fields and keeping the night watch over their flock.
The angel of the Lord appeared to them and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were struck with great fear.
The angel said to them,
“Do not be afraid; for behold, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For today in the city of David a savior has been born for you who is Messiah and Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find an infant wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger.”
And suddenly there was a multitude of the heavenly host with the angel, praising God and saying: “Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.” – Lk 2:8-14
