The nativity of our Lord Christmas Day December 25, 2003.Isaiah 52:7-10 Psalm 98 Hebrews 1:1-4 [5-12] John 1:1-14 First Reading There is a quality of majesty about the readings for Christmas Day, communicating a sense of calm and confidence, grounded in the conviction that in the gift of Jesus God has acted decisively to bring salvation to God's people. Second Isaiah sets the tone for the day, picturing the messenger who at last arrives, declaring peace, good news, and salvation. The root of this happy proclamation is simple: "God reigns." This is the source of great joy that calls forth singing. The Lord returns to Zion! The language calls to mind the enthronement psalms Psalms (sämz) or Psalter (sôl`tər), book of the Bible, a collection of 150 hymnic pieces. Since the last centuries B.C., this book has been the chief hymnal of Jews, and subsequently, of Christians. , which celebrate the majesty of God's reign, received with joyful singing by the people of God and by the whole of creation (Psalms 93, 95-99). Even as the fulfillment of the promise remains in the future, the prophet creates a surprising sense of immediacy by focusing on the arrival of the messenger. The proclamation is made with perfect verbs, in Hebrew expressing completed action. "The Lord has comforted his people, he has redeemed Jerusalem." The prophecy pictures the return of the exiles from Babylon as being like the deliverance Deliverance See also Freedom. Aphesius epithet of Zeus, meaning ‘releaser.’ [Gk. Myth.: Zimmerman, 292–293] Bolivar, Simón (1783–1830) the great liberator of South America. [Am. Hist. from slavery in Egypt. However, instead of leaving in haste Adv. 1. in haste - in a hurried or hasty manner; "the way they buried him so hurriedly was disgraceful"; "hastily, he scanned the headlines"; "sold in haste and at a sacrifice" hastily, hurriedly , the people will depart in dignified procession. God will go before them and be their rear guard (52:12). The return of the exilic community to the ruined city Location The Ruined City is a fictional stronghold located in the northern wastes of Nosgoth, the land in which the Legacy of Kain series takes place. It is located close to the frozen cliffs where, in the Blood Omen era, Malek's Bastion stood. of Jerusalem is also the return of God to rule. In a similar way, the reading from Hebrews declares what God has accomplished. While in the past the word of God was mediated through the prophets, now God has given direct and unmediated Adj. 1. unmediated - having no intervening persons, agents, conditions; "in direct sunlight"; "in direct contact with the voters"; "direct exposure to the disease"; "a direct link"; "the direct cause of the accident"; "direct vote" direct communication by the Son. There is a beautiful expression of reverence and awe in the exalted ex·alt·ed adj. 1. Elevated in rank, character, or status. 2. Lofty; sublime; noble: an exalted dedication to liberty. 3. language, describing the Son as "the reflection of God's glory and the exact imprint of God's very being." The high Christology of Hebrews is a wonderful match for the high Christology of the Gospel reading. In the first verses of John's Gospel, we are given the perspective from which we are to understand what is to follow. John wants us to know who Jesus is and who he is not. He is not simply a teacher of righteousness The Teacher of Righteousness is a figure found in some of the Dead Sea Scrolls at Qumran, most prominently in the Damascus Document (CD). This document speaks briefly of the origins of the sect, 390 years after the exile and after 20 years of 'groping' blindly for the way "God... , a miracle worker, or a martyr martyr Person who voluntarily suffers death rather than deny his or her religion. Readiness for martyrdom was a collective ideal in ancient Judaism, notably in the era of the Maccabees, and its importance has continued into modern times. . He is the Word made flesh--the creative and redeeming power of God present in a human life. Jesus as the Word does not provide information about God but is the very presence of God. In Jesus' life, ministry, death, and resurrection, God makes God's self known to us. Jesus is the self-expression of God. It is not enough, however, to read the Johannine prologue pro·logue also pro·log n. 1. An introduction or preface, especially a poem recited to introduce a play. 2. An introduction or introductory chapter, as to a novel. 3. An introductory act, event, or period. for its beautiful language and high Christology. In the prologue we encounter a theme that will be repeated at the end of the Gospel. This Gospel was written so that we may believe and have life through Jesus. The prologue is more than a word about Jesus. It affirms who Jesus is for us. Through believing in Jesus' name, we receive the power to become children of God. We become born of God, born from above, and born to new life. Pastoral Reflection The Scripture texts for Christmas Day celebrate the faithfulness of God, who has acted decisively on our behalf. In a way, though, our situation is still like that of Second Isaiah. We speak of God's intervention in human affairs as completed action, yet we also still wait for the fullness of the reign of God to be revealed, for all tears to be wiped away and all creation to be made new. In the meantime Adv. 1. in the meantime - during the intervening time; "meanwhile I will not think about the problem"; "meantime he was attentive to his other interests"; "in the meantime the police were notified" meantime, meanwhile , we may look to the Incarnation to give shape to our spiritual journey. When the Word became flesh, God revealed a desire to be in relationship with us. As God seeks us, so we--if we are wise--will seek God. In a life shaped by prayer and worship, by Bible reading and Christian fellowship, we seek communion with the One who seeks us. We seek to belong, ever more deeply, in love to the One who has loved us with a love that is stronger than death. In addition, the message of the Word made flesh Word Made Flesh was started in 1991, as a non-profit 501(c) (3) organization that exists to serve and advocate for the poorest of the poor in urban centers of the majority world. The organization focuses most of its work on the most vulnerable of the poor – women and children. reminds us that faith also requires flesh. In Christ, God has taken on our flesh, taken on our sin, taken away our condemnation. Such amazing a·maze v. a·mazed, a·maz·ing, a·maz·es v.tr. 1. To affect with great wonder; astonish. See Synonyms at surprise. 2. Obsolete To bewilder; perplex. v.intr. goodness calls for a similarly embodied response from us, that praise and thanksgiving might become visible in every aspect of our lives. Faith can never remain only a matter of head or heart, limited to thinking or feeling. Faith needs flesh. Faith comes to life in our pursuit of justice, mercy, and compassion. Christmas Day also offers the preacher the opportunity to simply celebrate the goodness of God. Following the lead of the Epistle and Gospel readings, we might look beyond the manger manger cattle trough which served as crib for Christ. [N.T.: Luke 2:7] See : Nativity in Bethlehem to contemplate what it means that God has come to us in Christ. In Christ, God has come to dwell among us and take on our flesh. Christ has proclaimed to us the reign of God, healed our diseases, and delivered us from the power of Satan. Christ suffered and died for our sin, bearing the condemnation that was ours. On the third day, Christ was raised from the dead, and has promised to come again. This is the whole mystery we receive. The exalted and majestic language of our Christmas Day readings help to remind us that the traditional Christmas narrative is only the beginning of the story. |
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