Joy to the world, the Lord is come!A Christmas Reflection
by Rev. Robert Johnnene OFA,
Mission Saints Sergius and Bacchus
Based on the Scriptural Readings from Luke 2:1-14, Titus 2:11-15, Titus 3:4-7, Luke 2:15-20, Hebrews 1:1-12, John 1:1-14
These words of the well know Christmas Carol written by Isaac Watts (1674-1748)“Joy to the World, the Lord has come. Let earth receive her King; Let every heart prepare Him room, And Heaven and nature sing” could not express the feeling we all should be having this blessed day nor the mission we have been called to live by the birth of this infant child called Jesus of Nazareth.On Christmas day there are three sets of readings, one for the Midnight Mass, another for the mass at dawn and the third for the later mass of the day. When you combine them all they provide us with the very powerful truth and reason for living according to God‘s will. John 1 begins with these words “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it.” These words are to remind us that Christ came from and is God and that He took on the human form in the same manner as every other human being ever born or to be born, as an infant. He came into this world in the same way as well, in being born of a woman. Let us try to understand the darkness that seems to encompass so many today.I believe that God chose this way in order to let us know that we are all created in His image and we all have a job do to in this world for God. Of course He has also given us free choice therefore we can not accept the job He wishes us to do. There is so much symbolism in the miracle of Christmas. God chose simple people, not the rich and famous. Christ was born in a poor stable filled with the animals of the farmers and travelers. The announcement of Christ’s birth was not to the great and mighty or the High priests but to simple shepherds. God did this to let us know that it is the average person he calls not necessarily the rich and famous. Didn’t Christ say “Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God." Matthew 19:23-25The readings also provide us with the purpose of Christ’s coming to earth; “For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus, We are called to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and live sensibly, righteously and goodly. Somehow that message seems to be all together lost on many people today. Everywhere we hear of news of people who steal, rape, murder and let us not forget wage wars all in search of money, power and domination at the expense of others. Only God has the right to dominate things on this earth since He created them and they are His, we are supposed to be the caretakers and we do not even take that God given responsibility seriously. We have been charged by God to care for this planet earth and all God’s creatures yet we are destroying the ecosystem that God created because it is cheaper and more profitable than using alternative energies that are possible. “Christ gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds. These things speak and encourage and reprimand all authorities. Let no one take no notice of you.” Titus 2:11-15 Jesus told us He came to clarify the law and to give us a new covenant. He told us the way we should live and prime in that message was “Love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, mind, soul and body and love your neighbor as you love yourself” God so loved the world that He gave His only son to us. There is no greater gift anyone could ever receive and how do we repay god for that Gift? We can repay God by living in the manner that Christ instructed us. We can be kind, considerate, loving, caring, forgiving, charitable, and respectful of the differences that God has created in all things. We are called to worship God and be joyful for the things we have been given. The reading from Hebrews lets us know that even the angels are to worship Christ and that His kingdom will last forever."Let all God's angels worship him. In speaking of the angels he says, He makes his angels winds, his servants flames of fire. But about the Son he says, Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever, and righteousness will be the scepter of your kingdom. You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore God, your God, has set you above your companions by anointing you with the oil of joy.” Hebrews 1:6-9The Introit of the second mass of Christmas is a reading from Isaiah 9: 6-7 “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David's throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the LORD Almighty will accomplish this.”On this Christmas day of 2006 let us follow the directions of the angels who announced the Good News to the shepherds watching their flocks. “Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger. And suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased." Let us try to be persons with whom God will be pleased, so that we can fully enjoy the peace and joy the birth of God’s son we celebrate this day. Let us return God’s gift to us by being more tolerant of the differences in others, charitable by giving to organizations and people in need, concerned about the homeless, sick, and disabled of the world. Let us speak out against injustice, war, and greed. In short, let us make a difference in the world and make it a better place tomorrow than it is today.By doing this we will affirm that indeed there is “Joy in the world because the Lord has come and instilled in us His way so that we have become His instrument here on earth to bring about the promised peace of Christ.”
A Blessed and joyous Christmas be with you all.
Fr. Bob Johnnene OFA
