Christmas - 2021

 John 1:1-5, 9-14

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 came to be through him, and without him, nothing came to be. What came to be through him was life, and this life was the light of the human race; the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world came to be through him, but the world did not know him. He came to what was his own, but his own people did not accept him. But to those who did accept him, he gave power to become children of God, to those who believe in his name, who were born not by natural generation nor by human choice nor by a man’s decision but of God. 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.

 Understanding what is meant by “Word” is the first challenge for us. We think of "Word" as being a noun, an inanimate thing that rests in whatever place we position. We also tend to think of "love" as being a simple emotion or "abide" as a place of rest. When we think of God, however, all things are in motion and require energy to fulfill God's intention. To understand this amazing, mystifying and incredible passage we first come to understand God used "Word" to bring all things into being. 

God said, “Let there be light” and light appeared, light that can never be extinguished. I love the imagery “word” evokes. We communicate by words, we create with words, we express ourselves with words. Words can be wasted or dangerous but the word of God is never less than a complete mission and redemption for us. We believe in the word because the word believed in us first and created us to love the word. The word loved us first, last, and always. "Word" is not a noun it is a verb.

In the past week, we heard Father Shea use words to tell the story of Deacon Dick. His words created a vision that consoled our sadness and pointed us toward consolation 

I have often sat in the quiet during the Christmas season just gazing at our Christmas tree and whatever decorations we have put up that year. In my imagination, the many lights on our tree and those shining around the quaint English village we set up come to represent all of the people of my life who have shared the season with me. Often memories of Christmas’s past come to mind and the memories reflect the richness of my life. I hear Mary Kay Huber sing an incredible rendition of “O Holy Night” during the Christmas Eve service at the First Methodist church in Anaconda while the congregation sang along with her while raising and lowering a hundred candles which threw dazzling shadows around the walls and ceiling of the church. The memories pull at my heart 60 years later.

The lights bring back the words I spoke to baptize a baby named John we gave back to God 40 years ago this past week. I also see the lights shining in the eyes of my sons as they delighted with the first illumination of the tree 30 years ago.

We read and hear these words: What came to be through him was life, and this life was the light of the human race; the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world.

Our Christmas lights dazzle and sparkle and bring us enjoyment but they are nothing compared to the light of Christ which first appeared with his incarnation. What amazes me is the light was always there, always shining in the darkness but we could not see the light until the words were spoken by Mary, “Let it be as you intend” allowed the word to become flesh. This is what revealed the light to us. It happened through the power of the Word.

Our very existence, our joy for the day and all days, our hope and consolation for the future exist in, through, and out of the Word. 

Credo verbum.

Creidim an focal.

I believe the word.