Christmas (B)

Is 52:7-10
Ps 98:1, 2-3, 3-4, 5-6
Heb 1:1-6
Jn 1:1-18 or Jn 1:1-5, 9-14

Hello, I'm Franciscan Father Greg Friedman, with the "Sunday Soundbite" for the feast of Christmas. I want to tell you a true story that happened on a Christmas Eve many years ago.

One of my Franciscan confreres, Brother Tim, enjoys celebrating this season so much we’ve dubbed him "Father Christmas." Brother Tim credits his love of Christmas to his father. One Christmas Eve in the 1960s when Tim was a youngster, his dad piled all the kids into the car to get them out of the house so Mom could make final holiday preparations. As they drove past Sears, Tim's father suggested a walk through the toy department, to enjoy the sights and sounds.

One display attracted everyone’s attention—a huge auto racing set.

As the kids oohed and aahed over it, Tim's dad suddenly said, "You like it? Let’s take it home!" To the utter amazement of the children, he bought the set, squeezed it and the kids back into the car, and they all drove home.Even today, as Tim recalls his father’s extravagant gesture, tears come to his eyes.

The extravagance of Tim's father reminds me of God's extravagance in giving us Jesus. Our own Christmas giving is meant to symbolize God's generosity to us. As we give our gifts—large or small—let’s be grateful that the Father gave us the greatest gift of all.

Scripture:

•How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings glad tidings, announcing peace, bearing good news, announcing salvation, and saying to Zion, “Your God is King!” (Isaiah 52:7)

•All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation by our God. (Psalm 98:3b)

•…in these last days, he has spoken to us through the Son, whom he made heir of all things and through whom he created the universe, who is the refulgence of his glory, the very imprint of his being, and who sustains all things by his mighty word. (Hebrews 1:2,31)

•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)

Reflection:

•What gift do you bring this day?

•What gift do you hope to receive?

•Is Jesus born once or eternally in all hearts, announcing peace and bearing salvation?

Just imagine the incredible kindness and mercy! He was the only son, but he did not want to remain alone. So that humans might be born of God, God was born of humans. Begotten of God is he through whom, we were created; born of a woman is he through whom we are to be re-created. The Word first wished to be born of humans, so that you might be assured of being born of God. (Sermon on John 2:13)