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| Nativity - Giovanni Battista Tiepolo - 1732 |
God became man; he came to dwell
among us. God is not distant: he is “Emmanuel”, God-with-us. He is no
stranger: he has a face, the face of Jesus.
This message is ever new, ever surprising, for it surpasses even our
most daring hope. First of all, because it is not merely a proclamation: it is
an event, a happening, which credible witnesses saw, heard and touched in the
person of Jesus of Nazareth! Being in his presence, observing his works and
hearing his words, they recognized in Jesus the Messiah; and seeing him risen,
after his crucifixion, they were certain that he was true man and true God, the
only-begotten Son come from the Father, full of grace and truth (cf. Jn
1:14).
“The Word became flesh”. Before this revelation we once more wonder:
how can this be? The Word and the flesh are mutually opposed realities; how can
the eternal and almighty Word become a frail and mortal man? There is only one
answer: Love. Those who love desire to share with the beloved, they want to be
one with the beloved, and Sacred Scripture shows us the great love story of God
for his people which culminated in Jesus Christ.
God in fact does not change: he is faithful to himself. He who created
the world is the same one who called Abraham and revealed his name to Moses: “I
am who I am … the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob … a God merciful and gracious,
abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness (cf. Ex 3:14-15; 34:6). God
does not change; he is Love, ever and always. In himself he is communion, unity
in Trinity, and all his words and works are directed to communion. The
Incarnation is the culmination of creation. When Jesus, the Son of God
incarnate, was formed in the womb of Mary by the will of the Father and the
working of the Holy Spirit, creation reached its high point. The ordering
principle of the universe, the Logos, began to exist in the world, in a
certain time and space.
“The Word became flesh”. The light of this truth is revealed to those
who receive it in faith, for it is a mystery of love. Only those who are open
to love are enveloped in the light of Christmas. So it was on that night in
Bethlehem, and so it is today. The Incarnation of the Son of God is an event
which occurred within history, while at the same time transcending history. In
the night of the world a new light was kindled, one which lets itself be seen by
the simple eyes of faith, by the meek and humble hearts of those who await the
Saviour. If the truth were a mere mathematical formula, in some sense it would
impose itself by its own power. But if Truth is Love, it calls for faith, for
the “yes” of our hearts.
And what do our hearts, in effect, seek, if not a Truth which is also
Love? Children seek it with their questions, so disarming and stimulating;
young people seek it in their eagerness to discover the deepest meaning of their
life; adults seek it in order to guide and sustain their commitments in the
family and the workplace; the elderly seek it in order to grant completion to
their earthly existence.
“The Word became flesh”. The proclamation of Christmas is also a light
for all peoples, for the collective journey of humanity. “Emmanuel”,
God-with-us, has come as King of justice and peace. We know that his Kingdom is
not of this world, and yet it is more important than all the kingdoms of this
world. It is like the leaven of humanity: were it lacking, the energy to work
for true development would flag: the impulse to work together for the common
good, in the disinterested service of our neighbour, in the peaceful struggle
for justice. Belief in the God who desired to share in our history constantly
encourages us in our own commitment to that history, for all its
contradictions. It is a source of hope for everyone whose dignity is offended
and violated, since the one born in Bethlehem came to set every man and woman
free from the source of all enslavement.
[...]
“The Word became flesh”; he came to dwell
among us; he is Emmanuel, the God who became close to us. Together let us
contemplate this great mystery of love; let our hearts be filled with the light
which shines in the stable of Bethlehem!
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