Homily for Christmas day (the Nativity of the Lord) 25-12-2021 by Fr. Lubem Robert Waya, osj.
First Reading: Isaiah 52:7-10
Psalm: Psalm 98
Second Reading: Hebrews 1:1-6
Gospel: John 1:1-18

HAVE YOU SEEN HIS GLORY?

Today we come to the climax of our expectant joyous advent in preparing to receive the Lord. For His day has finally come upon us that we may behold His glory. Hence, Isaiah is unmistaken in prophesying the truth of the beauty of the feet of the one who brings this good news of His arrival, because such a person is a herald of peace, happiness, and salvation.

And if the Lord’s herald is so blessed for announcing His coming, how much more are those who do not only take heed to prepare for His coming but who also today having adequately prepared, would at last behold the face of this God of peace, happiness and salvation? Words cannot quantify such joy of theirs because all who behold the Lord’s glory shall see Him face to face and shall break into shouts of joy together in the sigh of all the nations. And through them as the psalmist affirms, ‘all the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of Our God.’

Therefore, if we have prepared adequately for the Lord’s coming, today we shall see His glory and our joy will be full. And through us all the nations would see His salvation. Ask yourself then, have you seen the Lord’s glory? With your manner of living can people behold His salvation in you?

Our Christian witnessing is empty if at the end of it all it does not take us to its ultimate goal which is to behold the Lord’s glory and see Him face to face as He really is. For to behold the Lord’s glory is the climaxing purpose of the entire creation as affirmed also by John the evangelist in the gospel.

The famous prologue of John contains the summation of God’s redemptive work beginning from creation but actually even before creation began, and culminating with the completion of the purpose of creation through the grace and truth of Jesus Christ. The constant principle is the pre-existent Word which has been present even before creation and through whom all things visible and invisible were made, as we confess in the creed. He the same Word, takes flesh from the Blessed Virgin Mary by the power of the Holy Spirit and is born to us today as one of us so that we can truly say ‘Immanuel’ – (God is with us).

He comes to dwell with us today so that we can behold His glory and accept His invitation into Himself as our Lord and King, becoming one with Him as His brothers and sisters and children of God. Do you want to be a brother or sister of Christ and a child of God? Then you must first accept His invitation to join His family.

But how can I accept the invitation to become a member of His family? We become Christ’s family not through the natural birth by blood, but through spiritual birth by water and the Holy Spirit which enables us to accept Him and do the will of His Father. That is, by baptism and our corresponding witness to it we become brothers and sisters of Christ and sons and daughters of the Father.

Remember as He says, “For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother” (Matthew 12:50). So, are you doing the will of the Father? You may ask, what is the Father’s will? The will of His Father is simple, that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in Him shall have eternal life, and He will raise them up at the last day (Cfr. John 6:40). So, ask yourself, do you believe in the Son? What does it mean to believe in the Son?

To believe in the Son is not just to say yes by word of mouth. Of course, it is true as it is often said, actions speak louder than words. The one who believes in the Son demonstrates it through his or her faith in concrete actions of love and charity, in joy, peace, and holiness in relating with others.

This is only possible if we remain constantly united to Christ the source of our hope and salvation. Without this union, the grasp of evil would push us to turn to the secular values of the world to seek hope, fulfillment and salvation. The world promises us glamour, fame, power, prestige, fun and wealth, as sources of happiness and fulfilment, but these only distract us and wear out our energy in vain pursuits.

In the end it leaves us empty and in darkness, such that even with Christ present in our midst we are either unable to see Him to behold His glory, or we outrightly reject Him by our way and manner of life. Today He has come to us in our own form, we therefore must strive to see Him and meet Him face to face so that we can behold His glory. Without this we are not saved.

Let us seek Him most especially in those who suffer. We must therefore be conscious of the kind of life we live and its impact, asking ourselves if it gives authentic witness and glory to Christ. A true Christian witness must reveal the grace and truth of God so that through us people can know that truly Christ is born and come to see His salvation present in the world. May the Lord open our eyes to seek Him and see His glory today and welcome Him into our lives as our hope, joy and salvation, so that others can also see His salvation in our lives and come to be saved. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Merry Christmas