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Gospel Reading for December 25, 2024 – John 1: 1-18
THANK YOU AFFAIR
The Nativity of the Lord
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. A man named John was sent from God. He came for testimony, to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. He was not the light, but came to testify to the light. 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. John testified to him and cried out, saying, “This was he of whom I said, ‘The one who is coming after me ranks ahead of me because he existed before me.’” From his fullness we have all received, grace in place of grace, because while the law was given through Moses, grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God. The only Son, God, who is at the Father’s side, has revealed him.
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They say that Filipinos celebrate the longest Christmas season because when the “ber” months come, you start hearing Christmas carols being played. This isn’t exactly true, because Christmas carols are played mostly in malls. It is more of commercialism – a ploy to create an atmosphere of gift-buying. Well, giving gifts or being thoughtful of others is really at its best during Christmas time. Albeit, we should not forget that it is Jesus’ birthday that we celebrate, not ours. When we give gifts to others, it is because we see Jesus in them.
Christmas, literally from “Christ’s Mass,” is a time to celebrate God’s love for humankind through the birth of the Christ child: Jesus. It extends to the celebration of God’s love given to us by family and friends. It extends to the celebration of God’s love given to us through graces we receive each day, for his generosity throughout the years. Hence, Christmas is more of a THANK YOU AFFAIR. If we are to measure the best way to celebrate Christmas, we will find it in Matthew 25: 40 – “Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.” It is the best time to give back to God what we have received from him by giving to our brethren in need. Nothing can match this kind of gift-giving.
Thank you, Father, for giving us your Son Jesus, who showed us the Way, the Truth and the Life!
