PRAYER: “O GOD, WHO WONDERFULLY CREATED THE DIGNITY OF HUMAN NATURE AND STILL MORE WONDERFULLY RESTORED IT, GRANT, WE PRAY, THAT WE SHARE IN THE DIVINITY OF CHRIST, WHO HUMBLED HIMSELF TO SHARE IN OUR HUMANITY. WHO LIVES AND REIGNS WITH YOU IN THE UNITY OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, GOD, FOREVER AND EVER. AMEN”.
Is 52:7-10; Ps 97:1-6; Heb 1:1-6; Jn 1:1-18 or 1:1-5, 9-14
“REJOICE, FOR A CHILD IS BORN FOR US”* (Cf. Is 9:6).
The Feast of the Nativity of the Lord is a celebration of Life and Light. These images, Life and Light, come from the Divine Word, the Word of God, which was there before creation (cf. the Book of Genesis).
In the Book of Genesis, we are told that before God began His creation, the entire place was formless, void, desolate, and in complete darkness (Gen 1:1-2). Then God spoke and whatever he wanted to create came into being. It was this Spoken Word of God that brought (created) Light into the darkened and confused world. This Word was, and still is, Light. It was also and still is, Life, for it is this word that brings life to humankind. Through this Word, which is so effective, Light was created to separate, dispel and destroy darkness which was not part of God’s creation. The Word of God continues to dispel darkness caused by Satan and his disciples.
In the beginning, the Word formed Man in such a way that man was destined for communion with God and nothing less than this would and could satisfy man. Though man lost access to that union with God because of sin, he did not lose hope in yearning for such a union with God. Therefore, man constantly strives for this union.
Darkness (Satan, the Serpent of Gen.3:1ff) attempted to put out this light. While darkness succeeded in expelling man from the Garden of Eden, this darkness would eventually be totally defeated. There would be fulfilment in God’s promise that the Seed of the Woman (the second Eve, Mary) would crush the serpent’s head (Gen 3:15). This Seed of the Woman is the second Adam (Jesus Christ), who would clear the mess caused by the first Adam. Life and Light would triumph through the Word made flesh. “The light shines on in the darkness, for the darkness did not overcome it”.
The fulfilment of God’s promise has been realised at Christmas, when God became man. The woman’s Seed (Jesus Christ, the Great Light) has overshadowed, overcome and crushed the Serpent’s (Satan, Sin and darkness) head. That is why Isaiah (Is 9:2-7) has it that “The people who once walked in darkness have seen a great light; upon those who dwelt in the land of gloom a light has shone…”. This light, which shines in the darkness, dispels and overcomes darkness.
Unfortunately, even though this great light has overcome darkness, Satan and sin, we still give darkness a chance to have its victories over us. Sin indeed can produce a night so dark and as such, no one can see the light of God in the beauty of the world and humanity. Such darkness can overtake individuals, groups, societies, nations and the whole world.
There is always the need to make a conscious effort to fight and overcome the darkness in our lives, families, communities, nations and in the world at large. Some areas and instances where we give a chance to darkness, and which we should make a conscious effort to fight in our lives are:
• When I lose faith in God and no longer trust Him
• When I am envious and jealous
• Where there are petty quarrels
• Where there is no peace
• Where people abandon others
• Where there is no love
• Where people do not keep to their promises and pledges
• When I cannot forgo or forgive a grudge
• When I close my ears to listen to others, and my eyes to see the needs of others.
• When I cannot be gentle to/with others
• When I cannot laugh or smile a little toward others
• When I cannot express gratitude to people for the good things they do for/to me
• When I cannot welcome a stranger
• When I act according to hearsay, prejudices and appearances
• When I am dishonest and disobedient
• When I tell lies, abuse other people, persecute them and speak all kinds of calumny against people falsely.
This Christmas, as we receive the Great Light in our hearts and lives, why don’t we do away with all the works and activities of darkness in our lives? St. Paul puts it beautifully in his letter to the Romans: “The night is nearly over, day is almost here. Let us stop doing the things that belong to the dark, and let us take up weapons for fighting in the light.” (Rom 13:12). This Christmas, make a conscious effort to mend a broken relationship, stop a quarrel, build peace, seek out a forgotten friend, love and encourage the youth, keep to our promise(s), forgive a grudge, forgive an enemy, give a listening ear to someone, be gently to/with people, obey God and authority, be honest, etc. Please, let us renew ourselves for the year. Stay blessed, Merry Christmas and a very Prosperous New Year.
WE MEDITATE TODAY, THURSDAY, ON THE MYSTERIES OF LIGHT: ‘THE BAPTISM OF JESUS, THE WEDDING AT CANA, THE PROCLAMATION OF THE KINGDOM, THE TRANSFIGURATION, AND THE INSTITUTION OF THE EUCHARIST’. (WE PRAY FOR OPENNESS TO THE HOLY SPIRIT, PRAY TO JESUS THROUGH MARY, FOR REPENTANCE AND TRUST IN GOD, THE DESIRE FOR HOLINESS, AND WE PRAY FOR THE SPIRIT OF ADORATION) “Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you, blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb, Jesus: Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us, sinners, now and at the hour of our death, Amen.
PRAYER: “GRANT, O MERCIFUL GOD, THAT, JUST AS THE SAVIOUR OF THE WORLD, BORN THIS DAY, IS THE AUTHOR OF DIVINE GENERATION FOR US, SO HE MAY BE THE GIVER EVEN OF IMMORTALITY. WHO LIVES AND REIGNS FOR EVER AND EVER. AMEN”.
Rev. Fr. Aloysius Kpiebaya, Catholic Diocese of Wa, UW/R, Ghana. (00233) 0207867239/0545462863. Email: aloybaya20@yahoo.com.
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