THEME: THE WORD BECAME FLESH AND DWELT AMONG US
READINGS: Isaiah 52:7-10/ Hebrews 1:1-6/ John 1:1-18
Christmas Day Mass 2025
Introduction:
Today, we celebrate a profound mystery in Christian faith—the Word, the Son of God, became human. This is the essence of Christmas: God with us, Emmanuel. As we reflect on the readings from Isaiah, Hebrews, and John, we are invited to open our hearts to this incredible gift to humanity.
1. God’s Son Became an Infant in Bethlehem
In the reading from Isaiah 52:7-10, the prophet announces a time when God’s salvation will be made known to all nations. This prophecy speaks directly to the arrival of Christ—the long-awaited Messiah, whose birth we celebrate today.
The Christ, Son of God, chose not to come as a mighty king or an angelic warrior, but as a helpless infant. He could have revealed Himself in a blaze of glory, but instead, He came in the humblest form— born in a small, obscure town, Bethlehem. He was born not into luxury, but into the simplicity of human poverty. This teaches us that God’s ways are not like ours. His love does not demand recognition, but seeks to dwell with us in the quiet corners of our hearts.
“The Word became flesh and dwelt among us” (John 1:14). God took on the full reality of our humanity—not as an image or appearance, but as a true, vulnerable child, so that we could know Him more intimately. The eternal Son of God embraced all that it means to be human, from infancy to adulthood, to experience every joy, every struggle, and even suffering, for our sake.
2. God’s Son Became Man So That We Might Share in Divine Life Hebrews 1:1-6 speaks of God speaking to us through His Son, who is not just a messenger but the fullness of God’s revelation. Through Jesus, we encounter God, and through His life and teachings, we are invited to share in the very life of God. Jesus came into the world to lift us up and offer us the possibility of becoming God’s children, to participate in the divine nature.
Thus, John 1:12 says, “But to all who did receive Him, who believed in His name, He gave the power to become children of God.” Christ’s incarnation is an invitation to us to enter into a new relationship with God. Through His life, death, and resurrection, He makes it possible for us to call God our Father.
Jesus is not just a model for human behaviour—He is the means by which we are adopted into God’s family. Through Him, we become sons and daughters of the Most High, inheritors of His Kingdom. The Word became flesh to make us sharers in the divine life.
3. God’s Son Shared in Human Nature to Make Us Holy
Jesus did not come simply to live among us but to sanctify us. By sharing in our human nature, He redeemed it. His holiness was not separate from our humanity; it was intimately woven into every aspect of our lives. In Him, the fullness of God dwells bodily, and through Him, we are made holy.
Hebrews reminds us that, “In these last days, God has spoken to us by His Son” (Hebrews 1:2). Through the incarnation, God reveals Himself to us as never before. Jesus did not remain distant or detached from our suffering, but entered into it fully. He healed our wounds and brought us back into communion with the All-holy God.
As He laid down His life for us, He makes us holy, transforming us into His likeness. The Word made flesh came to restore the brokenness of humanity, to take on our weaknesses, and to make us share in His strength. Through His grace, we are set apart as a holy people, united with Him.
4. God Gave Us His Only Son—What Else Can He not Give Us?
Finally, let us reflect on the unimaginable generosity of God. He has given us His only Son. God has not held back His very best; He gave us His most precious treasure. God gave us Himself.
As John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.” When we look upon the baby in the manger, we are reminded that this gift is not just a historical event—it is a gift for you and me today. God’s generosity does not stop at Christmas—it is an invitation to receive Him again and again in our lives, to trust that He will continue to provide for us, to guide us, and to pour His love into our hearts.
God’s ultimate gift of love is found in the person of Jesus Christ. If God gave us His only Son, what else can He withhold from us? His love is abundant and unconditional. Let us embrace this gift and share it with others.
Conclusion:
On this Christmas Day, let us rejoice in the incredible truth that the Word became flesh and dwelt among us. Jesus, the Son of God, entered our world in humility, shared in our humanity, and gave us the power to become children of God. He came to make us holy, to give us His love, and to share in His divine life. As we celebrate His birth, let us remember the depths of God’s love for us and respond with hearts full of gratitude. May we, like the shepherds and wise men, come and adore Him, and may we live as children of God, sharing His love with the world.
Merry Christmas to all, and may the peace of Christ fill your hearts today and always. Amen.
By Most Rev. John Kobina Louis
