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First Sunday of Christmas 2023

John 1,1-18

Rev. Neli Miranda

 

Jesus lying in a manger in the company of Mary and Joseph, the singing angels, the joyous shepherds, the shining star in heaven, the visit of the magi, the gifts… How we enjoy and marvel at these Christmas scenes!! However, for the first Sunday after Christmas, John does not bring us these scenes, but a great confession of faith born among the early Christians. This speaks to us about God’s most human moment, which in theological terms is known as the Incarnation (Incarnation is derived from the Latin word carnis, flesh in English which literally means enfleshment). So, in a beautiful fusion of theology and poetry, John says that God took human form, “incarnated” in human flesh and lived among us, “The Word [God] became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth” (1,14).  

 

Through this confession of faith, John brings us today to the heart of the Christmas celebration, that is, the celebration that God dwells among us in Jesus. Thus, God does not ask humans to ascend to heaven to access glory, but rather, God descends to live among humans, so humans can experience the divine glory. What a wonderful mystery! The confession of faith of the Johns’ community tells us how they experienced the glory of God in Jesus, whom they understood as the Son of God, full of grace and truth, and how the divine incarnation transformed their lives.

 

The testimony of this early Christian community depicts a Christmas scene much more profound than the traditional scenes that, many times, mediated by commerce, take us away from the true meaning of Christmas. The incarnation scene, God dwelling among humans, speaks to us of the God who, loving the world so much, takes human form in Jesus and comes to live among humans! 

 

Sometimes, the true meaning of Christmas is so obscured by gifts, food, ornaments, and other earthly details that we forget to exalt this truly very special moment. Today, John reminds us just how wonderful and joyous this moment is by telling us of the loving God who dwells among us, who dwells in you! Have you seen God’s glory this Christmas season?

 

As 2023 comes to a close, may we be grateful for the divine manifestation among us and for all the gifts and challenges that made us grow during this past year. Let us give thanks for all those through whom we have seen the glory of God in 2023.  And, as we stand today on the threshold of the new year, may we cross it with the joy and confidence that we are going to see God’s glory among us in 2024; and may we continue proclaiming that Jesus brings us Light and Life and that, “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it” (1, 5). Amen. 

 

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