Fresh Dew Media

 CHRISTMAS: Homily by Fr. Isaac Chima

Theme: His name is Emmanuel – God is with us

Readings: 1st Is 52:7–10; 2nd Heb 1:1–6; Gosp. Jn 1:1–18

My dearest brothers and sisters, Happy Christmas. On that holy night when Christ was born, the heavens were filled with joy; the earth shone with the glory of God; the angels sang with gladness; the shepherds could not hide their amazement at the marvellous presence of God; the sheep kneeled in quiet welcome; and the stars danced and shone like never before. It was truly a night of grace.

We therefore have every reason to rejoice, for the Saviour has come to visit us again. His name is Emmanuel: God is with us. God has revealed to us what many prophets, kings, and wise men longed to see but did not.

From the moment Adam and Eve sinned and fell short of God’s glory and love, God began seeking a way to draw close to humanity again—to restore us to the dignity we had lost. In many ways He revealed Himself to the people of old and spoke to them, as the second reading reminds us today. Through various means, He prepared them for the coming of His Son.

Finally, in our own time—the appointed time—He has revealed Himself to us and spoken to us through His Son. The birth of Christ is the fullness of God’s revelation to humanity, the complete manifestation of His love and glory, and the shining of the light that dispels the darkness of sin and death.

With the birth of Christ, God has broken the reign of sin, dispelled the power of darkness, and restored us to His friendship. We have once again become His beloved children.

My dearest people, Christ now lives in our midst. In the birth of His Son, God took flesh and dwelt among us. This is the mystery of the Incarnation. He is no longer distant or unreachable. He has come down from heaven to be close to each one of us. He is living with you; He is living with me. His name is Emmanuel—God is with us.

If God is now close to us, it means He feels what we feel and knows our struggles as well. Therefore, let us not be afraid to call Him our brother and to invite Him into our lives.

However, in today’s Gospel, John tells us that He came to His own, and His own did not welcome Him. Let us reflect on this. Could it be that some among us still find it difficult to welcome Christ into their personal lives? Are there those who prefer to live according to their own designs rather than according to the teachings of Christ? Who are those in our midst who might be counted among “His own who did not receive Him”? We may not know for certain—it could be any one of us, but we do know the signs of rejecting Christ.

What is clear is this: we refuse to welcome Christ when we hate others, for Christ is the author of love. We reject Christ when we refuse to forgive, for Christ is the God of mercy. We reject Christ when we open ourselves to sin, for Christ is the master of holiness. We reject Christ when we fail to show kindness, for Christ is the prince of kindness. This Christmas offers all who have been rejecting Christ a beautiful opportunity to change their lives and welcome Him. He is the light and joy of the world.

The Gospel also tells us that to all who accepted Him, He gave power to become sons and daughters of God. Dearest brothers and sisters, Christ is knocking at the door of your hearts. His name is Emmanuel—God is with us. He desires to be with you. He desires to be with me. He desires to make us heirs of the Kingdom of God. Let us therefore open our hearts and our homes and welcome Him.

Happy Christmas to you and your family.  

Fr Isaac Chinemerem Chima