John 1: 1-18
"When peaceful silence lay over all, and night had run half of her swift course, the all-powerful word leaped down from Heaven, from the royal throne."
The run up to Christmas is always marked with frantic activity. It is no wonder that when the 25th of December is past many people take down decorations, throw out trees and consign wrapping paper to the bin. For many Christmas can be a time of stress and panic, rather than peace and joy. Did you ever notice that once St Stephen's Day comes the sounds of Christmas disappear from the radio and television? We begin hearing the sleigh bells in September and as soon as Santa has put the reindeers back in their stable; the sounds of Christmas are gone!
Liturgically of course, this is not the case and today we celebrate the second Sunday of Christmas. In the coming week we observe Epiphany and right up until the Baptism of the Lord we are in the Christmas swing. There is a wonderful tradition in Italy not to take down the crib until the feast of the Presentation on February 2nd, and it can come as a surprise to see manger scenes decorating squares and churches until that date.
I think its important that we don't rush to close our celebration of Christmas. The date, in itself, is not important, the mystery is what we are about. The Gospel today - the opening verses of St John's Gospel- sum up the meaning of the Incarnation and what we celebrate and reflect on at this time. One priest I know described it as 'impenetrable'. But I wonder is that the case. True, it is packed with deep theology and insight. Much could never be unpacked in the context of the homily, but it is so rich that even a few words of it could give us mediation for a good long time. I am always drawn to the verse "and the Word was made flesh and lives among us, and we have seen his glory." We pray those words every time we say the Creed and twice a day in the Angelus. The only Son of God, full of grace and truth, has lived and lives among us, and we have seen His glory. The world might have have become bored of its Christmas whirl. As a season it might be declared officially over, but the Word is still flesh and still dwells among us - and he is going nowhere!
In these weeks after Christmas, wouldn't it be just lovely to sit with Mary and Joseph, in adoration and wonder at the greatness of God made man. The Shepherds are gone, the wise men have to come - but we are here; we can see His glory and share in His life.
The Word was made flesh and lived among us, Alleluia.
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