HOMILY FOR THE 7TH DAY WITHIN THE OCTAVE OF CHRISTMAS

Homily for the 7th Day in the Octave of Christmas

1 JN 2:18-21; Jn.1:1-18

Beloved in Christ, on this seventh day of the Octave of Christmas and the last day, we are given a mystery. The mystery of the “Word.” It is a language that is veiled and yet revealing at the same time. It presents Jesus to us as the “Word.” He is the Word who takes on flesh and is eternal, from “the beginning with God.” 

The passage goes on to say that the Word was God and that the Word became flesh and dwelt among us. The term “Word,” given to Jesus in this passage, is a translation of the Greek word “Logos.” Logos means “plan,” “reason,” “logic.” It is understood also as the spoken word. This reveals to us that God “spoke” from eternity His perfect plan of salvation and this wisdom spoken is a Person, his Divine Son. Thus, when the Son “speaks” and when He is “spoken” by the Father, all things come to be. Hence, the beginning of John’s gospel reveals to us that the action of God creating all things and ultimately fulfilling His wisdom through the Incarnation, the Son becoming flesh, is a mysterious plan far beyond what we could ever comprehend or fathom. 

We should see this mysterious language as a statement in and of itself. Christmas is a time of great joy and celebration. It is a time in which we reflect upon the nativity of Christ, our savior and redeemer. Therefore, we read the story, listen to Christmas music and keep Christmas as a great mystery of faith. We are to celebrate this season with great joy and gratitude, and with a sense of mystery, knowing that the mystery of Christmas will never be fully understood. May this mystery draw us closer, each and every day, to fall more deeply in love with Jesus, our eternal God through Christ our Lord, Amen.