Let there be Light!
In the beginning, when God created the heavens and the earth and the earth was without form or shape, with darkness over the abyss and a mighty wind sweeping over the waters. Then God said: Let there be light, and there was light. (cf. Gen 1:1-3)
The liturgy of the Nativity of the Lord is the liturgy of creation. A whole new and extraordinary creation. The whole world today is chaotic and empty. The whole world is in darkness, which the ancients did not hesitate to call chaos. God's Spirit hovers over this vastness, waiting for the Father's word: Let there be light! And there was Light. The Collect of the Christmas Mass reads: O God, who have made this most sacred night radiant with the splendor of the true light, grant, we pray, that we, who have known the mysteries of his light on earth, may also delight in his gladness in heaven. Today, therefore, there is the Light that creates the world anew. Which changes everything. Which makes everything new. This Light makes this night the most holy night, it becomes the night of the night - as the Israelites would say. The night becomes brighter than the brightest day. Because this night is becoming Light!
What is happening? Where does this glow come from? Light shines forth from a God who has abandoned his Divinity but has not forsaken it. And a glow shines from a man who has abandoned his humanity, although he has not abandoned it. In Jesus, a strange and mysterious exchange took place between God and man, which is told in the prayer over the gifts: May the oblation of this day’s feast be pleasing to you, O Lord, we pray, that through this most holy exchange we may be found in the likeness of Christ, in whom our nature is united to you.
Heaven became earth and earth became heaven. Everything turned upside down. Even the author of the Holy Mass texts is completely lost and no longer knows where we are: in heaven or still on earth. Because God gave us a share in himself and wanted to take part in what is ours. In Jesus, the natures have become completely united, but not mixed up at all. The whole world was speechless with amazement when it saw what happened, because everything changed in it. Even time has stopped with a cry of amazement and an eternity has come, in which we unite with God, as we cry out in prayer after communion: O Lord our God, that we, who are gladdened by participation in the feast of our Redeemer's Nativity, may through an honorable way of life become worthy of union with him. And all through that night, the holiest of the night. This night is eternal, this night will never end, this night will last forever.
What happened astounded the Creator himself, who, although it is absurd, did not expect that His work could be so wonderful, so incredible. So, God rejoiced in His Tripartite Unity and looked with delight on this brightest night. And He took away all sin, destroyed all weakness, and dispelled all darkness of evil. Thanks to this will of God, today everything is brought directly to his face. And through Jesus this face is the face of man! He is the face that shone in the night and became the Light. It is a face that you cannot take your eyes off it. This face is full of pleasure and joy. Because this night is the night of God's gaze, who sees that everything is very good.
Merry Christmas!!!
Until Tomorrow
fr. george