At Christmas we read a wonderful broad sweep of Scriptural passages that tell of the “loving purposes of God from the first days of our disobedience unto the glorious Redemption brought us by this Holy Child…” (8).  And of all these readings, none captures the true meaning of Christmas more than the first verses of St John’s Gospel, culminating in the words, “And the Word became flesh and lived among us…” (John 1:14).

He took flesh as a baby.  “…Christmas does not allow us forget that; if you had met Him then, you would not have been able to do towards Him more than you can towards any lovable little baby that looks at you with its blue whites to its eyes and catches hold of your thumb with its incredibly strong miniscule fingers ending in pink nails so tiny as to be almost laughable.  You cannot say anything to such a baby; you can do nothing but love it…” (9)

But of course there is far more to it than that.  “We love because he first loved us” and gave his life, “a ransom for many” (NRSV, 1 John 4:19; Matthew 20:28).  So we sing with joyful, thankful and loving adoration:

“Child, for us sinners poor and in the manger,
we would embrace thee, with love and awe;
who would not love thee, loving us so dearly?...
O come, let us adore him,
Christ the Lord”. (10)

A very happy and blessed Christmas to all visitors to the Holy Faith website 

References

1. Dix, G. (1945) The shape of the liturgy, Westminster: Dacre Press.

2. Knight, K (2009) New Advent Catholic Encyclopedia: Christmas.  Available from:
http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/03724b.htm (Accessed 29 November 2016) (Internet).

3. Knight, K (2009) New Advent Catholic Encyclopedia: Christmas.  Available from:
http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/03724b.htm (Accessed 29 November 2016) (Internet).

4. Latin, fifth century, translated by Caswall, E. (1849) Hark! a thrilling voice is sounding. Available from:
http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/h/t/hthrillv.htm (Accessed 29 November 2016) (Internet).

5. Wesley, C. (1739) and others Hark, the herald angels sing.  Available from:
http://www.oremus.org/hymnal/h/h078.html (Accessed 29 November 2016) (Internet).

6. Jerusalem Bible (1966) Note k on p.1547.

7. Dix, W.C. (1860) As with gladness men of old.  Available from:
http://www.oremus.org/hymnal/a/a371.html (Accessed 29 November 2016) (Internet).

8. Milner-White, E. ‘Bidding prayer before a Christmas Carol Service’, In Milner-White, E. and Briggs, G.W. (editors) (1959) Daily prayer, Harmondsworth: Penguin Books. (This bidding prayer is also available in Common Worship Times and Seasons: Christmas on page 88).

9. Martindale, C.C. (1931) What think ye of Christ?  London: Sheed & Ward.

10. Wade, J.F. (Latin c 1743), stanzas 1-3 and 6 trans. Oakeley, F. (1841); stanzas 4 and 6 trans. Brooke, W.T. (1848-1917). O come, all ye faithful.  Available from:
http://www.oremus.org/hymnal/o/o070.html (Accessed 29 November 2016) (Internet).

Short talks

Short talks entitled The soul’s own Christmas, Faith and joy, The Babe of Bethlehem, The stable, Christmas Eve and The relevance of Bethlehem are available in this section of the Holy Faith website. The following are suitable for children: The Roman Empire, The Birth of Christ and Jesus Christ, his only Son Our Lord.