As we approach the incredible mystery of the Incarnation, the birth of Jesus—God assuming a human nature—it is well to keep in mind how this can be an icon for us of how mysterious God’s ways are, but also how sublime and how beautifully deep His words are. Because His words are the words of God, they are not the words of a mere mortal. They come from the heart and the mind of an eternal Being who brought everything else into existence. A Being who is not just a being among many, but the very act of Being itself. God, who brought forth all things that exist and keeps them in existence, is now about to be born for us as a tiny little Babe.
And when I say “us,” I mean humanity—all of us. He was born for all of us. But He came unto His own, and His own rejected Him (Jn 1:11). And so His goodness was extended to the nations (Jn 1:12; Rom 11:11). Some received Him, many did not. And still to this day there are those who embrace Him and those who reject Him.
Today’s readings are very sublime, because we need to understand the transition that happened between the people He had chosen to be His own—the Israel of old, the Old Testament People of God—to whom He had given the covenants (Rom 9:4), to whom He set forth and put His plan into motion to save humanity. To save it for what? To save it for an eternity with Him (Jn 17:3). And so He guided that people. He brought them to a place of prosperity, a land flowing with milk and honey (Ex 3:8). But He promised that He Himself would come to deliver them and to give them rest from all their enemies (2 Sam 7:11; Mt 11:28).
Today’s first reading from the Second Book of Samuel describes for us that moment when David felt a little bit guilty. He said to Nathan the prophet, “Here I am, living in a house of cedar, while the Ark of God dwells in a tent” (2 Sam 7:2). And so Nathan says, in effect, go and do what you have in mind. Build Him a beautiful house. But that night the Lord spoke to Nathan and said, “Go, tell My servant David: thus says the Lord, should you build Me a house to dwell in?” (2 Sam 7:5).
We know that the Lord did not allow His servant King David to build Him a temple. The reason given elsewhere is that David had too much blood on his hands (1 Chr 22:8). But He did promise that his son Solomon would build a temple fit to honor the King of kings, the Creator of all things (1 Kgs 6:1). And yet, He did promise David this: “I will
fix a place for My people Israel… I will give you rest from all your enemies” (2 Sam 7:10–11). And further on He says, “I will raise up your heir after you, sprung from your loins, and I will make his kingdom firm” (2 Sam 7:12). And the reading culminates with these perennial words of hope and promise: “Your house and your kingdom shall endure forever before Me; your throne shall stand firm forever” (2 Sam 7:16).
The reason God gives that prophecy is because He knew He was sending Jesus into the world. The Father sends the Son—the Son who is God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God (Nicene Creed; Jn 1:1). Imagine now David in Heaven, able to say that from his lineage there was One born who had power over life and death (Jn 11:25), who could give sight to the blind (Mt 9:27–30), cleanse lepers (Mt 8:2–3), walk on water (Mt 14:25), raise the dead (Jn 11:43–44), and who Himself rises from the tomb (Mt 28:5–6). One who promises us, “Whoever sees the Son and believes in Him will have eternal life” (Jn 6:40).
David can say that he has that eternal honor—that even from a sinful lineage marked by the human condition (Mt 1:1–16), God makes of one member of that lineage a holy abode: an immaculately conceived womb (Lk 1:28), a spotless Virgin who remains sinless her entire life (CCC 491), whom He then makes Queen of Heaven (Rev 12:1).
In today’s Gospel, we have the reaction to the good news of the birth of Saint John the Baptist. After his father’s tongue is loosed, Zechariah proclaims: “The dawn from on high shall break upon us, to shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death, and to guide our feet into the way of peace” (Lk 1:78–79). Earlier he declares that God, “through His prophets of old, promised “to save us from our enemies, from the hands of all who hate us” (Lk 1:70–71).
This was the mindset of the contemporary Jew of Jesus and John the Baptist: they were waiting for a Messiah who would give them rest from the Romans. But we know that Jesus, instead of building an army and engaging in warfare like worldly rulers (Jn 18:36), embraces even the Romans (Mt 8:5–13). He attacks with love (Mt 5:44). And this throws everyone for a loop.
Because He did not lead a political revolt, He was rejected and crucified by the Romans (Mk 15:24–25). Yet He offers salvation to all (Jn 3:16). And as the Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches: “At all times and in every race God has given welcome to whoever fears Him and does what is right” (CCC 781; Acts 10:35). God does not save individuals in isolation, but forms a people (CCC 781; 1 Pt 2:9). Israel was chosen as preparation and figure of the New Covenant, ratified in Christ’s Blood (Lk 22:20), calling together Jew and Gentile into one Body (Eph 2:14–16).
My brothers and sisters, He has set us free from our ultimate enemy. What does Scripture call Christ’s final enemy? Death itself (1 Cor 15:26). This Babe who is about to be born for us on Christmas Day is the only human being in history born in order to die (Mk 10:45). We were born in order to live, and Jesus Himself promises us life to the full (Jn 10:10). But He was born with a mission: to lay down His life as a ransom for many (Mt 20:28), so that with His last breath He could say, “It is accomplished… Father, into Your hands I commend My spirit” (Jn 19:30; Lk 23:46).
As we approach Christmas Day, and the beautiful celebration of Midnight Mass, may you know—whoever you are listening right now—that He has loved you from the beginning of time and even before (Jer 1:5; Eph 1:4). You are in His eternal Heart and Mind. One day you will understand why He has allowed you to pass through this life with its incredible beauty, but also with its turmoil, pain, suffering, and tears (Rom 8:18). All of it is meant to bring you home (Jn 14:2–3), so that you may be with Him forever.
As you look upon that tiny Child in the crib this Christmas Day, may you always remember that that little Babe was born for you.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
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