25 December 2022

The Nativity of our Lord

A mother can speak a word of love to her child, and if it is a true word, a word of substance, then her word of love reveals her love and makes it intelligible, even though her love cannot be limited to that word. Her word of love is a symbol of her love, a word which makes her love present to her child even as it is surpassed by that word.

The same is true when God speaks to us. Each word of God we encounter, whether in Scripture or in creation, reveals something of his love for us, albeit in a partial way. But what is special in the mystery we celebrate today is that the word God speaks is not a “partial” word but is “the refulgence of his glory” and “the very imprint of his being” (Heb 1:3). This unsurpassable Word of life and love spoken to us by the Father is his very Son.

Today, let us listen to and look upon the Word of love God has spoken to us. Let us welcome him into our hearts, and ask him to teach us to speak a word of praise and love in return.