CHESAPEAKE, VA. (Catholic Online) - The Gospels proclaimed at the Vigil and the Midnight Mass of Christmas root the wonderful Feast we celebrate today, the Nativity of the Lord, in the family history and lineage of David and tell the story of the Birth of the Savior. The Gospel writers proclaim that all of the aspirations, hopes, prophecies and promises of the Old Testament are fulfilled in the birth of this Child, the One named Jesus; born of the Virgin whose name was Mary.

The Mass of Christmas day uses the Gospel of St. John to unpack the deep mystery in these profound words: "In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God; all things were made through Him and without Him was not anything made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness and the darkness has not overcome it.. AND THE WORD BECAME FLESH AND DWELT AMONG US "John 1:1 and 14

Johns' Gospel is the most theological of the four Gospels containing the matured reflection of the early Church on the significance of what we celebrate on Christmas.  The words rendered in English "dwelt among us" can be literally translated "He pitched His tent among us." The God of the whole universe who dwelt in inaccessible light, whom no man had ever seen and lived, became a man. He became a vulnerable baby. He lived (He lives) among us. He became one of us, a human person and made His home with us. He continues to live with us as we live our life now in Him.

St. Paul, writing to the Christians in Corinth told them: "As God is faithful, our word to you is not "yes" and "no." For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was proclaimed to you by us, Silvanus and Timothy and me, was not "yes" and "no," but "yes" has been in him. For however many are the promises of God, their Yes is in him; therefore, the Amen from us also goes through him to God for glory." (2 Corinthians 1:18-20) The Eternal Word entered into human history, into time, and opened it to eternity. In His Incarnation, His Nativity, His saving Life, Death and Resurrection, the "YES" of God is given to the whole world. Love is born on Christmas Morn and in Him the world begins again.

The author of the letter to the Hebrews tells us: "For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are-yet was without sin" (Hebrews 4:15) The Eternal Word, coexistent with the Father and the Spirit in the perfect unity that is Trinitarian Love, became a real man in real time and real history. He understands who we are. He truly entered into entirety of the human experience and in Him it has been forever transformed. Love is born today and in Him the world begins again.

The One through whom the Universe was created entered into time and the world is recreated anew in Him. As a pre-born child, Jesus sanctified all mother's wombs by dwelling within the first temple of His beloved self-chosen mother. This is the greatest argument against the horror of abortion. In Eastern Christian iconography Mary usually appears with the child in her womb blessing the whole world. The Icon is called "Platytera" (She who is more spacious than the heavens). The Icon bespeaks the mystery. Mary's womb became the Ark of the New Covenant. And, at the Nativity she placed her Child in the Crèche; now a throne for the Christ. 33 years later she would hold Him once again in her arms at the foot of another throne, the Cross.

The Christian faith claims that God is more than an idea; more than the summit of all the aspirations of the human heart. He is more than a first mover who got it all started and remains distant. Rather, our Gospel proclaims that God can be known and wants to be in communion with us. He gives Himself to us. God is love, wrote the beloved Apostle John. (1 John 4:7-9) Love gives Himself away to the beloved and the beloved is transformed.  God so loved the world He created that when it became separated from His Love through sin, He did not stop loving. He sent the Incarnate Word, His Son, who came among us as a helpless, dependent and vulnerable child. He pitched His tent among us. He became like us, so that we can become like Him and live for eternity in an intimate communion of love in, through and with Him.

He had friends; some hurt and betrayed Him. He had fun. He laughed and rejoiced as a real human person! He was comfortable celebrating at a wedding. This child whom we adore in the manger grew and became a man with a passionate love for the entire human race. His Sacred heart broke from the pain and loss occasioned by our alienation from Him caused by our own sin, our choices against Love. He wept over Jerusalem! He wept at his friends' funeral. He understands the pain of betrayal because He was betrayed. He overcame doubt and fear. Doubt and fear are ...