Beginning The New Year With Mary!

(Homily for the Solemnity of Mary Mother of God & New Year Day)

          We are at the threshold of the New Year (2020), and it is frankly motivating beginning the year by confessing the Sovereignty of God and the divine Motherhood of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The solemnity of Mary, the Mother of God coincides with the ushering in of a novelty, the New Year. The celebration of this great mother today is indeed a symbol of the Church’s solicitation of her blessings and care. So that as she took care of her son, she will also take care of us in the course of this year and beyond. We celebrate today the Solemnity of Mary, the Mother of God, and a perusal into the readings of this day suggest two sentences that situate us well into the context of today’s feast: ●First, in the epistle, “but when the completion of time came, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born a subject of the Law” (Gal. 4:4). ●Second, in the gospel, “Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart” (Lk. 2:19). Though these sentences are not in direct connection with the title: “Mother of God”, but it presents Mary as a model of faith. The two verses (Gal. 4:4 & Lk. 2:19) emphasize on Mary not merely as Theotokos, but as the paradigm of faith. Therefore, the solemnity of Mary Mother of God not only reminds us of Mary’s divine Maternity, but also it brings to our consideration the admiration and the imitation of Mary as a model of faith. The title of Mary as Theotokos was defined by the Church in one of her first ecumenical councils held at Ephesus in 431. However, the thrust of today’s readings is the birth of Christ as the inauguration of the saving act of God. The three readings of today are closely knit, in the passage of the Gospel; the episode of the circumcision is linked with the epistle reading: “born under the law”. And again, the naming of Jesus is linked with the threefold name of the Aaronic blessing in the first reading.

          As we begin this New Year let us learn from our Mother Mary, let us surrender to God’s will just as she did: “I am the handmaid of the Lord”, “Let it be done to me according to your word”. Let us appropriate her dispositions of heart and mind. As we begin this year with her let us hearken to her advice: “do whatever he tells you”, because in his word is our peace, he has the message of eternal life. The name January is derived from the name of the Roman god: Janus, and Janus had two faces, one looking back and the other looking forward. Therefore, today is a day to look back on all that we have done the past year and make a proper examination of conscience. It is not an invitation to make us remain in the mistakes of yesterday or for regret, rather it will help us to redirect our steps and rediscover some essential values needed in our lives as Christians. So it is equally a day and time to look forward to the new year ahead of us. We need to treasure the time God has given to us in this life and in this year. Each year is unique, irreplaceable and unrepeatable. We need to invoke and allow the grace of God to sanctify our ordinary time and transform it to an extraordinary time, a special time of grace, from chronos we need to pass to kairos. For this, St. Paul invited the Ephesians to “make the best of the present time” (Eph. 5:16).

         The first reading (Num. 6:22-27) presents the Aaronic blessing and this is really a particularity of the Old Testament anticipation of the Church’s faith in the Trinity, the threefold “Holy” (cf. Is. 6:3). From the time of creation it has been God’s plan and desire to bless every living thing He has created, “God blessed them” (Gen. 1:22); and he blesses in a particular way, Adam and Eve as representatives of the entire humanity, “God blessed them” (Gen. 1:28); after the flood, God blessed Noah and his sons (cf. Gen. 9:1); he also blessed Abraham so that in him all peoples will be blessed (cf. Gen. 12:2-3; 23:17-18). Consequently, St Paul writes: “All nations will be blessed in you. So it is people of faith who receive the same blessing as Abraham, the man of faith” (Gal. 3:8b-9). And before leaving this world to return to His Father, Jesus blessed His people (cf. Lk. 24:51). In this passage we see the threefold blessing with which to begin this New Year: ► May the Lord bless you and keep you (v.24). ►May the Lord let his face shine upon you, and be gracious to you (v. 25). ►May the Lord look upon you kindly and give you peace (v.26). And the three times repetition of “the Lord” (Yahweh) points to the divine sovereignty. Indeed, this threefold blessing is crowned with God’s intention to bless his people, for in the last verse we read, “They will call down my name…and I will bless them” (v.27). A blessing is a divine word that has power to pass on good things, and indeed, the idea of the passing of good things from generation to generation is really appropriate for this day (New Year’s Day). And today, the Church through her priests invokes all these blessings on all the faithful, and I invoke these blessings on you all, on your families and on our society at large.

           As a matter of fact, in biblical terms, “name” is very important, especially when it has to do with the name of God, which the Jews considered unpronounceable. The name in general indicates the whole person, in toto. Thus, with reference to God, the name of God is associated with his being. As such, to bless in the name of God entails invoking upon the people all that God is and all that He has done and does for his people. Even the responsorial psalm took up again the theme of God’s blessing on Israel and on us today: “May God show us his kindness (mercy) and bless us” (Ps. 67:1). Interestingly, the word kindness (mercy) of God, which is “hesedh” in Hebrew, embraces all that God has done in his mighty acts towards Israel and for us in Jesus Christ.

          The epistle (Gal. 4:4-7) from St. Paul’s letter to the Galatians talks about the purpose why God sent his Son, that is, “to redeem those who were under the law”. Here, St. Paul stressed that the purpose of the Incarnation was man’s liberation from the law to the status of sonship, for we are no longer slaves but sons. Therein, we notice the latent stress on being “born of a woman”, which denotes that his origin is not only from “above”, but also from “below” (He took flesh from the Blessed Virgin Mary). It equally alludes to the divine maternity of this “woman”, the Mother of God. Thus, situating us well into the context of today’s solemnity.

           St. Ignatius of Anthioch called Jesus “the Son of God and of Mary”. This title or affirmation elevates Mary at the side of the Heavenly Father. At the same time it collocates her close to us as our mother, the mother of the Church. For Jesus whom she generated has taken us as his brothers and sisters. He united himself with us to the extent of forming one body with us, he is our Head, but also our brother. In the words of St. Paul he is “the eldest of many brothers” (Rm. 8:29). In the second reading St. Paul stressed on it vigorously thus: “God sent his Son, born of a woman…so that we could receive adoption as sons” (Gal. 4:4.5). As Jesus in Mary becomes the Son of Man, we, sons of men, we are made sons of God. At the moment when, from Son he made himself a servant, we who were servants/slaves become sons. Thus the apostle reminds us: “you are no longer a slave, but a son” (Gal. 4:7). This indeed is the admirable exchange around which revolves today’s liturgy of the word. And Mary was the “locus” and the Mediatrix of that exchange. And having being made children of God through the Spirit, we acquired the right to use the language and confidence of sons before God, calling him like Jesus: “Abba Father”. This is Jesus’ “ipsissima vox”, that is his own voice without passing through any translation. We need to be more conscious of this our right as sons and daughters, therefore, we cannot but imitate Jesus our Brother, who in the anguish of the Garden of Olive, as well as in the moments of joy, always was entrusting himself to the Father: “Father if it is possible…”, “I thank you Father”, “Father in your hands I commend my spirit”. We need to re-construct our life on this filial rapport with the Father.

          Furthermore, still on the purpose for the coming of the Son, we deem it fit to underscore that it is not merely an event of the past, rather it is an event with direct existential importance for us today. The liberation of man from the bondage of the law, made possible by the coming of the Son of God, is a wonderful and wondrous blessing! The most sublime blessing, the summary of all the blessings of God to humanity is Jesus, the gift of the Incarnate Word. Little wonder St. Paul affirmed: “Blessed be God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with all the spiritual blessings of heaven in Christ” (Eph. 1:3). The Son of God became man so that we may become sons and daughters of God. And this becoming, is a process, and not a momentary conquest, for it requires us to live everyday like sons and daughters of God. Thus, “agitur seguitur esse” (i.e. our actions have to correspond with our being, our filial status in God).

          The Gospel reading (Lk. 2:16-21) summarily highlights the two important historical events in the life of Jesus: the circumcision and the naming of Jesus. However, when we go back to the preceding verse to the Gospel text of toady, where the shepherds say to one another, “let’s go to Bethlehem and see this event which the Lord has made known to us” (Lk.2:16), and in verse 20 the evangelist says: “the shepherds went back glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, just as they had been told”. The angel announced to the shepherds “A Savior has been born for you, who is the Messiah, the Lord”. Even though the sovereignty of the Messiah is not readily seen in the Child, rather all seem to give evidence to his submission to the law of the people, as in the second reading. Indeed, the truth remains that the Son of God, becoming a baby in the womb of the Blessed Mother Mary, and being born in Bethlehem of Judah, manifests his sovereignty in a most humble manner. Once again, there is the theme of the divine name in the Aaronic blessing and its connection with the naming of Jesus which means Yahweh saves. Indeed, Jesus’ name is a programmatic description of the whole purpose of the Incarnation.

          The passage of the Gospel noted something very important about Mary: “She treasured all these things and pondered them in her heart” (Lk. 2:19). What are the things that she treasured and pondered in her heart? The words and the events of those days, all that happened in the occasion of the birth of Jesus. Christmas was for her an event to treasure and to meditate on and on, it was for her a school of faith. The word of God was made flesh two times in her life: first physically, when she carried and nourished him (the Word) in her womb for nine months; second spiritually and existentially, every moment of her life was inspired by the word of God and she carried it out faithfully, the word of God became the compass that directs and gives bearing to her life. Let us join in her deep pondering on the Word of God. We cannot imitate her in the first incarnation, but we can imitate her in the second. In the words of St. Augustine we can like her “conceive the Word in our mind”. This merited her the beatitude that Jesus proclaimed on the visit of his mother: “More blessed still are those who hear the word of God and keep it” (Lk. 11:28). St. John says: “to those who did accept him he gave power to become children of God, to those who believed in his name” (Jn. 1:12). We have been begotten to the Father, through Jesus, and we are children of God, brothers and sisters of Jesus, and his mother Mary, our mother too. On the cross Jesus handed her over to us (cf. Jn. 19:27).

          Above all else however, in the first reading the word of God says “so shall they put my name upon the sons of Israel, and I will bless them” (Num. 6:27) and in the gospel we are presented with the naming of the Child of Bethlehem, who was named JESUS, a name which means Yahweh saves. Be that as it may, beginning the New Year with this double invocation of God’s name and the name of Jesus surely paves way for innumerable blessings and favor. Indeed, the Lord who has wrought wonders in the history of the chosen people, will continue to do it even in our own time and in our life.  And may our Blessed Mother Mary, the Theotokos, the Mother of God continue to accompany us in our earthly sojourn! May she (Mary) who is an embodiment of God’s blessings attract God’s blessings to us!! May we all be assured of her intercession this New Year and beyond!!! Happy New Year to U all!!!

(Fr. Vitus M.C. Unegbu, SC)

At The School Of The Holy Family!

(Homily for the Feast of the Holy Family Yr. A)

          Today the word of God offers us the opportunity to reflect on the Holy Family of Nazareth in particular and on the family in general. The entrance antiphon of this Sunday introduces us well into the context of today’s solemnity: “The shepherds went in haste, and found Mary and Joseph and the Infant lying in a manger”. The Gospel reading introduces us into the reality of this Family, when they fled to Egypt, their return and their establishment in Nazareth. In a broader sense, the first and the second readings demonstrate that the feast of the Holy Family is an occasion for us to reflect on the reality of the family in general in the light of God’s word. The Gospel insists on the commitment of the parents to their children, for two times Joseph listened to the voice of God, through the angel, who told him: “Rise, take the child and the mother and flee to Egypt”, and Joseph obeyed without delay. The first reading exhorts the commitment of children to their parents; it evidenced the fruits that emanate from that: “whoever honors his father atones for sins” and “whoever glorifies his mother is like one who lays up treasures”. St. Paul in the second reading summed up the teachings of Sirach in the first reading and that of Mathew in the Gospel, he emphasized on mutual and reciprocal commitment: wives to their husband, husbands to their wives, children to their parents, and parents to their children. Therefore, we are called to appropriate the values and virtues that characterized the Holy Family: honour, respect, obedience, harmony and mutual love.

          The Holy Family is at the center of our reflection today. And we cannot but affirm that it is a family sui generis! The Holy Family was not a smooth and problem free family, rather it was a family with her numerous problems and internal conflicts, yet they remained faithful to each other. That is why it could be suggested as a paradigm to our Christian families. The Holy Family was a family with special grace but yet a family with trials. We can remember vividly well how sin affected family life in the first pages of the Book of Genesis. After eating the forbidden fruit (Gen. 2:16-17) great tension disrupted the spousal relationship between Adam and Eve. Not too long after that, the sons of Adam and Eve entered in a dispute that ended in the murder of Abel (Gen. 4:1-16). Sin wounded greatly the life of the family. Indeed, Jesus came to heal the wounds caused by sin, including that of the family. As such, God the Father sent his Son among us, and in doing that, He entrusted Him to a father and a mother. And that is the family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph. The Holy Family teaches us how to remain calm in the midst of all kinds of existential storms. We remember the uncommon circumstances that surround Jesus’ conception, Mary’s and Joseph’s plan that was abruptly changed by the divine plan, and the challenges that surround his birth: no place in the inn, he was born in a manger and afterwards Joseph received another message to run away with his wife and son to Egypt. Not only that, Mary and Joseph even suffered the distress of not knowing the where-about of their twelve year old son (Cf. Lk. 2:48). Before Jesus began his public ministry nothing again was said about Joseph, we may well presume that he died, here the Holy Family must have suffered the pain of bereavement and separation through death. Jesus in his public ministry faced many oppositions and threats of death. No one could imagine what Mary passed through at the foot of her son’s cross.

          The Holy Family is the model for families because despite their many trials, the family remained faithful and united. Indeed, the Holy family was not an easy Family, not even a very normal family, but they excelled in one thing, and that is where we have to take them as model and paradigm for Christian families; and that is the fact that despite all these odds, they remained faithful to each other. The faithfulness of Joseph to Mary, even though not being the father of the child. The faithfulness of Mary to Jesus, when she heard about his arrest and condemnation, she went to Jerusalem to be with him, she stood by him till death. Mary indeed is faithful like a rock. And Jesus in turn remained faithful to the Mother even at the point of death, for some of his last words were for Mary: “Mother, behold your Son. Son, behold your mother” (Jn.19:26-27). We are called therefore, as families, little churches to appropriate the virtues of the Holy Family, especially that of faithfulness. We are called to be faithful like them!

          The first reading (Sir. 3:3-7.14-17a) calls our attention on the respect and honor that should characterize the rapport among the members of the same family, especially between parents and their children. It serves as a commentary on the fourth commandment: “Honor your father and your mother”, and again there is the emphasis on the respect to the elders, this indeed is to be re-emphasized in our present day society: “O son, help your father in his old age, and do not grieve him as he lives; even if he is lacking in understanding, show forbearance, and do not despise him all the days of his life”. This invitation of the sacred author requires urgent reflection and assimilation in our society today. The responsorial psalm begins with a beatitude: “Blessed is everyone…”. Thus, it presents the fear of the Lord as the basis of family, social and economic prosperity.

          The Gospel passage (Mt. 2:13-15.19-23) presents the discomforting experience and situation of the Holy Family and its consequences on the children of Bethlehem. The passage begins with the message of an angel to Joseph in a dream inviting him to take Mary and Jesus and flee to Egypt because Herod wants to kill him. And when Herod could not figure out the Child-Jesus, and upon realization that he has been fooled by the wise men he gave orders that in Bethlehem and its surroundings all the male children from two years down should be massacred (cf. Mt. 2:16). In his narrative Mathew has to bring Jesus from Bethlehem to Nazareth, but for Luke the Holy Family was domiciled in Nazareth, but only visited Bethlehem for census. It is believed that Mathew might have taken inspiration from the text of prophet Isaiah (11:1) where the Davidic Messiah is described as a branch from Jesse. Also Mathew sees the movements of the Holy Family as the fulfillment of the Scriptures. However, an effort is made in this reflection to view this passage with the lens of the happenings today in our individual families and in the human family at large.

           There is a message of joy and a liberating proclamation in the passage: “Get up, take the child and his mother with you and go back to the land of Israel, for those who wanted to kill the child are dead” (v. 20). Indeed, this episode of the Gospel describes a well-known historical fact. But reflecting on it in the context of the Holy Family and the family in general, it propels us to think about Herods and other children being massacred. Today, the number of babies being massacred in and through abortion cannot be overemphasized. We are called like Joseph and Mary to defend the life and dignity of every human being, to defend every form of the human life against any form of violence. We cannot but remember the number of children who have lost their lives through war and hunger. And today before the evils of abortion and the human injustices that lead to war and hunger we cannot but frown at the liberalization and legalization of abortion, and the institutionalization of injustice. Therefore, the message of the Gospel revolves not only on the fourth commandment but also on the fifth. Mary and Joseph are therefore the models for those who protect and defend the human life. In the gospel we see the paternal function of Joseph towards the care of their son, his obedience to God, which made him to participate in the divine authority, his readiness to obey faithfully, the prudence in looking for a stable residence for the family, these are all functions of any father or mother. However, there is a new element, and that is the movement of Joseph’s action, in his actions he was moved by the will of God and his desire to accomplish God’s will.

          The passage second reading (Col. 3:12-21) is part of the ethical section or the “parenesis” of St. Paul’s epistle to the Colossians. It begins with a list of virtues that are introduced with the positive imperative “put on”. On the other hand, this imperative is preceded by the negative imperative “put off) followed by a list of vices. This putting on and putting off could be interpreted in the context of Baptism. The first imperative as the candidate comes out of the baptismal font and the second is likened to the stripping of the candidate prior to his /her baptism. In this passage, St. Paul equally introduced what could be termed household code, which has to do with the respective duties and responsibilities of the various members of the family. St. Paul dedicated the third chapter of his letter to the Colossians in explaining the fundamental effect of baptism, which is the new life in Christ. In Colossians 3:17 he says: “And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus”. This verse illumines the liturgical text of today, referred to family duties in their mutual relations. The respect of the wife towards the husband, the obedience of the children towards their parents and the kindness of the parents towards their children are naturally common values to every family, but Christians have to live out these values “in the name of Jesus”. With this new Spirit, this new exigency parents and children are called to form and build up the family. Indeed as St. Paul described in this epistle, we could say that the Holy Family was characterized by heartfelt compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience (v.12).

          In the light of today’s Feast, in our present day society there are some situations and human conditions that tend disintegrate nucleus of the family and as such require a good dose of reflection. Today we talk about separated parents or broken marriages, many a times their children suffer because of the conflicts of the parents, divorced and remarried parents with children, adoption of a child by a single, be it man or woman, adoption of children by homosexual or lesbian couples etc. These are complex and difficult situations that cannot but make us reflect over and over again. In the realization of the divine plan of God, He needed a father and a mother for His divine Son. Just like in the case of Joseph and Mary, in the education of children, the father and the mother have their roles. This tells us the importance and the necessity of the figure of a father and a mother in the human family. Let us not forget that it is the natural right of children to have parents: father and mother. This original initiative of God should propel us today to make some reconsiderations in our clamour for freedom.

          As we celebrate the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph, we need to appropriate the virtues emanating not only from the Holy Family but also from the readings of this day into the reality of our different families. In our society today, where the institution of marriage and family is under serious attack, we need to swim against the currents of this contemporary world that are inimical to the wellbeing of the family. We need to identify these anti-values that are served at the supermarket of our present society and in the means of social communication, ranging from the rebellion of the children, quarrels and confrontations between husband and wife, little or no interest on the children by the parents and excessive interest on the children by some possessive parents to the abandonment of the children by the parents and that of the parents by the children. Conscious of all this, we need to endeavor to construct a family founded on the family values present in today’s liturgy of the word: respect and appreciation, obedience and mutual help, concern and care, prudence and the search for family stability, goodness and reciprocal love. We need to incarnate these values in our families and society today in order to ward of the anti-values that are fast destroying the concept and the commitment of the Christian family. Today we need to insist on the importance of responsible parenthood; else we end up raising drug addicts, delinquents, and violent children because of the absence or irresponsibility of the parents. Some of the challenges facing families today, is that there is no enough time to be together and to pray together. In all we cannot but affirm that the true model of the Christian family is the family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph: the Holy Family.

          As we celebrate the feast of the Holy Family, let us turn our marriages, families and homes from broken marriages, families and homes to united marriages, families and homes. As the Holy Family survived all their crises and storms through love of each other and faith in God, let us earnestly pray during this Mass that our families torn apart by the presages of hatred, separation and selfishness will conquer these storms through love for each other and faith in God.

 (Fr. Vitus M. C. Unegbu)

The Word Became Flesh!

(Homily for Christmas, Mass during the Day)

          Today, with great joy and solemnity we celebrate Christmas - the feast of God's magnanimous and unconditional love, the feast of God's Self-gift to mankind. Christmas is God's gift placed in human hands’. A real Gift wrapped in swaddling clothes (Lk. 2:12). One may ask why this yearly celebration for a Child that was born more than 2000 years ago, but it is only with and through the eyes of faith that one can understand why this Child is perenially adorable. Christmas is not an event of the past, but more importantly, it is also an event of today and each day. Only the Word of God, welcomed simply in our hearts can reveal to us the mystery surrounding this Child of Bethlehem, and indeed, the pre-existent Word of God throws more light to the mystery of the grotto of Bethlehem. Interestingly, the readings of Hebrew 1 and John 1 reveal that we are not merely celebrating the birth of a baby, rather the mystery of God’s self disclosure and communication in Jesus. His coming into the world is part of the dynamic process of God’s self-communication. The Christian God does not present Himself as a supreme entity that resides impassive on His throne of changeless eternity, but He descended and stooped so low to take the human flesh. The mystery of the Incarnation is so great and attracting that no matter how hard one tries, it cannot be jettisoned. The mystery is so great that the great thinkers of all times could not exhaust it. Indeed, I have allowed myself to be drawn by the irresistible attraction of this mystery. And together with the angels and shepherds i have come to contemplate the real gift of Christmas: The Child Jesus (a baby wrapped in swaddling clothes). Come let us adore Him the pre-existent and eternal Word!

          In the First reading (Is. 52: 7-10) Prophet Isaiah proclaims the reign of God, that is being realized now by God’s mighty act. In the context of this passage, the mighty act is the return from exile. Whereas for us it is the Birth of the Child of Bethlehem: Jesus, as announced by this angelic hymn. Therein, Yahweh returns to Zion (v. 8) to comfort his chosen people (v.9), and indeed, his mighty work of salvation is seen by all men (v.10). The prophet announced the universality of God’s salvation. Behold, “all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God”. “How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of him who brings good tidings. What is this good tiding? Jesus is the good tiding. And what is the good tiding all about? Is a tiding of peace, goodness, God’s tenderness and salvation. The prophet says to Zion and to us today “your God reigns”. The Lord has comforted his people, Isaiah says, because he sent his only Son, the Saviour. Even the psalmist joins in this universal exultation: “All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God” (Ps. 98:3).

          In the Second reading (Heb. 1:1-6), the sacred author writes vehemently about the manifestation of God to men, not through Kings or prophets, but now through His Son. And that is the greatest novelty of the mystery of Incarnation. Jesus is the definitive Word of the Father, the supreme revelation of the Father. The writer of the letter to the Hebrew presents Jesus as the highest revelation and definitive Word of the Father (Okwu ekwuru ihe agbañwo). In the words of the writer, “In the olden days God spoke to our fathers in various ways through the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us through his Son”. He says that the dignity of Jesus is more than the angels, because no angel was given a name that he was given, which name? “Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father (A child and a Father) Jesus is called Father, in participation to the Father’s paternity, “from whom every fatherhood in heaven or on earth takes its name” (Eph. 3:15), Prince of peace” (Is. 9:5), Jesus, Emmanuel. Therefore, all the angels adore Him, and if the angels of God adore Him, what of we humans. Let us join our voices together and shout “we have come to adore Him”. Behold, this passage of the letter to the Hebrew reaffirms the Pauline expression: “He is the image of the unseen God, the first-born of all creation, for in him were created all things in heaven and on earth: everything visible and everything invisible, thrones, ruling forces, sovereignties, powers- all things were created through him and for him. He exists before all things and in him all things hold together” (Col. 1:15-17).

          The Gospel (Jn. 1:1-18) of today exhumes once again the pre-eminence and pre-existence of the Word of God, for, “in the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God”. St. John’s starts with the beginning because Jesus is the eternal Word of the Father, the Word that was used in the creation (Gen. 1:1-3), all was made through him, “ihe nile di adi siri n’aya diri”. Be that as it may, the self-revelation (Word, Logos) did not begin with the Incarnation event, rather with creation (cf. Heb. 1:1-14). St. John in his gospel gives us a wonderful explanation of the Incarnation (Kai o Logos sarx ergheneto). The Word of God took flesh and became one of us and one with us. The word “flesh” denotes the whole of humanity, not just the humanity of Jesus. Not only that he took the human flesh, but he dwells within and with us. Little wonder, St. Paul affirmed “in him we move, in him we live in him we have our being” (Acts 17:28).

           However, though he dwells in and within us, He remains the Eternal Word of the Eternal Father. John affirms that He is eternal like the Father. He is the true Light that enlightens all men. He is the fullness of grace from whom all draw grace. He has power to make children of God all those that welcome Him. John tells us the type of reception the Word of God received: “He came to His own and his own people did not accept him. But to those who did accept him he gave power to become children of God” (Jn. 1:11-12). Behold, wherever the Son is received, man is restored to divine sonship. But unfortunately till today, in so many ways, God continues to suffer rejection in the hands of men, in our societies and in our world. The event of Christmas interrogates each and every one of us. If Jesus were to come today, can we make a place for him in our home and heart? As a matter of fact, he is already there standing and knocking at the door (Rev 3:20). As Joseph and Mary did, we are invited to welcome Him. Christmas is an event of God knocking at our door. If you hear his voice and open he will also open for you when you knock.

       St. John says that “in him was life, the life was the light of all men”. He further expressed that, “Light shines in darkness, but darkness hasn’t overcome it” and I may add, and it will never overcome it. Irrespective of the fact that evil still persists in the world today, all kinds of atrocities and unimaginable crimes, yet the fact still remains: “Light shines in darkness, but darkness hasn’t overcome it”. JESUS is our light, allow him to enlighten your life. He will continue to shine, His light will continue to beam. With this consciousness we join our voices together to that of St. Augustine in saying “Oh man wake up, it was for you that God was made man”.

          In all, as emanating from the gospel passage of St. John’s prologue, the event of today brings three important factors to our consideration: ►Christmas is an event of light: The Readings resonate the theme of light, and the Baby in the manger is the Light of the world (Jn. 1:9). ►Christmas is an event of love: John in his Gospel says, “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that whoever believes in him, will not perish, but will have eternal life” (Jn. 3:16). ►Christmas is God's self-gift! The real message of Christmas is that Jesus is a gift to the world. “You will see a sign: a child wrapped in swaddling clothes” (Lk 2:12).   

          Behold, the peak of our excitement and celebration today revolves around the fact that we are not talking about a sign like in Isaiah and Mathew, but today we are celebrating his presence in our midst. The highest point of God’s revelation is this passage from sign to reality, a real presence! Truly, he is present with us in this celebration in a special way through the Eucharist. At this altar the sign of a Baby in the manger is made present in the sign of Bread, no longer wrapped in swaddling clothes, but broken for the life of the world. And with his presence in the Eucharistic Bread he becomes a Gift per execllence, not just a Gift, but equally the Food for our nourishment. Thank You Jesus! There is indeed a knit connection between the Incarnation and the Eucharist, even the place of his birth Bethlehem means “House of Bread” and with Jesus it is no longer ordinary bread, but the Eucharistic Bread. We are filled with joy in the presence of the God who comes to save us and in the salvation he has already won for us. Just as Adam rejoiced when he saw Eve “bone of my bone and flesh of my flesh” (Gen. 2:23), so too we rejoice in the presence of “the Word that became flesh and dwelt among us” (Jn. 1:14), he took our human flesh.

          Brethren, let us assume the sensibility of the wise men, “we have come to adore Him” (Mt. 2:2). And really we too have come to adore Him. May we all join in this perenial adoration of the Child of Bethlehem, and as we solemnly adore and celebrate Him today, we joyfully acclaim “TODAY IS BORN OUR SAVIOR - CHRIST THE LORD”.

Come let us adore Him!

Come let us adore the Child of Bethlehem!

Come let us adore the Savior!

Come let us adore this Child who is equally a Father!

Come let us adore the Emmanuel!

Come! Come!! Come!!!

Wishing you all a grace-filled celebration of Christmas!!!

(Fr. Vitus M.C. Unegbu, SC)

Unto Us A Son Is Given!

(Homily for Christmas, Mass during the Night)

           This night is indeed, a night of great joy, peace and light for the God in our midst. The story of the birth of Jesus, each time we hear or listen to it fills our hearts with profound joy and gladness, it is ever new and fresh in its impact in the human heart. It’s really a message of great joy (Lk. 2:10). And we cannot but embrace this event with a childlike stupor. Indeed, this childlike stupor for this Child of Bethlehem serves as an entrance door to the adoration and the joy of Christmas. Human reason and logic cannot stand their ground at the face of this mystery, for through the birth of our Savior in a manger, a helpless and weak Baby, God has overturned the false certainty and omnipotence of the men of this world, and St. Paul captured it vividly well thus: “God’s folly is wiser than human wisdom, and God’s weakness is stronger than human strength” (1Cor. 1:25). With the celebration of this night, we have come to the end of the season of Advent and the period of expectation and of patient waiting. This is the time to celebrate the Messiah in our midst, the feast of Christmas. This is the most important event in the history of mankind, an event when God became one of us, when God takes the human form in the person of Jesus Christ. Today, Jesus wants to be reborn in our lives. Do we have a place for him in our hearts?

          In the first reading (Is. 9:2-7) prophet Isaiah announces this day as a day of great light, he started with the consoling words: “The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; upon those who dwelt in the land of gloom a light has shone. You have multiplied the nation, you have increased their joy”. The passage of the ninth chapter of the prophecy of Isaiah was originally a coronation anthem, used at the enthronement of the kings of the Davidic dynasty. It was hoped that each new king would be the ideal king. Interestingly, the christian faith finds the fulfillment of this hope in Jesus Christ. For in Him, all the blessings looked for at each royal accession in the history of Judah are realized.

         The people of Israel waited long in suffering and hardship for the coming of the Messiah, they kept on waiting for a new era. Behold, Isaiah’s message is for them the fulfilment of God’s promise, in and through the New Born Baby: “For unto us a son is born, to us a son is given, his name will be wonderful counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of peace”. His reign will have no end. The title “Everlasting Father” attributed to this New Born Baby delineates His future and Mission (a child and a Father). This new born king is hailed with many honorific titles. He was even called “Mighty God”, this bold ascription of divinity is uncommon in the Old Testament (cf. Ps.45:7), and however, biblically it points to the sovereignty of Yahweh. This title is indeed to be comprehended in the sense of Deus pro nobis in his grace and salvation (second person of the Trinity) and not in the sense of Deus in se (first person of the Trinity).

          This night we heard once again the Gospel narrative of St. Luke (Lk. 2:1-14). Luke recounts the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ in a rather detailed and fascinating manner. And because of the vitality of that narrative we have listened to it with emotion and passion. Luke places it against the background of the reign of Roman Emperor Caesar Augustus and he also mentions a census in Palestine issued by him at the time when Jesus was born (this serves to tell us that the birth of Jesus is not a fiction or a fairy tale). They went from Nazareth to Bethlehem, in fulfilment of the prophecy that the promised heir of David will be born there. It is generally accepted that Jesus was born in 4 B.C. 

          What marvels me is neither the song of the angels nor the run of the shepherds, but the situation of the manger, where He was born. Not only in a den of animals, He was born in a manger (there was not even space to stay where the animals stay, but they found a place for Him where animals eat): this symbolizes the sacrificial meal that Jesus becomes, He is a real GIFT. Let us put into consideration a number of particularities emanating from this Gospel passage:

• We see Mary and Joseph that went for census and Jesus that is born in a manger, of all places! Mary and Joseph did not find a place in the Inns, this indeed demonstrates the insensibility of man. Even till today does he find a home in our homes, in our hearts, in our society?
• We capture Mary that wraps Him in a swaddling clothe and the Angel of the Lord that brings the great proclamation. The Angel announces to the shepherds: “Be not afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy…for to you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, who is Christ the Lord”. We see the pastors that ran towards the manger to see the New Born Baby. Here we see that the news of the birth of Jesus was first announced to the shepherds (who were considered as sinners). Interestingly, the angels announced to the pastors of the birth of a Savior and also indicated to them how to recognize him: “this will be for you a sign: you will see a child wrapped in clothes”.
• And equally the Angels in the grotto singing: “glory to God in the highest and peace to men with whom he is pleased”.

         In Luke’s narrative, shepherds were members of a despised class, like tax collectors and prostitutes, they do not enjoy a positive self regard. However, the message of the evenagelist here revolves around the fact that Jesus came especially to the outcasts, this idea lingers throughout the third Gospel. In the passage we see the appearance of angels who bring messages to accompany salvific events, and this denotes the salvation events as an act of God. In the Gospel, we have two accounts of the appearance of angels: first, a single angel who announced the messianic birth (cf. Lk. 1:26-38); second, an angel and a multitude of heavenly host, who interpret the significance of the Birth thus: “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace for those he favours” (Lk. 2:14). Some translations would say “ peace to people of good will”, therein people of good will does not signify good will in literay sense, but it signifies mankind who are now recipients or objects of divine favour.

         Luke’s narration is fascinating, touching and soul southing. It is neither a legend nor a fairy tale, without historical foundation. The details, and some geographical precisions are indications that it is a historical fact, even though there may be some elements of a popular tradition, the issue is that a real fact has happened. To confirm this, John in his first letter affirms vigorously: “something which has existed since the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our own eyes, which we have watched and touched with our hands, the Word of life-this is our theme” (1Jn. 1:1), and in verse 4 he says “we are writing this to you so that our joy will be complete” (v.4). And St. Peter in the bid to respond to sceptics  and unbelievers writes: “when we told you about the power and the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, we were not slavishly repeating cleverly invented myths; no, we had seen his majesty with our own eyes” (2Pt. 1:16), here Peter lays credence on the realism of the Incarnation. Again, with a more concrete and incisive expression St. Paul says: “when the fullness of time came, God sent his Son born of a woman” (Gal. 4:4).

          Let us confront ourselves today with this question: “why did Jesus choose to be born in that condition? St. Anselm would ask: “Cur Deus Homo?” (why did God become man?). In the words of St. Augustine “O man wake up, it was for you that God was made man”. God became man to show us the intensity and density of God’s love, “For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son…” (Jn.3:16).

          Be that at it may, Jesus therefore, is not a legend, a myth or a fantasy of human invention, rather He is a historical personage that was born in Bethlehem. The Child that was born in Bethlehem is truly the King-Messiah, the Promised Messiah, the Prince of peace (Is. 9:5b). For St. Paul “In Him dwells the fullness of divinity” (Col.2:9).

          Substantially, what does the birth of Jesus reveal to us:

• It reveals the dignity of the human person, for if the Son of God became man to save man, it means that in the eyes of God the dignity of man has an inestimable value.
• It reveals that each person is called to a communion of life and of love with God, for the Son of God assumed the human nature to enrich us of his divinity. In fact, as St. John rightly puts it “To those who accept Him he gives power to become children of God” (Jn. 1:12), therefore to share in his divinity.
• The birth of Jesus equally is an indication that we are in a journey towards a precise goal. As St. Paul tells us in the second reading: “we are waiting in hope for the blessing which will come with the appearing of the glory of our great God and Saviour Jesus Christ” (Tt. 2:13).

          In the second reading (Titus 2:11-14), St. Paul in his letter to Titus proclaims that the grace of God has appeared for the salvation of all men. The grace appeared to redeem us from our iniquity. This tells us the Father’s purpose for sending his Son (redemption of the world). The child that is born and given to us is our Redeemer (little wonder he was called child and father by Isaiah). Jesus gave himself to redeem us. The author of this letter carried the Advent theme into Christmas, for the reading speaks about the first (v.11) and the second (v.13) comings of Christ. As a matter of fact, the first coming is an anticipation of the second coming, little wonder it is celebrated at midnight, for according to the New Testament imagery, the second coming will take place at midnight (cf.Mt.25:6).

          Above all else, however, it is quite unfortunate that we are celebrating the birth of the Savior, not in a type of world described by Isaiah in the first reading, a pacific world, where men live in harmony and love as brothers, where justice reigns. Instead, our world is divided by hatred, war, violence and injustice; and in this situation the dignity of man raised by Christ is thrown to the mud, in our world where human beings are killing their fellows (cf. Gn. 4, 1-16: Cain and Abel), where is the reign of love and of peace that the new born Baby brings? It is only when humanity welcomes this Child that our joy will be complete (cf. 1Jn. 1:4). As a matter of fact, he is already here standing and knocking at the door (Rev 3:20). Christmas is an event of God knocking at our door. If you hear his voice and open he will also open for you when you knock. It is a favourable time to welcome Jesus in our hearts (Maka Jisos bata ihe di egwu g’eme). The real message of Christmas is that Jesus is a GIFT to the world. “You will see a sign: a child wrapped in swaddling clothes” (Lk 2:12). Jesus is the centre of human history, from his birth the human history was divided into two: Before and After Christ. May we make him the centre of our life. Christmas is not only an event of the past, but more importantly, it is also an event of today and of each day, and as we solemnly celebrate it today, we joyfully acclaim “TODAY IS BORN OUR SAVIOR - CHRIST THE LORD”. Christmas is really an event: An event of love! An event of joy! An event of peace! An event of God’s presence (Emmanuel)! A feast of gift! Merry Christmas to You all, Brethren and Friends!!!

(Fr. Vitus M. C. Unegbu, SC)

The Ever Present God: Emmanu-El!

          (Homily for the 4^th Sunday of Advent Yr. A)

          As a matter of fact, the Advent season has a certain peculiar rhythm that goes like in a crescendo. It rises in a continuous crescendo toward the full light of Christmas. The rhythm in question is adequately symbolized by the Advent wreath (from the German custom). No doubt, the crescendo of Advent is reflected in the liturgical readings of the season, which begins with the prophecies of Isaiah and John the Baptist and culminates on the figures of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Joseph and the annunciation of Jesus’ birth. In today’s liturgy the church through the readings anticipates the narration of the birth of Jesus according to Mathew. The Angel told Joseph that he will be called Jesus for He will save his people from their sins; He shall be called Emmanuel for He is God-with-us. Here, we see not only the meaning of his names but also his inherent identity. Drawing the issue further, the expression “parents of Jesus” could be the meeting point of the readings of today. Mathew in the Gospel affirms glaringly: “his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph”. “She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus”. Here, we see parents who inserted themselves in the mysterious action of God in human history. Mary being a virgin conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit, thus fulfilling the prophecy of Isaiah in the first reading. Joseph is just, he accepted the mystery of God, but he questioned what God really wanted him to do, and God gave him a response: “Do not fear to take Mary your wife…”. Through Joseph, Jesus will be born from the descendant of David as man, in line with the Pauline affirmation in the second reading.

          The first reading (Is. 7:10-14) presents the story of Ahaz, who was known for his religious indifference. The historical situation of the episode in this passage is described in 2 Kings 16:5-9. It happened when Syria entered into alliance with the northern kingdom of Israel against the southern kingdom of Judah of which Ahaz is King. Together they laid siege to Jerusalem. Here, prophet Isaiah offers Ahaz a sign that everything will be a success at the long run, but Ahaz refused such a sign, because he wanted to have nothing to do with Isaiah’s advice. Notwithstanding, Isaiah proceeded and gave the sign: “A young woman shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Emmanuel”. Ahaz had trust in the political alliance with the Assyrians and their gods, but not in the help of God. But Isaiah reminded him that God has guaranteed the continuity of the dynasty of David, and as such it cannot be destroyed. As a matter of fact, there two sides of this episode: first, in connection with 2 Kings 16, it is probable that the young woman in question is the wife of the king and the Son to be born is Hezekiah, future king, son of Ahaz, through whom God will bring liberation to his people.

           Second, is as it is taken up by Mathew. As such, we could say that, that of Hezekiah is a prefiguration of the real Liberator of His people, the Emmanuel, He who reveals and manifests to what extend God can be with His people. Indeed, the prophecy of the “Emmanuel” cuts across and goes beyond the person of Hezekiah. Jesus is the Emmanuel to the point of being one with and like us in everything except sin (cf. 1Pt.2:22; Heb.4:15; 2Chro.5:21). In Isaiah 7:14 there was the prophecy about a child, “behold, a virgin will be with a child and will give birth to a son, and his name will be called Immanuel” But do we really believe in Him? We may sometimes find ourselves in the same ditch with Ahaz who never believed fully in God’s fidelity in the Covenant with his people, rather in difficult moments he sort for security and protection in the covenant with the pagan people of Assyria. Indeed, the spirituality of Advent calls us to come back to God, our primordial love (cf. Rev.2:4), to have trust in His love, especially in difficult times. In our difficult moments there is always a sign, king Ahaz failed to see it, may we never fail to see that sign in hard times, that is the sign of God’s presence (Immanuel). This episode reveals that what God says He will do, He will do it. He carries out His will and designs irrespective of human infidelity and lack of cooperation, the story of Ahaz is an eloquent example. Likewise, God continues to realize His designs and plans for us, irrespective of our human weaknesses. But in all, God needs the human cooperation.

          In the same vein, the Gospel reading (Mt. 1:18-24) presented Christ as the Son of God, his birth was prodigious, it was the work of the Holy Spirit, but He is also man, for He was born of the Virgin Mary, and Joseph was his foster father. And as such, Jesus is a descendant of David. As we can see in the passage of St. Mathew’s Gospel, Jesus was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit, while his mother remained a virgin. Mathew and Luke agree on this, even though their infancy stories have some discrepancies. It affirms the transcendental origin of Jesus’ history. He is by no means the product of human evolution, but the intervention of the transcendent God in the history of humanity. In this passage, the parents of Jesus enter into scene. Both Mary and Joseph had a vocation and a mission to realize in that divine project. Mary was called to be the mother of God, being a virgin. Joseph was called to be the “father” of God, being just. They were both perturbed at the beginning of this divine plan, however, in their torment they searched for God, and God introduced them into the truth of the mystery. Both of them received those encouraging words from God: Angel Gabriel told Mary: “do not be afraid” (Lk. 1:30) and the angel of the Lord also told Joseph: “do not be afraid” (Mt. 1:20). And confident in God both of them gave their “Yes” with a generous heart to the mission God entrusted to each one of them. While Mary responded to the Angel “May it be done unto me according to thy word” (Lk. 1:38), Joseph did not utter any word, the Gospel said when he woke up he did as the Angel commanded him (cf. Mt. 1:24).

          The message of this last Sunday of Advent partly revolves around the identity of the Messiah. Last Sunday we heard Jesus affirming indirectly that He is the Messiah (through his prodigious works), in that emblematic episode between Him and the disciples of John (cf. Mt. 11). Above all else, however, we may still ask: “who truly is Jesus? St. Mathew tries to proffer an answer or answers to this question through the literary genre of apparition and dreams: through the dream of Joseph, which has a meaning of a divine revelation that enlightens or shades light to a historical event of the conception of Mary and the Birth of Jesus. The Messiah is the Son of Joseph, and through him the link to the dynasty of David. But he is also Son of God. However, the extraordinary manner of his conception without human interventions evidences that God is the protagonist of His birth through the work of the Holy Spirit. Indeed, the virginity of Mary affirms and manifests clearly the sovereign action of God, the absolute gratuitous nature of the Gift. Even though the birth of Christ is not by means of the work of man, Joseph, however is called to be close to his spouse and to be father to the child that will be born, also to give him a name: Jesus, which means “God saves” and to guarantee his royal and messianic dynasty from David. Mathew reveals the double overriding titles/names of the Messiah: Jesus: for he will save his people form their sins and Emmanuel: God with us. He comes to save us and to assure us of the nearness and presence of God. We see glaringly the primary mission of Jesus, that is, to save His people from their sins, to liberate man from the slavery of sin and thus lead him to the freedom of God’s children. As such, Christianity is above all, against every form of slavery and oppression, it is an encounter of liberation from the slavery of sin, of egoism, and of moral disorder. Indeed, a Christian is in turn a liberator in the measure he or she has been liberated from sin.

          Jesus is Emmanu: with us; he is one of us, “from the descendant of David according to the flesh” as St. Paul puts it. But Jesus is also El: God. He is the Son of man and also the Son of God. From ancient times, God has been the One with his people, He told Abraham, “I am with you” (Gen. 17:1-19), he revealed himself to Abraham as a God with his people; God sent Moses to go and demand freedom from Pharaoh for the Hebrew slaves, Moses objected but God assured him “I will be with you” (Ex. 3:12); in his vision Paul heard God saying to him: “I am with you” (Acts 18:10). This indeed, is the very mystery at the heart of Christmas. He is the God-with-us. But is he truly the God-with-us even till today? Yes, even till today, for in his words: “I am with you always; yes, to the end of time” (Mt. 28:20). He is still the God-with-us. Through his resurrection he inaugurated a new way of being in the world, spiritual and invisible, but real. Little wonder, St. Paul emerged with his joyous cry thus: “If God is for us, who can be against us? Who can separate us from the love of Christ?” (Rm. 8:31.35). No one, except we ourselves, we can turn our back to Christ, and live for ourselves and not for him who died and was raised to life (2Cor. 5:15). In that bid, the period of Advent and Christmas is a time to remind a Christian of his/her moral responsibility. “Ecce nunc tempus acceptabile”: This is the favourable time. Jesus is always the Emmanuel, the God-with-us. But there is a moment in which he is with us in a different way: sacramentally and really. And it is now, in our Eucharistic celebration. He is present here with us.

          The spirituality of Advent demonstrates that in giving his Son, God needed human cooperation. Notwithstanding, that he could do everything on His power alone, and may be one day we discover Jesus all of a sudden in the scene and street of the world, in a more mysterious way. Instead He offered Him to us, through Mary and through the cooperation of Joseph, his foster father. We can see this even in the history of our salvation in both the Old and the New testaments, God takes the initiative both to create and to redeem man. It is his divine design but He requires the collaboration of man. Once again, God still needs our cooperation to announce the presence of His Son in the world. He needs our cooperation to take Jesus to the heart of humanity, and the heart of everyman. He wants us to become bearers of Christ (Christophers). But we cannot bear Him in our hearts or give Him to others, if we do not have Him in our heart and in our lives, “nemo dat quod non habet”.

           The second reading (Rm. 1:1-7) is the opening greeting of St. Paul’s letter to the Romans. As a matter of fact, all the letters of Paul were addressed to the churches he founded, in exception to this letter. And unlike in his letters he made a sketch of the Gospel in a traditional form, with the expressions: “descended from David according to the flesh”, “designated as Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness”. Therein, St. Paul stresses the Davidic descent of Jesus, but at the same time his divine origin with the second expression. He used the first expression to reaffirm the humanity of Jesus. Indeed, the Davidic descent of Jesus stresses his lowliness and not his exalted majesty. While Mathew affirms more that the Son of Mary is the Son of God, Paul accentuates his human origin as a descendant of David, and all is in fulfillment of the age-long prophecy of Isaiah. In our second reading today, St. Paul reaffirmed vigorously his divine and human origins; he is man and also God.

          As the good tidings of Advent, and the pillar around which revolves the message of Advent spirituality is that “God really entered into human history, in order to introduce us to His divine life”. This Good News is still actual today waiting for us to welcome it. However, it is true that some have not accepted or received the grace of his birth, maybe because of their negligence, skepticism and indifference. Even some of us that are Christians, what have we done with this Good news? Are we really convinced that God is in our midst? And do we live in accordance to such conviction? The spirituality of Advent calls us for a proper and sincere examination of conscience with regards to our faith in Jesus Christ, the Saviour of the world.

          Above all, the liturgy of the word this Sunday opens with the famous prophecy of Isaiah: “The Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, a virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel”. The passage of the Gospel describes the fulfillment of this prophecy. The sign is Mary who in her virginity has conceived Jesus Christ. With these two passages of the Scripture we are indeed introduced into the heart of the imminent event: Christmas. Before the celebration of the historical birth or the memorial of the birth of Jesus in few days’ time, today we are contemplating and celebrating his theological birth, that is the profound significance of his Birth. The mystery of Christmas is this: God in Jesus Christ became the Emmanuel, the God-with-us. From the “Most High God” he became the “near-by God” or better the “God with”, a God for humanity. Truly, God has been with man from the moment creation, but it was a dialogue from a distance, made through the prophets. But in and through Christ he entered personally into human history, he became one of us, in order to save us from within, from our situation. The covenant became “new and eternal”, eternal because the two parts God and man, as a matter of fact have become ‘one person’, a unique being, that is not divisible: Jesus Christ. The peak of our excitement and celebration in few days’ time revolves around the fact that we are not talking about a sign like in Isaiah and Mathew, but today we are celebrating his presence in our midst. The highest point of God’s revelation is this passage from sign to reality, a real presence! May we therefore echo our voices together with that of the Psalmist saying: “Let the Lord enter, He is the King of glory” (Ps. 24:7.10). Maranatha!!!

(Fr. Vitus M.C. Unegbu, SC)