Solemnity of the Nativity of the Lord at Mississippi Abbey

Scripture Readings: Is 52:7-10; Heb 1:1-6; Jn 1:1-18

 

“In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God.”

The Word, in some mysterious manner, is both one with God and distinct from God. A word reveals something about the one who utters it. This Word reveals a mystery. John tells us that openness to mystery must be our orientation to Jesus Christ and the Father He spends His life pointing to.

Last night we formed ourselves around the infant as a community of shared affection. He is our savior and we know we need to be saved. How He will do that, how He is doing that, is a mystery.

To be receptive to this savior we must, as a community of shared affection, be willing to see our experiences of disappointment, injustice, and even tragedy as mysteries. It is faith in His goodness and mercy that enables us to call “Mystery” what is otherwise seen as evil.

To do this we will have to be unselfish, foolishly unselfish.  That will be hard. The affection that we share will determine the hardships we will accept.

Thus it will give us Hope. So we gather this morning as a community of faith, hope, and love. We have “heard the good news of great joy that will be for all the people.” May it bind us together as we begin a new year!