Readings:
Isaiah 52:7-10
Hebrews 1:1-6
John 1:1-18
Reflection:
OUR CHRISTMAS COMMITMENT
I SAY ‘YES’ LORD is a hymn by Donna Pena not found among Christmas Hymns.
Let us reflect on the Christmas Annunciations; our response is ‘I SAY YES, MY LORD’.
Like Mary responding to the Angel Gabriel, who said, ’Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favour with God. You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus…. ‘How can this be’, Mary asks, ‘Since I am a virgin’. ‘The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will over shadow you. The Holy One to be born will be called ‘the Son of God’. I say ‘YES’ replies Mary.
Joseph has a dream, an angel appears Saying, ‘Joseph son of David do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, what is conceived within her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son. You are to name him Jesus because he will save his people from their sins….. They will call him Emmanuel which means God with us’. Joseph woke up and did what the angel of the Lord commanded. He took Mary home as his wife. I say ‘YES’ replies Joseph.
Shepherds living out in the fields near by keeping watch over their flocks. An angel appeared to them.The glory of the Lord shone around them. They were terrified. ‘Do not be afraid’ the angel said to them, ‘Today in the town of David a Saviour has been born to you, he is Christ the Lord. You will find a baby wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger’. The shepherds said, ’Let us go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about’. I say YES is the shepherds’ reply.
Life has annunciation moments. What we plan suddenly changes. Our vocational choice circumstances of health, friendships, employment, living arrangements and responsibilities change so our life becomes uncertain and fearful. These are moments when the ‘angel’ of the Lord speaks to us. ’Be not afraid, I bring you joyful news a Saviour has been born today he is Christ the Lord’. Like Mary, Joseph, the shepherds I say YES.
It is this YES that we renew every Christmas Day.
‘I say YES my Lord in all the good times, through all the bad times. I say YES my Lord to every word you speak’.
Christmas blessings to you all.
Fr Peter Addicoat CP is parish priest and community leader of our St Joseph’s parish/community in Hobart Tasmania.