Christ, Our Vindication

 

The birth of Christ vindicate us that hope in God never fail.

Reflection on Today’s Readings, Christmas Vigil, Sunday 24th December, 2023
Texts: Isaiah 62:1-5; Psalm 89:4-5,16-17.27,29; Acts 13:16-17.22-25; Matthew 1:1-25  

We celebrate, today, Christ, our vindication. He is our vindication because in Him our faith is true, our hope is fulfilled before the whole world. During Advent we experience the silence of God. This was not because He did not speak to us but because we could not experience His saving power. We expected Him to save us from our troubles but no help came. We felt abandoned but no hope was lost. We kept waiting for a Saviour, which He promised.  

 Now here is our Saviour. The birth of Christ vindicate us that hope in God never fail. That is the message in today’s first reading. In the second reading, St. Paul affirms that the Saviour is Jesus Christ. He says, “Of this man’s (David’s) prosperity God has brought to Israel a Saviour, Jesus, as he promised.” It is in Jesus Christ God has fulfilled our hope; He is our hope. Matthew, in the gospel reading, also tells us that incarnation took place to fulfil the hope of the people. He says, “All this took place to fulfil what the Lord had spoken by the prophet”.

The birth of Christ ushers in a new dawn, a transformation

The reading reminds us that the birth of Christ ushers in a new dawn, a transformation. Hence, we read, “The nations shall see your vindication, and all kings your glory; and you shall be called a new name which the mouth of the Lord will give. You shall be a crown of beauty in the hand of the Lord, and a royal diadem in the hand of your God. You shall no more be termed Forsaken and your land shall no more be termed desolate; but you shall be called My delight in her, and your land married”. That is the picture of the life the birth of Christ bestows on us. 

The birth of Christ has changed our destiny. We are no longer strangers, but sons of the Father, coheirs with Him. St. John says, “To those who believe in Him He gives the power to become the sons of God.” St. Paul puts it thus: “So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are citizens with the saints and also members of the household of God” (Eph. 2:19). Our name has truly changed: We are now Christians, no longer idol worshippers, Ifa worshippers, sango worshippers, etc. 

Jesus Christ is God-with-us

We are no longer Forsaken, for in Christ, God is with us. In today’s gospel reading, we read, “Behold, a virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and his name shall be called Emmanuel (which means, God is with us).” Jesus Christ is God-with-us. We are now His delights and He rejoice our us. Jesus is truly our vindication.  

Prayer  

O God who gladden us year by year as we wait in hope for our redemption, grant that, just as we joyfully welcome your Only Begotten Son as our Redeemer, we may also merit to face him confidently when he comes again as our judge. Amen 

Fr. Andrew  Olowomuke