Christmas Message

                        

And the Word was made flesh

                       Mary Mother of God Parish, Ayede-Ogbese  
                                  2023 Nine Lessons and Carols 

                                                           Christmas Message  

Theme: And the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us

 The theme of this year Christmas Carol is, ‘And the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us’. Who is the word? St. John, in his gospel, says, “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” (1:1-5).  He adds, “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth; we have beheld his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father” (1:14).  

The word that became flesh is the Word of God, not human word. The word is God and it is God who took flesh. It is our life who became fleshfor the Word is our life. We can also say it is the light of life that became flesh, for it is the light of our life. God created heaven and earth through the Word. The Word has a creative power. It is the wisdom of God who became flesh. The word is the source of all that is. 

 God so loved the world that he gave his only Son

Why did the Word become flesh? St. John also answers the question in his gospel. He says, “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life” (3:16). He became flesh for our salvation. This is promised from beginning when mankind fell from God’s grace by their disobedience. God told the devil, “I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will strike your head, and you will strike his heel’” (Gen. 3:15).  

The prophet also retreated it: “Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Look, the young woman is with child and shall bear a son, and shall name him Immanuel” (Is. 7:14). He became flesh to save us from our sins.  

The Word of God took flesh in the Virgin Mary

How did the Word become flesh? The Word became by the will of God and the cooperation of the Virgin Mary with the will of God. The Word became immediately the Virgin Mary said, “Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word.” The Word of God took flesh in the Virgin Mary.

The Word can also take flesh in us by total obedience to the word of God.  The became flesh in our lives when we live out the word of God daily. Until the word of God became flesh in us, the celebration of Christmas will not have saving effect in our lives. Hence, I enjoin everyone of us live in obedience to God’s word, so that His Word will become flesh in us.  

By Fr. Andrew Olowomuke  

Date: 17th December, 2023