by Fr. Tommy Lane
In the middle of today’s Gospel (John 1:1-18), there is an extraordinary statement: “the Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.” (John 1:14) In Jesus, God became human. This is a great mystery: “the Word became flesh.” It is the biggest compliment God could give us. God thinks so much of us that he became one of us. Jesus did this for us so that we would welcome God into our lives. Even though Jesus was God, it does not mean he was less human. He was as human as you or I, with a human body, blood, and soul. That Jesus was human as well as divine, that “the Word became flesh,” encourages us because we know Jesus understands us. There are so many examples of this in the Gospels.
When there is a storm in your life, Jesus understands. A storm broke suddenly over the Sea of Galilee as the apostles carried Jesus from one shore to the other in the boat. He calmed the storm (Mark 4:35-41; Luke 8:22-25). When there is a storm in your life, stay in the boat. Jesus is in the boat with you.
If your relations think you are crazy, Jesus understands. Once when he returned to Nazareth, Jesus’ cousins tried to get hold of him because they thought he was crazy (Mark 3:20). When Jesus was teaching in the temple some people there said he was out of his mind (John 10:20).
When you are tired, Jesus understands. When Jesus was traveling through Samaria, John tells us Jesus sat down by Jacob’s well since he was tired (John 4:6). Once when the apostles were taking Jesus by boat to the other side of the Sea of Galilee, Jesus fell asleep in the boat (Luke 8:23; Mark 8:38).
When bereavement touches your house, Jesus understands. The last time we meet Joseph in the Gospels is when Jesus was twelve years old (Luke 2:41-52). We do not see Joseph during Jesus’ public ministry less than two decades later; Joseph had died. Jesus had pity on those who were bereaved; as he was entering Nain, he was deeply moved when at the same time the funeral of a widow’s only son was taking place and Jesus raised her son to life (Luke 7:11-17). Jesus understood her sorrow and desperation. He was deeply moved outside the tomb of Lazarus (John 11:35).
Living here in the country, you are close to nature. Jesus was close to nature; he used nature many times to teach. A shepherd looks for a lost sheep and rejoices when he has found it like God rejoices when we return to him (Luke 15:1-7). When someone sows seed, some of it fails and some of it produces hundred-fold just as some respond to Jesus’ preaching, and some do not (Mark 4:1-9). The mustard seed is the smallest seed but grows into the biggest shrub and Jesus’ kingdom will grow and grow (Mark 4:30-34). Sheep follow the shepherd because they know his voice and Jesus’ followers know him (John 10:1-6).
If people say things to you just to test you, Jesus understands. They did it to him many times (Matt 16:1; Mark 8:11; Matt 19:3) and once Jesus asked them, “Why are you testing me you hypocrites?” (Matt 22:18)
If people tell lies about you, Jesus understands—the Jewish leaders looked for false evidence to have Jesus executed (Matt 26:59; Mark 14:55-56). If people’s jealousy drives them to be mean to you, Jesus understands—Pilate knew it was out of jealousy that the Jewish leaders handed Jesus over to him (Matt 28:18). If people mock you or taunt you, Jesus understands—a number of people taunted Jesus when he was on the cross (Matt 27:39-44; Mark 15:29-32; Luke 23:35-39). Talk about kicking a man when he is down!
So, when you go through a trial, Jesus understands because he is the Word become flesh (John 1:14). He made his dwelling among us and had many trials of various kinds. Jesus is the light, so no matter what darkness may surround, stay close to Jesus. He is really the only light. All other light is just a reflection of his light just like moonlight is a reflection of the sun’s light.
I said that in the middle of today’s Gospel, there is an extraordinary statement: “the Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.” There is also one very sad statement in today’s Gospel: John says Jesus came to his own, but his own people did not accept him (John 1:11). Jesus continues to come to us, above all in the Eucharist. In John 6, Jesus says this about the Eucharist: “Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me and I in him” (John 6:56) and even stronger, “unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you do not have life within you.” (John 6:53) Jesus came to his own people and they did not accept him. Jesus continues to come to us but unless we eat the flesh of the Son of Man, we do not have life within us.
The Word became flesh. It is the biggest compliment God could give us. God thinks so much of us that he became one of us. If you go through a trial of any kind, stay close to Jesus because he is the light no matter what darkness may surround. He came to his own people, but they did not accept him. May we accept him and welcome him into our hearts, lives, and homes.
© Fr. Tommy Lane 2021
This homily was delivered in a parish in Ireland.
More Homilies for the Second Sunday after Christmas
Taking Jesus home 2020
Now I know why you had to do it: a Christmas Parable
God does care about you: the Word became flesh and lived among us
Who are you? 2021
Second Reading see Enlightened to our calling and destiny
stories for Christmas