Our Gospel text this morning was John's Prologue, In the beginning was the Word... read it, it's not long and, for me, the most majestic passage of Scripture. Such unfathomable depth expressed with such simplicity. John's Prologue alone is a testimony to the Apostle's holiness and sanctified vision.
That said, it's a fearsome text for the preacher to approach, how to do it any kind of justice. So I marched up to Doctor X at Mission #2 who writes books like I like to buy firearms, which is often, and asked, "Herr Doktor, would you like to preach this morning on John 1?" He looked me straight in the eye, grinned, and said with professorial candor, "No."
So it was up to me and I gave it a safe shot, asking the people why and to what end did the Word become Flesh. Answer? To reconcile us to God, demonstrate divine love, provide a model of holiness and make us partakers of the Divine Nature. That said, here's Chrysostom, and with it a sermon:
What shall I say! And how shall I describe this Birth to you? For this wonder fills me with astonishment. The Ancient of days has become an infant. He Who sits upon the sublime and heavenly Throne, now lies in a manger. And He Who cannot be touched, Who is simple, without complexity, and incorporeal, now lies subject to the hands of men. He Who has broken the bonds of sinners, is now bound by an infants bands. But He has decreed that ignominy shall become honor, infamy be clothed with glory, and total humiliation the measure of His Goodness.
For this He assumed my body, that I may become capable of His Word; taking my flesh, He gives me His spirit; and so He bestowing and I receiving, He prepares for me the treasure of Life. He takes my flesh, to sanctify me; He gives me His Spirit that He may save me.
Come, then, let us observe the Feast. Truly wondrous is the whole chronicle of the Nativity. For this day the ancient slavery is ended, the devil confounded, the demons take to flight, the power of death is broken, paradise is unlocked, the curse is taken away, sin is removed from us, error driven out, truth has been brought back, the speech of kindliness diffused, and spreads on every side, a heavenly way of life has been planted on the earth, angels communicate with men without fear, and men now hold speech with angels.
Why is this? Because God is now on earth, and man in heaven; on every side all things commingle. He became Flesh. He did not become God. He was God. Wherefore He became flesh, so that He Whom heaven did not contain, a manger would this day receive. He was placed in a manger, so that He, by whom all things are nourished, may receive an infants food from His Virgin Mother. So, the Father of all ages, as an infant at the breast, nestles in the virginal arms, that the Magi may more easily see Him. Since this day the Magi too have come, and made a beginning of withstanding tyranny; and the heavens give glory, as the Lord is revealed by a star.
To Him, then, Who out of confusion has wrought a clear path, to Christ, to the Father, and to the Holy Spirit, we offer all praise, now and forever. Amen.
Merry Christmas,
LSP
