Christmas Eve Homily 2006
Many of you may know that Saint John's
has commissioned a hand-written, hand-illuminated Bible.
Tonight I would like to reflect on the illumination
that Donald Jackson did for the infancy story that was sung.
The area on the edge of the illumination is dark,
with colors of blue-purple, brown and black.
An ox is in the foreground, big and black,
an image taken from a prehistoric cave.
In the very center of the illumination
are the shepherds, the astrologers,
Joseph, and of course, Mary.
The child is not seen —
but a strong shaft of golden light radiates heavenward.
The light is meant to go both ways,
toward heaven and towards earth.
If you look at the upper register,
there appears to be two arms stretching heavenward.
Simultaneously, the light is descending from heaven into the crib.
It is a visual metaphor of our longing for salvation,
and God' initiative in responding to that longing.
Both movements have Christ at the center.
There can be no mistaking the central meaning of the birth of Jesus.
Earth is once again connected to heaven
by the light that is the glory of God.
This beam of light
is surrounded by the texts that we know by heart:
"Glory to God in highest heaven,
and on earth peace among those whom he favors" (Luke 2:14).
"By the tender mercy of our God,
the dawn from on high will break upon us" (Luke 2:78).
The golden beam is also surrounded by angels in gold,
telling us that all of heaven rejoices in this birth.
Seeing God in Jesus Christ
calls into question all of our ideas about God.
Jesus is not an idea but our Lord and Savior.
That is why this flesh taking by Jesus
stands at the very center of our creed.
Our 'yes' to this fact of God taking on flesh
is the hinge of our Christian belief.
At the words,
"By the power of the Holy Spirit,
he was born of the virgin Mary and became flesh,"
we bow in awe and wonder at such a gift to us.
When we receive Holy Communion tonight,
we remember that that the atoms and molecules in the holy bread and wine
were born from the matter that came forth at the beginning of creation.
Both our Eucharist and the creation are blessed
by Jesus who is born for us.
Every time we break bread and share the cup,
we remember and celebrate this holy birth.
Abbot John Klassen, OSB
December 25, 2006
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