Welcome… the Gift

An 11th century Benedictine monk lets himself go to contemplate the mystery of Christmas by commenting on a text from the Scriptures: «While a profound silence enveloped all things and the night was halfway through its course» (Wis 18, 14). The comment, the fruit of lectio divina, relates the time of the night, in which the Church has always loved to celebrate the Nativity of her Lord, with the mystery of the incarnation: «Scripture refers to that sacred time in which the word Almighty of God came among us to reveal salvation to us, descending from the womb and heart of the Father into a mother’s womb, humbling himself to exalt us, stripping himself of his splendor to enrich us, incarnating to make us divine». The divine manifestation could be given in an imposing way and not through this humble descent into our flesh so humble and yet so passionate as «bridegroom coming out of the bridal chamber» (Ps 44) who, in love and for love, «emptied himself» ( Phil 2, 6.7). Not only on this holy night do we contemplate the immeasurable gift that makes Paul say: «the grace of God has appeared, which brings salvation to all men» (Tt 2:11), but we are enraptured by the way in which the Father chooses to reveal his glory and his desire to manifest his unspeakable love: «a child is born for us, a son has been given to us» (Is 9: 5). On this night as we personally welcome back the words addressed by the angels to the shepherds: «Do not be afraid: behold, I announce to you a great joy, which will be of all the people» (Lk 2, 10) we cannot but repeat the same words of the heavenly militias « Glory to God in the highest heaven and on earth peace to men whom he loves» (2, 14).

Commentary by b. Michael David, osb Community of the Koinonia de la Visitation

Translation by f. Mark Hargreaves, Prinknash Abbey

[1] GIULIANO DI VÉZELAY, Sermoni, per il Natale, 1.