Those who accept and believe in ‘the Word become flesh’ have the power to become children of God. Faith in this truth provides purity of lineage in Mary’s royal Son, born into the poverty of our humankind.
As “the Word became flesh” in a specific time and place in human history, the Word’s presence on this Christmas Day 2021 is becoming manifest in a countless multitude of specific times and places. On this past fifth of December in Irving, Texas, when a rather diverse and hospitable community of Dominican friars threw a frolicsome welcome-home party for a man just released from several years in prison and for all his family and some friends, all took part in celebrating God’s bountiful love among them; there and then, the Word became flesh. Sitting in the grass of the grounds around the priory, children, youth, and adults eagerly joined in creating varied scenes using watercolors and oils at this joyous and imaginative celebration.
Ah, how beautiful on the hills of Irving are the feet of the messengers who announce peace and bring good news! Buon Natale!