The associated reading for this reflection can be found in your Every Sacred Sunday Mass journal or online here.
Most of us express our identity relative to someone or something else:
“I’m Verona’s dad.”
“I’m an accountant at city hall.”
“I’m Sal’s wife.”
God’s identity, however, is relative to Himself (although it hurts my brain to think about) for we read in Exodus that the Lord told Moses “I AM WHO I AM.” Thus, the writers of today’s liturgical readings had the understandably complex task of explaining the joy and reality of the incarnation of this inexplicable God.
Paul tells Titus that “the kindness and generous love of God our savior appeared.” The Psalmist sings that “a light will shine on us this day: the Lord is born for us.” Isaiah foretells of the coming of “your savior.” These titles, aspects, and metaphors of the Lord’s identity help us humans to begin to understand the true gift that has been given to us today. As we enter into this Christmas season, let us reflect on Christ’s identity to help us find our own—in relation to Him.
If He is “generous love”—you are generously LOVED.
If He is a shining light—your darkest times are brightened by His presence. If He is a savior—you are saved.
Let us be assured of this. Let us truly internalize our identities as Christ’s beloved. The Christ who entered into our humanity quietly and humbly did not lose any of His heavenly identity upon arrival as He was still flanked by his heavenly host of angels. In the same way, as we grow closer to Christ we will only increase in our identity as beloved sons and daughters.
This past year, if you’ve lost something that was a big part of your identity—a loved one, a job, an ability—today’s feast offers hope. All of the promises the scriptures offer about your identity and Christ’s are true. For we know that the shepherds, after traveling to see the child in the manger, “returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, just as it had been told to them.” If we authentically approach the Lord, we too will find that He is exactly as he had been told to us: a generous love; a shining light, our savior.
Tomás Aguilar is a Marine Corps Officer living his childhood dream of being a husband and father. He’s from Pennsylvania but currently resides in Northern Virginia where he’s learning Brazilian Portuguese, building his family, and discerning God’s will. Check out his Instagram to accompany him as he aims at sainthood, love, fun, and fitness for his family.
