Christmas Day Mass, 2nd reading (Hebrews 1:1-6)

The commentary for the gospel can be found here: https://biblestudystjosephsparis.wordpress.com/2021/12/24/christmas-day-gospel-commentary-john-11-18/

In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, ² but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe. ³ The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven. ⁴ So he became as much superior to the angels as the name he has inherited is superior to theirs. ⁵ For to which of the angels did God ever say, “You are my Son; today I have become your Father”? Or again, “I will be his Father, and he will be my Son”? ⁶ And again, when God brings his firstborn into the world, he says, “Let all God’s angels worship him.”

All three of the readings for Christmas day focus on the word/Word, and God’s revelation of himself to his people. This revelation must be announced to all humanity and so people become carriers for the message. The second reading is the start of the Letter to the Hebrews, whose author is unknown. It opens with these verses that make a remarkable claim: that all of human history has come to its culmination, and now can be divided into two stages: the old covenant (when God spoke through the prophets “at many times and in various ways”) and the new covenant (when he fully reveals himself through his Son).

In verse two, the author writes about being in “these last days”. This does not mean he or she thinks the world is about to end but rather that God’s plan for salvation has reached its final stage, and, the promises he made earlier, in the old covenant, have been fulfilled. This occurred because of the incarnation of the Son, and, in seven phrases, the author tells us about him. First, he is “the heir of all things” – that is of everything in the entire universe. After this, the author moves back to the beginning of time, showing that the Son has always existed since, through him, everything came into being. He is the Alpha (present at the beginning) and the Omega (the one who will inherit everything at the end). The Son is also “the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being.” He is God made visible to humans. When we read the gospels, we see Jesus and thus we see exactly what God is like.

After this, the author presents the actions of the Son. First, we learn that he sustains “all things by his powerful word.” Thus, not only did he create the world, but he also allows it to continue. Indeed, everything depends on him for its existence. God did not make the world and leave it to itself. Rather, he continually cares for it through the Son. Note that creation only required a word, no immense effort, and that it continues by “his powerful word.” The next clause turns to Jesus’ saving action: his sacrifice of himself on the cross. Note that the author does not refer directly to this event but rather frames it in terms of the Old Testament purification rite when the priest sprinkled blood on the altar for purification from sin. Finally, we see that, after this redemptive work, Christ is enthroned on God’s right hand, in the position of greatest honor and power.

In verse four we are told that the Son is infinitely superior to the greatest of created beings, the angels. Obviously, the Son of God whose word created the world would be greater than his creations, and the name he inherited (Yahweh, the name of God) shows this. So we may wonder why the author writes that he became “much superior to the angels” when he already was. Because, with the incarnation, he took on the lowliness of human beings. Now, in his exalted state, he remains a human and so, through him, we too become greater than the angels. He also is alive and so God continues to speak to us through him – even if we do not always listen. So, Christmas is about much more than the birth of a particularly significant baby. It has cosmic implications that play out across the centuries and which encompass us today.