To begin, share a Christmas experience or describe what kind of Christmas you hope to have. If after Christmas, share something special ablout the day. Christmas is a feast with many family customs associated with it. But it is much more than a time to give gifts, eat special foods, and celebrate the birth of Jesus over 2,000 years ago. We will be discussing the meaning of Christmas today.
Read John 1:1–5, 9–14. This is the Gospel that is read at Mass on Christmas day. Discuss why you think the Church would use this as the reading for Christmas. (The reading is about how Jesus was always God and then became human as well.)
We have many ways we communicate with one another and many tools to help us express ourselves. Consider the word communication. Identify different forms of communication. (spoken and written word, music, sign language, body language).
Review the forms of communication and identify the tools used to aid each form of communication. Spoken word, for example, is aided by tools such as the telephone and the microphone; tools used to help us communicate with the written word include pen and paper, computer word-processing software, e-mail, and text messaging.
It’s interesting that each form of communication has its particular usefulness. Here’s what that means: Sometimes we find that we prefer to write someone a letter rather than talk to them. In a letter our words can be saved and read over again. Sometimes this is important. Other times, when we wish to communicate with a large number of people quickly, the convenience and speed of email is preferred. When a person needs an answer to a question immediately, however, he or she might choose to pick up the telephone or send a text message.
Just as we have many ways to communicate with one another, God has communicated with his people in a variety of ways. All Scripture is God’s communication to us, which is why we call it the Word of God.
In Scripture, we learn that God has spoken with his people in a variety of ways. Discuss examples of how God spoke to his people. (He spoke to Moses from a burning bush. He communicated to Mary through an angel.) The Gospel on Christmas also talks about the Word of God.
There are two ways the Word of God is revealed to us in this Gospel reading. One way this Gospel tells us that God communicates with us is in the first line of the reading. How did this Gospel begin? Where else in the Bible do we hear these words? (In Genesis, when God created the world.) One way the Word of God is revealed to us is in the creation of the world.
How does the Gospel explain the second way that the Word is revealed to us? (The Word became flesh.) How does the Word become flesh? (The Word becomes flesh in the person of Jesus.) What does this Scripture tell us was revealed to us in Jesus? (the glory of God; Jesus reveals to us God himself.)
Review Student Handout A, The Incarnation, and ask the young people to read it silently. Discuss the article by asking the following questions.
Using the Student Handout B, Word Search, complete the word search and find the hidden message.