christianity | Christmas Eve

And the Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.

The antiphon for Evening Prayer on the 24th is concise: countless generations have waited for their Savior, countless generations have prayed, "Come and save us, O Lord our God!" and, at last, the Word has become flesh and has made his dwelling among us. And it's not just an appearance, or a pretense: the eternal Son of God has really, truly become flesh, really, truly taken on a human nature just like ours, become one of us, related to all of us as the son of our many-times-removed cousin Mary.

For nine months his 'dwelling' was Mary's body, where he was unseen by human eyes; now he can be seen. The Word by whom the universe was made can now have lullabies sung to him. "So bring him incense, gold, and myrrh; come, peasant, king, to own him! The King of Kings salvation brings; let loving hearts enthrone him! Raise, raise the song on high! The virgin sings her lullaby. Joy, joy, for Christ is born, the babe, the son of Mary!"