Rev. Sr. Agnes OKOYE

“In many and various ways God spoke of old to our fathers by the prophets; but in these last days he has spoken to us by a Son” (Heb 1:1–2). God’s definitive self-communication occurred through his Son, the eternal Word, who became man and was born of the Virgin Mary. This salvific event constitutes the culmination of God’s loving plan for humanity and represents the high point of salvation history” (John Paul II, Redemptor Hominis, no. 1).

The Divine Guest is Jesus Christ—the Hope of the Nations, the Wisdom of God, the Strong One, Ruler of the world, the Prince of Peace, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords—who, out of love for humanity, left his heavenly glory to accomplish the work of redemption. Christmas, the celebration of Christ’s birth, is rightly marked by joy and festivity. Yet beyond external celebration lies a more profound question: How should humanity respond to and appreciate the Divine Guest who has come to save it? In other words, how can human beings adequately react to the mystery of the Incarnation and Christ’s redemptive love?

The mission of Jesus Christ was fundamentally one of liberation and reconciliation. Through him, humanity is reconciled to God (cf. Rom 5:11; Col 1:20). The Fathers of the Second Vatican Council describe the human condition before redemption as one marked by interior division and bondage to sin:

“Man, therefore, is divided in himself… a dramatic struggle between good and evil, between light and darkness… But the Lord himself came to free and strengthen man, renewing him inwardly and casting out the ‘prince of this world” (Gaudium et Spes, no. 13).

Humanity, enslaved by sin and alienated from God, needed interior renewal and authentic freedom—freedom that could only be achieved through Christ. This redemptive mission was foretold by the prophet Isaiah: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me… he has sent me to bring good news to the poor… to proclaim liberty to captives” (Is 61:1–3).

Jesus explicitly identified himself as the fulfillment of this prophecy when he declared in the synagogue of Nazareth: “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing” (Lk 4:21). His ministry confirmed this claim, as he went about “doing good” (Acts 10:38): healing the sick, restoring sight to the blind, raising the dead, feeding the hungry, liberating the oppressed, and proclaiming the coming of God’s Kingdom (cf. Lk 7:22; Mk 1:14–15). His mission addressed not only spiritual salvation but also social injustice, particularly the oppression of the poor (cf. Mt 23:23–28).

Christ’s redemptive work reached its climax in his passion, death, burial, and resurrection. In light of this immense gift, the question arises anew: How can humanity appreciate the Divine Guest? Authentic appreciation is expressed through accepting Christ as one’s Lord and, Master, conversion from old ways of life to newness of life in the spirit, listening to his words, living according to his teachings, imitating his way of life and virtues, and participating in his mission of evangelization.

To accept Jesus Christ as personal Lord and Master means surrendering one’s life to his lordship and allowing him to reign in one’s heart. His kingship is not of this world (cf. Jn 18:36); rather, it is exercised over the minds, wills, and hearts of humanity. As Dan Lynch observes, Christ reigns as truth over the mind, goodness over the will, and love over the human heart (cf. Jesus King of All Nations, 2013).

Jesus is also the Teacher of humanity, who came to reveal God and to lead humanity to fullness of life. As he himself declares: “I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly” (Jn 10:10). Listening to Christ, therefore, is essential to discipleship. At the Transfiguration, the father’s voice commanded: “This is my Son, my Chosen One; listen to him” (Lk 9:35). Obedience to Christ is further exemplified in Mary’s instruction at Cana: “Do whatever he tells you” (Jn 2:5).

Listening to Jesus entails living according to the law of love, which stands at the heart of his teaching. The love of God and neighbour summarizes the entire moral law (cf. Mt 22:37–40). Christ calls his disciples to a radical, self-sacrificial love: “There is no greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends” (Jn 15:13).

Imitating Christ is another essential way of appreciating the Divine Guest. Jesus invites his followers to learn from his humility and obedience: “Take my yoke upon you and learn from me” (Mt 11:29).  His life was marked by complete obedience to the Father’s will, which he identified as his true nourishment (cf. Jn 4:34). Holiness consists fundamentally in doing the will of God, a truth embodied in the lives of the saints and expressed by St. Paul: “Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ” (1 Cor 11:1).

Finally, appreciation of Christ necessarily includes participation in his mission of evangelization. Indifference to Christ and his Gospel remains one of the greatest challenges of the modern world. Pope Paul VI affirms that proclaiming the Gospel is not optional but essential to the Church’s identity (Evangelii Nuntiandi, no. 5). The risen Christ entrusted this mission to the Church: “Go into the whole world and proclaim the Good News” (Mk 16:15).

The task of evangelization belongs to all the baptized. As the Code of Canon Law states, “All Christ’s faithful have the obligation and the right to strive so that the divine message of salvation may reach all people” (can. 211). In an increasingly secularized world, Christians are called to bear credible witness through lives shaped by the Gospel.

In conclusion, appreciating the Divine Guest who has come to redeem humanity requires more than celebration; it demands conversion, discipleship, imitation, and mission. Through faithful adherence to Christ and active participation in his saving work, believers respond authentically to the immeasurable gift of God-with-us.