WHEN GOD CHOOSES TO BE WITH US

Homily for the Christmas Vigil - Year A

Fr. Ugochukwu Ugwoke, ISch

Isaiah 62:1-5; Acts 13:16-17, 22-25; Matthew 1:1-25

There is a familiar scene many of us know well: the evening before a great celebration. The house is busy, meals are being prepared, clothes are laid out, children are restless, and everyone is waiting - not just for an event, but for a moment that gives meaning to the waiting. Christmas Eve has that feeling. Something important is about to happen. Yet, the Church reminds us tonight that Christmas is not simply about the excitement of a coming event; it is about the fulfillment of a long-awaited promise.

The First Reading from Isaiah (62:1-5) speaks into a situation of deep weariness. Israel had known exile, shame, and abandonment. Jerusalem was called “Forsaken” and the land “Desolate.” But God declares that this will not be the final word. He promises a new name, a restored dignity, and a renewed relationship. The striking image is that of a bridegroom rejoicing in his bride. This is not the language of a distant God, but of a God who delights in His people. Christmas begins here: with a God who refuses to give up on humanity, who chooses relationship over rejection.

That promise begins to take flesh in the Gospel of the tonight (Matthew 1:1-25). At first glance, the long genealogy may seem tedious, but it is profoundly theological. Matthew carefully situates Jesus within human history - with all its holiness and brokenness. Saints and sinners, kings and failures, men and women, Jews and foreigners - all are woven into the story. The message is clear: God does not enter an idealized history; He enters the real one. Christmas tells us that God works not by bypassing human weakness, but by assuming it.

The second part of the Gospel shifts our attention to Joseph. Unlike Mary, Joseph does not speak a single word in the Gospels, yet his obedience speaks loudly. Faced with confusion and scandal, Joseph chooses righteousness marked by mercy. When God reveals His plan, Joseph responds not with argument but with trust. He names the child Jesus, accepting responsibility for a mission he did not design. In Joseph, we see that Christmas requires cooperation. God comes to save us, but He invites human “yes” along the way.

Matthew then gives us the heart of tonight’s celebration: “They shall name him Emmanuel, which means ‘God is with us.’” This is the great proclamation of the Christmas Vigil. God is not merely for us or above us; He is with us. He enters our fears, our uncertainties, our family stories, our political histories, and our personal struggles. The birth of Christ assures us that no part of human life is foreign to God. In Jesus, God has come to dwell and be with us, and great things happen when God mixes with us.

The Second Reading from Acts (13:16-25) places this mystery within salvation history. Paul reminds us that Jesus is the fulfillment of God’s promise to David. Christmas, therefore, is not accidental or improvised; it is the climax of God’s faithful plan. What God promised, He has brought to completion - quietly, humbly, and decisively.

As we stand at the threshold of Christmas, the Vigil invites us to see our own lives within this story. Like Israel, we may feel weary. Like Joseph, we may be confused. Like the genealogy, our lives may seem messy and unfinished. Yet tonight we proclaim that God chooses to enter precisely such lives. Christmas is the assurance that God is still at work, still faithful, still with us.