The Word became flesh. Homily for Christmas Day.

In the Prologue to John’s Gospel we read, “The Word became flesh and lived among us.” Two Church councils, the Council of Nicaea in the 4th century, and the Council of Chalcedon in the 5th century wrestled with the meaning of those words. Is Jesus both human and divine, and how does humanity and divinity coincide within a single person, Jesus of Nazareth? Who is this person whose birth we celebrate at Christmas?