The Nativity of the Lord – Christmas - At
the Vigil Mass
Lectionary: 13
Lectionary: 13
For Zion's sake I will not be silent,
for Jerusalem's sake I will not be quiet,
until her vindication shines forth like the dawn
and her victory like a burning torch.
Nations shall behold your vindication,
and all the kings your glory;
you shall be called by a new name
pronounced by the mouth of the LORD.
You shall be a glorious crown in the hand of the LORD,
a royal diadem held by your God.
No more shall people call you "Forsaken,"
or your land "Desolate,"
but you shall be called "My Delight,"
and your land "Espoused."
For the LORD delights in you
and makes your land his spouse.
As a young man marries a virgin,
your Builder shall marry you;
and as a bridegroom rejoices in his bride
so shall your God rejoice in you.
for Jerusalem's sake I will not be quiet,
until her vindication shines forth like the dawn
and her victory like a burning torch.
Nations shall behold your vindication,
and all the kings your glory;
you shall be called by a new name
pronounced by the mouth of the LORD.
You shall be a glorious crown in the hand of the LORD,
a royal diadem held by your God.
No more shall people call you "Forsaken,"
or your land "Desolate,"
but you shall be called "My Delight,"
and your land "Espoused."
For the LORD delights in you
and makes your land his spouse.
As a young man marries a virgin,
your Builder shall marry you;
and as a bridegroom rejoices in his bride
so shall your God rejoice in you.
Responsorial
PsalmPS 89:4-5, 16-17, 27, 29.
R. (2a) For
ever I will sing the goodness of the Lord.
I have made a covenant with my chosen one,
I have sworn to David my servant:
Forever will I confirm your posterity
and establish your throne for all generations.
R. For ever I will sing the goodness of the Lord.
Blessed the people who know the joyful shout;
in the light of your countenance, O LORD, they walk.
At your name they rejoice all the day,
and through your justice they are exalted.
R. For ever I will sing the goodness of the Lord.
He shall say of me, "You are my father,
my God, the rock, my savior."
Forever I will maintain my kindness toward him,
and my covenant with him stands firm.
R. For ever I will sing the goodness of the Lord.
I have made a covenant with my chosen one,
I have sworn to David my servant:
Forever will I confirm your posterity
and establish your throne for all generations.
R. For ever I will sing the goodness of the Lord.
Blessed the people who know the joyful shout;
in the light of your countenance, O LORD, they walk.
At your name they rejoice all the day,
and through your justice they are exalted.
R. For ever I will sing the goodness of the Lord.
He shall say of me, "You are my father,
my God, the rock, my savior."
Forever I will maintain my kindness toward him,
and my covenant with him stands firm.
R. For ever I will sing the goodness of the Lord.
Reading 2ACTS 13:16-17, 22-25
When Paul reached Antioch in Pisidia and entered the synagogue,
he stood up, motioned with his hand, and said,
"Fellow Israelites and you others who are God-fearing, listen.
The God of this people Israel chose our ancestors
and exalted the people during their sojourn in the
land of Egypt.
With uplifted arm he led them out of it.
Then he removed Saul and raised up David as king;
of him he testified,
'I have found David, son of Jesse, a man after my own heart;
he will carry out my every wish.'
From this man's descendants God, according to his promise,
has brought to Israel a savior, Jesus.
John heralded his coming by proclaiming a baptism of repentance
to all the people of Israel;
and as John was completing his course, he would say,
'What do you suppose that I am? I am not he.
Behold, one is coming after me;
I am not worthy to unfasten the sandals of his feet.'"
he stood up, motioned with his hand, and said,
"Fellow Israelites and you others who are God-fearing, listen.
The God of this people Israel chose our ancestors
and exalted the people during their sojourn in the
land of Egypt.
With uplifted arm he led them out of it.
Then he removed Saul and raised up David as king;
of him he testified,
'I have found David, son of Jesse, a man after my own heart;
he will carry out my every wish.'
From this man's descendants God, according to his promise,
has brought to Israel a savior, Jesus.
John heralded his coming by proclaiming a baptism of repentance
to all the people of Israel;
and as John was completing his course, he would say,
'What do you suppose that I am? I am not he.
Behold, one is coming after me;
I am not worthy to unfasten the sandals of his feet.'"
Alleluia
R. Alleluia,
alleluia.
Tomorrow the wickedness of the earth will be destroyed:
the Savior of the world will reign over us.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Tomorrow the wickedness of the earth will be destroyed:
the Savior of the world will reign over us.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
GospelMT 1:1-25
The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ,
the son of David, the son of Abraham.
Abraham became the father of Isaac,
Isaac the father of Jacob,
Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers.
Judah became the father of Perez and Zerah,
whose mother was Tamar.
Perez became the father of Hezron,
Hezron the father of Ram,
Ram the father of Amminadab.
Amminadab became the father of Nahshon,
Nahshon the father of Salmon,
Salmon the father of Boaz,
whose mother was Rahab.
Boaz became the father of Obed,
whose mother was Ruth.
Obed became the father of Jesse,
Jesse the father of David the king.
David became the father of Solomon,
whose mother had been the wife of Uriah.
Solomon became the father of Rehoboam,
Rehoboam the father of Abijah,
Abijah the father of Asaph.
Asaph became the father of Jehoshaphat,
Jehoshaphat the father of Joram,
Joram the father of Uzziah.
Uzziah became the father of Jotham,
Jotham the father of Ahaz,
Ahaz the father of Hezekiah.
Hezekiah became the father of Manasseh,
Manasseh the father of Amos,
Amos the father of Josiah.
Josiah became the father of Jechoniah and his brothers
at the time of the Babylonian exile.
After the Babylonian exile,
Jechoniah became the father of Shealtiel,
Shealtiel the father of Zerubbabel,
Zerubbabel the father of Abiud.
Abiud became the father of Eliakim,
Eliakim the father of Azor,
Azor the father of Zadok.
Zadok became the father of Achim,
Achim the father of Eliud,
Eliud the father of Eleazar.
Eleazar became the father of Matthan,
Matthan the father of Jacob,
Jacob the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary.
Of her was born Jesus who is called the Christ.
Thus the total number of generations
from Abraham to David
is fourteen generations;
from David to the Babylonian exile,
fourteen generations;
from the Babylonian exile to the Christ,
fourteen generations.
Now this is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about.
When his mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph,
but before they lived together,
she was found with child through the Holy Spirit.
Joseph her husband, since he was a righteous man,
yet unwilling to expose her to shame,
decided to divorce her quietly.
Such was his intention when, behold,
the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said,
"Joseph, son of David,
do not be afraid to take Mary your wife into your home.
For it is through the Holy Spirit
that this child has been conceived in her.
She will bear a son and you are to name him Jesus,
because he will save his people from their sins."
All this took place to fulfill
what the Lord had said through the prophet:
Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son,
and they shall name him Emmanuel,
which means "God is with us."
When Joseph awoke,
he did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him
and took his wife into his home.
He had no relations with her until she bore a son,
and he named him Jesus.
the son of David, the son of Abraham.
Abraham became the father of Isaac,
Isaac the father of Jacob,
Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers.
Judah became the father of Perez and Zerah,
whose mother was Tamar.
Perez became the father of Hezron,
Hezron the father of Ram,
Ram the father of Amminadab.
Amminadab became the father of Nahshon,
Nahshon the father of Salmon,
Salmon the father of Boaz,
whose mother was Rahab.
Boaz became the father of Obed,
whose mother was Ruth.
Obed became the father of Jesse,
Jesse the father of David the king.
David became the father of Solomon,
whose mother had been the wife of Uriah.
Solomon became the father of Rehoboam,
Rehoboam the father of Abijah,
Abijah the father of Asaph.
Asaph became the father of Jehoshaphat,
Jehoshaphat the father of Joram,
Joram the father of Uzziah.
Uzziah became the father of Jotham,
Jotham the father of Ahaz,
Ahaz the father of Hezekiah.
Hezekiah became the father of Manasseh,
Manasseh the father of Amos,
Amos the father of Josiah.
Josiah became the father of Jechoniah and his brothers
at the time of the Babylonian exile.
After the Babylonian exile,
Jechoniah became the father of Shealtiel,
Shealtiel the father of Zerubbabel,
Zerubbabel the father of Abiud.
Abiud became the father of Eliakim,
Eliakim the father of Azor,
Azor the father of Zadok.
Zadok became the father of Achim,
Achim the father of Eliud,
Eliud the father of Eleazar.
Eleazar became the father of Matthan,
Matthan the father of Jacob,
Jacob the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary.
Of her was born Jesus who is called the Christ.
Thus the total number of generations
from Abraham to David
is fourteen generations;
from David to the Babylonian exile,
fourteen generations;
from the Babylonian exile to the Christ,
fourteen generations.
Now this is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about.
When his mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph,
but before they lived together,
she was found with child through the Holy Spirit.
Joseph her husband, since he was a righteous man,
yet unwilling to expose her to shame,
decided to divorce her quietly.
Such was his intention when, behold,
the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said,
"Joseph, son of David,
do not be afraid to take Mary your wife into your home.
For it is through the Holy Spirit
that this child has been conceived in her.
She will bear a son and you are to name him Jesus,
because he will save his people from their sins."
All this took place to fulfill
what the Lord had said through the prophet:
Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son,
and they shall name him Emmanuel,
which means "God is with us."
When Joseph awoke,
he did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him
and took his wife into his home.
He had no relations with her until she bore a son,
and he named him Jesus.
OR MT 1:18-25
This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about.
When his mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph,
but before they lived together,
she was found with child through the Holy Spirit.
Joseph her husband, since he was a righteous man,
yet unwilling to expose her to shame,
decided to divorce her quietly.
Such was his intention when, behold,
the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said,
"Joseph, son of David,
do not be afraid to take Mary your wife into your home.
For it is through the Holy Spirit
that this child has been conceived in her.
She will bear a son and you are to name him Jesus,
because he will save his people from their sins."
All this took place to fulfill
what the Lord had said through the prophet:
Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son,
and they shall name him Emmanuel,
which means "God is with us."
When Joseph awoke,
he did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him
and took his wife into his home.
He had no relations with her until she bore a son,
and he named him Jesus.
Meditation:
On
the night of the vigil for the Feast of the Nativity of the Lord Jesus Christ,
Christians throughout the world rejoice in the good news that God has sent us
the best of heaven's gifts - his own beloved Son who became a human like us in
order to lay down his life for our sake as the atoning sacrifice for our sins
and the sin of the world. Jesus Christ is the promised Messiah and Redeemer -
the one who would deliver the children of Abraham from slavery to sin, oppression,
and death. Jesus Christ is the Savior of the world - the hope of the nations
who seek peace, truth, and righteousness rather than hatred, prejudice, greed,
and corruption. Jesus Christ is the glory of the heavenly Father who brought
the light of his Son to a world blinded by sin, deception, ignorance, stubborn
pride, and rebellion (Isaiah 60:1-3,19).
Jesus is the direct descendant of Abraham and King David
In telling the story of Jesus' nativity Matthew begins his Gospel account with the genealogy of Jesus - his family tree. Matthew traces Jesus' lineage from Abraham, the father of God's chosen people, through the line of David, King of Israel, to "Joseph, the son of David" (Matthew 1:20). Joseph, however is not the natural father of Jesus. Matthew tells us that Jesus was conceived by the Holy Spirit in the womb of the virgin Mary. Luke in his Gospel account tells us that Mary was also of the line of David. Jesus the Messiah is the direct descendant of Abraham and David, and the rightful heir to David's throne.
Jesus is the direct descendant of Abraham and King David
In telling the story of Jesus' nativity Matthew begins his Gospel account with the genealogy of Jesus - his family tree. Matthew traces Jesus' lineage from Abraham, the father of God's chosen people, through the line of David, King of Israel, to "Joseph, the son of David" (Matthew 1:20). Joseph, however is not the natural father of Jesus. Matthew tells us that Jesus was conceived by the Holy Spirit in the womb of the virgin Mary. Luke in his Gospel account tells us that Mary was also of the line of David. Jesus the Messiah is the direct descendant of Abraham and David, and the rightful heir to David's throne.
Jesus
is the long-expected Messiah and Savior
In the coming of Jesus, we see the fulfillment of God's promises to Abraham and to David that he would send a Savior whom he would anoint as king and savior who would rule forever. When Jacob, the great-grandson of Abraham, blessed his twelve sons, he foretold that Judah would receive the promise of royalty which we see fulfilled when David, a descendant of Judah, was chosen as the anointed King for Israel (Genesis 49:10). We can see in Jacob's blessing and in the promise made to David a foreshadowing of Jesus Christ, the promised Messiah and Ruler whom the Father would send to save his people from sin, Satan, and death.The Lord Jesus came not only to restore Israel but to save the nations. Do you recognize the Lord Jesus as the fulfillment of all God's promises?
In the coming of Jesus, we see the fulfillment of God's promises to Abraham and to David that he would send a Savior whom he would anoint as king and savior who would rule forever. When Jacob, the great-grandson of Abraham, blessed his twelve sons, he foretold that Judah would receive the promise of royalty which we see fulfilled when David, a descendant of Judah, was chosen as the anointed King for Israel (Genesis 49:10). We can see in Jacob's blessing and in the promise made to David a foreshadowing of Jesus Christ, the promised Messiah and Ruler whom the Father would send to save his people from sin, Satan, and death.The Lord Jesus came not only to restore Israel but to save the nations. Do you recognize the Lord Jesus as the fulfillment of all God's promises?
When
Israel and the House of David rebelled and turned away from God, God described
his people as a deserted and forsaken wife (Isaiah62:4). God, however did not
abandon nor forget his people. The prophet Isaiah foretold a time of
deliverance when the Messiah would come to his people as their Bridegroom who
would delight in restoring and uniting them as his Bride (Isaiah 61:10,
Revelations 21:2). This work of restoration would extend to all the nations as
well. We begin to see the fulfillment of that prophecy when the angel announced
the coming of the Messiah first to the virgin Mary and then later to her
espoused husband, Joseph (Matthew 1:18-23).
Jesus
was conceived of the Holy Spirit in the womb of the virgin Mary
When Mary was chosen by God to be the mother of the Messiah she had to face an enormous challenge to her faith and trust in God, and to the faith of her family, as well as the faith of Joseph, the man she had chosen to marry. She was asked to assume a burden of tremendous responsibility. It had never been heard of before that a child could be born without a natural father. Mary was asked to accept this miraculous exception to the laws of nature.That required faith and trust in God and in his promises. Second, Mary was not yet married. Pregnancy outside of wedlock was not tolerated in those days. Mary was only espoused to Joseph, and such an engagement had to last for a whole year. She was asked to assume a great risk. She could have been rejected by Joseph, by her family, by all her own people. Mary knew that Joseph and her family would not understand without revelation from God. She nonetheless believed and trusted in God's promises.
When Mary was chosen by God to be the mother of the Messiah she had to face an enormous challenge to her faith and trust in God, and to the faith of her family, as well as the faith of Joseph, the man she had chosen to marry. She was asked to assume a burden of tremendous responsibility. It had never been heard of before that a child could be born without a natural father. Mary was asked to accept this miraculous exception to the laws of nature.That required faith and trust in God and in his promises. Second, Mary was not yet married. Pregnancy outside of wedlock was not tolerated in those days. Mary was only espoused to Joseph, and such an engagement had to last for a whole year. She was asked to assume a great risk. She could have been rejected by Joseph, by her family, by all her own people. Mary knew that Joseph and her family would not understand without revelation from God. She nonetheless believed and trusted in God's promises.
God
reveals to Joseph - and to us - the miraculous conception and mission of
Jesus
Joseph, a just and God-fearing man, did not wish to embarrass or punish his espoused wife, Mary, when he discovered that she was pregnant. To all appearances she had broken their solemn pledge to be faithful and chaste to one another. Joseph, no doubt took this troubling matter to God in prayer. He was not hasty to judge or to react with hurt and anger. God rewarded him not only with guidance and consolation, but with the divine assurance that he had indeed called Joseph to be the husband of Mary and to assume a mission that would require the utmost faith, confidence, and trust in Almighty God. Joseph believed in the divine message to take Mary as his wife and to accept the child in her womb as the promised Messiah.
Joseph, a just and God-fearing man, did not wish to embarrass or punish his espoused wife, Mary, when he discovered that she was pregnant. To all appearances she had broken their solemn pledge to be faithful and chaste to one another. Joseph, no doubt took this troubling matter to God in prayer. He was not hasty to judge or to react with hurt and anger. God rewarded him not only with guidance and consolation, but with the divine assurance that he had indeed called Joseph to be the husband of Mary and to assume a mission that would require the utmost faith, confidence, and trust in Almighty God. Joseph believed in the divine message to take Mary as his wife and to accept the child in her womb as the promised Messiah.
Like
Mary, Joseph is a model of faith for us. He is a faithful witness and servant
of God's unfolding plan of redemption. Are you ready to believe in the promises
of God, even when faced with perplexing circumstances and what seems like
insurmountable problems? God has not left us alone, but has brought us his only
begotten Son, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Let us celebrate Christmas, the
feast of the Incarnation (when "the Word became flesh and dwelt among
us... the only-begotten Son from the Father" John 1:14), with joyful
hearts, and let us renew our faith and hope in God, and give thanks for his
work of redemption.
"Lord
Jesus, you came to set us free from the power of sin, death, and Satan. You
give us the hope of abundant life and joy with you forever. May I always
rejoice in your saving work and trust in your plan for my life".
Daily
Quote from the early church fathers: Jesus' humanity revealed in the
genealogy, by Severus of Antioch (465-538 AD)
"One must bear in mind therefore that the Evangelists, or rather the
Spirit speaking through them, took pains to ensure that their readers believed
that Christ was truly God and truly human. Because of what they wrote, no one
could possibly doubt that he is God by nature, beyond all variation, mutation
or illusion, and that according to the ordered plan of God he was truly human.
This is why John could say, on the one hand, 'In the beginning was the Word,
and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.' John immediately adds, 'The
Word was made flesh and dwelt among us' (John 1:1-2,14). Hence Matthew wrote
appropriately, 'The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David,
the son of Abraham.' On the one hand he is not able to be counted simply from
natural generation among families, since it is written, 'Who shall declare his
generation?' (Isaiah 53:8) He is before the centuries and of one substance with
the Father himself, from the standpoint of eternity. But by this genealogy he
is also numbered among the families of humanity according to the flesh. For in
truth, while remaining God, Christ became man without ceasing to be God,
unaltered till the end of time.
"This is why there is also mention of the ancient patriarchs in the lineage, the narrative and observation of the times and vicissitudes that are indeed proper to human history. Through all this Matthew made it clear that Christ participates in our human generation and in our nature. Otherwise some might claim that he appeared in illusion and in imagination only, rather than by becoming genuinely human. Think of what might have been said if none of this had been written?" (excerpt from CATHEDRAL SERMONS, HOMILY 94)
"This is why there is also mention of the ancient patriarchs in the lineage, the narrative and observation of the times and vicissitudes that are indeed proper to human history. Through all this Matthew made it clear that Christ participates in our human generation and in our nature. Otherwise some might claim that he appeared in illusion and in imagination only, rather than by becoming genuinely human. Think of what might have been said if none of this had been written?" (excerpt from CATHEDRAL SERMONS, HOMILY 94)
The Nativity of the Lord – Christmas
Mass During the Night
Lectionary: 14
Mass During the Night
Lectionary: 14
Reading 1IS 9:1-6
The people who walked in darkness
have seen a great light;
upon those who dwelt in the land of gloom
a light has shone.
You have brought them abundant joy
and great rejoicing,
as they rejoice before you as at the harvest,
as people make merry when dividing spoils.
For the yoke that burdened them,
the pole on their shoulder,
and the rod of their taskmaster
you have smashed, as on the day of Midian.
For every boot that tramped in battle,
every cloak rolled in blood,
will be burned as fuel for flames.
For a child is born to us, a son is given us;
upon his shoulder dominion rests.
They name him Wonder-Counselor, God-Hero,
Father-Forever, Prince of Peace.
His dominion is vast
and forever peaceful,
from David's throne, and over his kingdom,
which he confirms and sustains
by judgment and justice,
both now and forever.
The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this!
have seen a great light;
upon those who dwelt in the land of gloom
a light has shone.
You have brought them abundant joy
and great rejoicing,
as they rejoice before you as at the harvest,
as people make merry when dividing spoils.
For the yoke that burdened them,
the pole on their shoulder,
and the rod of their taskmaster
you have smashed, as on the day of Midian.
For every boot that tramped in battle,
every cloak rolled in blood,
will be burned as fuel for flames.
For a child is born to us, a son is given us;
upon his shoulder dominion rests.
They name him Wonder-Counselor, God-Hero,
Father-Forever, Prince of Peace.
His dominion is vast
and forever peaceful,
from David's throne, and over his kingdom,
which he confirms and sustains
by judgment and justice,
both now and forever.
The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this!
Responsorial
PsalmPS 96: 1-2, 2-3, 11-12,
13.
R. (Lk 2:11) Today
is born our Savior, Christ the Lord.
Sing to the LORD a new song;
sing to the LORD, all you lands.
Sing to the LORD; bless his name.
R. Today is born our Savior, Christ the Lord.
Announce his salvation, day after day.
Tell his glory among the nations;
among all peoples, his wondrous deeds.
R. Today is born our Savior, Christ the Lord.
Let the heavens be glad and the earth rejoice;
let the sea and what fills it resound;
let the plains be joyful and all that is in them!
Then shall all the trees of the forest exult.
R. Today is born our Savior, Christ the Lord.
They shall exult before the LORD, for he comes;
for he comes to rule the earth.
He shall rule the world with justice
and the peoples with his constancy.
R. Today is born our Savior, Christ the Lord.
Sing to the LORD a new song;
sing to the LORD, all you lands.
Sing to the LORD; bless his name.
R. Today is born our Savior, Christ the Lord.
Announce his salvation, day after day.
Tell his glory among the nations;
among all peoples, his wondrous deeds.
R. Today is born our Savior, Christ the Lord.
Let the heavens be glad and the earth rejoice;
let the sea and what fills it resound;
let the plains be joyful and all that is in them!
Then shall all the trees of the forest exult.
R. Today is born our Savior, Christ the Lord.
They shall exult before the LORD, for he comes;
for he comes to rule the earth.
He shall rule the world with justice
and the peoples with his constancy.
R. Today is born our Savior, Christ the Lord.
Reading 2TI 2:11-14
Beloved:
The grace of God has appeared, saving all
and training us to reject godless ways and worldly desires
and to live temperately, justly, and devoutly in this age,
as we await the blessed hope,
the appearance of the glory of our great God
and savior Jesus Christ,
who gave himself for us to deliver us from all lawlessness
and to cleanse for himself a people as his own,
eager to do what is good.
The grace of God has appeared, saving all
and training us to reject godless ways and worldly desires
and to live temperately, justly, and devoutly in this age,
as we await the blessed hope,
the appearance of the glory of our great God
and savior Jesus Christ,
who gave himself for us to deliver us from all lawlessness
and to cleanse for himself a people as his own,
eager to do what is good.
AlleluiaLK 2:10-11
R. Alleluia,
alleluia.
I proclaim to you good news of great joy:
today a Savior is born for us,
Christ the Lord.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
I proclaim to you good news of great joy:
today a Savior is born for us,
Christ the Lord.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
GospelLK 2:1-14
In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus
that the whole world should be enrolled.
This was the first enrollment,
when Quirinius was governor of Syria.
So all went to be enrolled, each to his own town.
And Joseph too went up from Galilee from the town of Nazareth
to Judea, to the city of David that is called Bethlehem,
because he was of the house and family of David,
to be enrolled with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child.
While they were there,
the time came for her to have her child,
and she gave birth to her firstborn son.
She wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger,
because there was no room for them in the inn.
Now there were shepherds in that region living in the fields
and keeping the night watch over their flock.
The angel of the Lord appeared to them
and the glory of the Lord shone around them,
and they were struck with great fear.
The angel said to them,
"Do not be afraid;
for behold, I proclaim to you good news of great joy
that will be for all the people.
For today in the city of David
a savior has been born for you who is Christ and Lord.
And this will be a sign for you:
you will find an infant wrapped in swaddling clothes
and lying in a manger."
And suddenly there was a multitude of the heavenly host with the angel,
praising God and saying:
"Glory to God in the highest
and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests."
that the whole world should be enrolled.
This was the first enrollment,
when Quirinius was governor of Syria.
So all went to be enrolled, each to his own town.
And Joseph too went up from Galilee from the town of Nazareth
to Judea, to the city of David that is called Bethlehem,
because he was of the house and family of David,
to be enrolled with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child.
While they were there,
the time came for her to have her child,
and she gave birth to her firstborn son.
She wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger,
because there was no room for them in the inn.
Now there were shepherds in that region living in the fields
and keeping the night watch over their flock.
The angel of the Lord appeared to them
and the glory of the Lord shone around them,
and they were struck with great fear.
The angel said to them,
"Do not be afraid;
for behold, I proclaim to you good news of great joy
that will be for all the people.
For today in the city of David
a savior has been born for you who is Christ and Lord.
And this will be a sign for you:
you will find an infant wrapped in swaddling clothes
and lying in a manger."
And suddenly there was a multitude of the heavenly host with the angel,
praising God and saying:
"Glory to God in the highest
and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests."
Meditation:
For to you is born this day a Savior, Christ the Lord"
Why
was the Messiah, the long promised Savior from the royal house of David, born
in obscurity and lowliness in a little town of Bethlehem? In the Roman empire
censuses were taken every fourteen years for assessing taxation and
ascertaining who were eligible for compulsory military service. Since Mary and
Joseph were both from the line of King David, they had to travel eighty miles
from Nazareth to Bethlehem, the hometown of David and his ancestors. This was a
most inconvenient time and a physical ordeal for Mary since her baby was due
any day now! And as luck would have it, Bethlehem was overcrowded. They had to
settle for the most primitive of accommodations - an cave in the hillside which
was used as a stall for animals.
Why
would the Messiah choose to be born in such pitiable conditions and in total
obscurity? God's ways are different from our ways. He, the Most Exalted One,
condescends for the sake of the lowly and the oppressed. The Lord descended not
in pomp and majesty befitting a King, but in meekness and lowliness to show us
the way of perfect love. The only room used as a throne for Jesus was the cross
he came to bear for our sins. In Jesus lowly birth we see the foreshadowing of
the greatest sacrifice God would make for our sake when his only begotten Son
willingly embraced the crown of thorns and death on the cross for our
salvation.
Jesus'
birth in Bethlehem fulfilled the prophecy that the Messiah would descend from
David and be born in David's city, Bethlehem (Isaiah 9:6-7, 11:1-2; Micah
5:2-4). Ambrose, the 4th century bishop of Milan, in his commentary on this
passage from Luke explains why Christ became a humble child for our sake.
He
was a baby and a child, so that you may be a perfect human. He was wrapped in
swaddling clothes, so that you may be freed from the snares of death. He was in
a manger, so that you may be in the altar. He was on earth that you may be in
the stars. He had no other place in the inn, so that you may have many mansions
in the heavens. "He, being rich, became poor for your sakes, that through
his poverty you might be rich." Therefore his poverty is our inheritance,
and the Lord's weakness is our virtue. He chose to lack for himself, that he
may abound for all. The sobs of that appalling infancy cleanse me, those tears
wash away my sins. Therefore, Lord Jesus, I owe more to your sufferings because
I was redeemed than I do to works for which I was created... You see that he is
in swaddling clothes. You do not see that he is in heaven. You hear the cries
of an infant, but you do not hear the lowing of an ox recognizing its Master,
for the ox knows his Owner and the donkey his Master' crib. [Exposition of the
Gospel of Luke]
Why
did the angels announce the birth of the new-born King of Israel to shepherds,
rather than to the Jewish populace at large, or to the leaders of Israel? God
chose to come in lowliness to show his loving-kindness and power to those who
were humble of heart and ready to receive him. Gregory the Great in his
Christmas sermon explains the significance of the angels hymn of glory and
message to the shepherds:
Before
the Redeemer was born in the flesh, there was discord between us and the
angels, from whose brightness and holy perfection we were separated, in
punishment first of original sin and then because of our daily offenses.
Because through sin we had become strangers to God, the angels as God’s
subjects cut us off from their fellowship. But since we have now acknowledged
our King, the angels receive us as fellow citizens. Because the King of heaven
has taken unto himself the flesh of our earth, the angels from their heavenly
heights no longer look down upon our infirmity. Now they are at peace with us,
putting away the remembrance of the ancient discord. Now they honor us as
friends, whom before they considered to be weak and despised. [Homilies on the
Gospels 8.2.60]
We
also join with the angelic choirs of heaven when we glorify God and give him
thanks for the gift of his Son who became our redeemer.
Why
was it necessary that God's only begotten Son, the Word of God, become flesh
(cf. John 1)? The Word became flesh for us in order to save us by reconciling
us with God our Father. God loved us and sent his Son to be the
expiation for our sins (1 John 4:10). The Father sent his Son
as the Savior of the world (1 John 4:14). The Word appeared to
take away sins (1 John 3:5). The Word became flesh that we might know
and experience the love of God. God's love was revealed among us in
this way: God sent his only Son into the world so that we might live through
him (1 John 4:9). For God so loved the world that he gave us
his only Son that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal
life (John 3:16).
There
is a great paradox in the mystery of the Incarnation, the Son of God taking on
human flesh that we might be clothed in his divinity. Scripture says "he
became poor that we might become rich" (2 Corinthians 8:9) - rich not in
material things which pass away, but rich in the things that last - eternal
life and happiness with the Triune God - Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The
Incarnation is the mystery of this wonderful exchange: "O marvelous
exchange! Man's Creator has become man, born of the Virgin. We have been made
sharers in the divinity of Christ who humbled himself to share our humanity." (Antiphon
I of Evening Prayer for January 1st)
"Lord
our God, with the birth of your Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, your glory breaks
on the world. As we celebrate his first coming, give us a foretaste of the joy
that you will grant us when the fullness of his glory has filled the
earth."
Daily
Quote from the early church fathers: All great feasts have their origin in
Jesus' nativity, by John Chrysostom, 547-407 A.D.
"A
feast day is about to arrive, and it is the most holy and awesome of all
feasts. It would be no mistake to call it the chief and mother of all holy
days. What feast is that? It is the day of Christ's birth in the flesh. It is
from this day that the feasts of the Theophany, the sacred Pasch [Passover],
the Ascension and Pentecost had their source and foundation. Had Christ not
been born in the flesh, he would not have been baptized, which is the theophany
or manifestation. Nor would he have been crucified, which is the Pasch
[Passover]. Nor would he have sent down the Spirit, which is Pentecost.
Therefore, just as different rivers arise from a single source, these other
feasts have their beginnings in the birth of Christ." (excerpt
from ON THE INCOMPREHENSIBLE NATURE OF GOD 6.23–24)
CHRISTMAS VIGIL MASS
MONDAY, DECEMBER 24, MATTHEW 1:1-25 or 1:18-25
(Isaiah 62:1-5; Psalm 89; Acts 13:16-17, 22-25)
MONDAY, DECEMBER 24, MATTHEW 1:1-25 or 1:18-25
(Isaiah 62:1-5; Psalm 89; Acts 13:16-17, 22-25)
KEY VERSE: "Of her was born Jesus who is called the Messiah" (v. 16).
TO KNOW: Matthew began his gospel with a genealogy to show that Jesus was the fulfillment of Israel's longing for a Messiah. Matthew traced Israel's history through three sets of 14 generations, from the days of glory when King David sat on the throne to the days of agony when God's people were taken into exile in Babylonia. Matthew's genealogy is symbolic rather than historic. The number 14 is the numerical value of the consonants in the Hebrew version of David's name (DVD, 4+6+4=14), suggesting that the whole genealogy has a Davidic character. Jesus is the Messianic King whose throne would stand firm forever (2 Sm 7:16). Although Joseph (of the household of David) assumed legal paternity for the child, the virginal birth shows that Jesus is the Son of God. Jesus' family tree also shows some surprising irregularities. Except for Mary, the mother of Jesus, the other four women mentioned are all non-Jews ̶ Tamar, Rehab, Ruth, and Bathsheba. Jesus was the faithful son of Abraham through whom all nations would be blessed (Gn 12:3). The child was given the title "Emmanuel" meaning "God is with us." At the end of Matthew's gospel, Jesus told his disciples, "Know that I am with you always, until the end of the world (Matt 28:20).
TO LOVE: How will I share the good news of Jesus Christ with others on Christmas day?
TO SERVE: Lord Jesus, on the Eve of your coming into the world, help me to take a few moments to be with you.
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