Solemnity of the Nativity of the Lord (Christmas) – 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.’”
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.
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.
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: "He
will save his people from their sins"
How
well do you know your spiritual heritage? Genealogies are very important. They
give us our roots and help us to understand our heritage. Matthew's genealogy
of Jesus traces his 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), to Jesus who was conceived by the Holy Spirit in
the womb of the virgin Mary. Jesus the Messiah is the direct descendant of
Abraham and David, and the rightful heir to David's throne.
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).
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.
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".
Solemnity of the Nativity of the Lord (Christmas) – Mass at Midnight
Lectionary: 14
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.
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's
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’s 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 offences.
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, 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 fulness of his glory has filled the earth."
Today is born our Saviour, Christ
the Lord
The good news that defines this night for us is that the Son of
God is with us - a time of joy.Looking back on the past year we can recall times of hardship and darkness, perhaps for us personally but certainly for the under-privileged people of the world. Fortunately there is always an element of resilience in our human condition that sustains hope for the future and the expectation of wellbeing for each of us. Tonight we celebrate as a community of faith, hope and love the ultimate source of that resilience. On this night of nights, our Saviour has been born in the world. People who once walked in darkness have seen a great light. Let us exchange greetings and presents and be happy together as we celebrate how the Son of God uplifted our humanity by becoming, ever so humbly, one of us.
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 24, LUKE 1:67-79 (VIGIL: MATTHEW 1:1-25)
(2 Samuel 7:1-5, 8b-12, 14a, 16; Psalm 89)
(2 Samuel 7:1-5, 8b-12, 14a, 16; Psalm 89)
KEY VERSE: "And you, child, will be called prophet of the Most High, because you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways" (v 76).
READING: When Zechariah's tongue was loosened, he broke into a hymn of praise in thanksgiving to God for blessing him and his wife Elizabeth with a child in their old age. Like the canticle of Mary, this "Benedictus" was a compilation of Scripture and Jewish prayers. Zechariah proclaimed that his son was destined to be a prophet of the Most High who would prepare the way for the coming of the Messiah, God's anointed one. God had visited the people with loving-kindness and mercy. God's promise of salvation was fulfilled in the person and ministry of Jesus Christ, the "daybreak from on high" (v 78). The light of Christ would shatter the darkness that overshadowed the people (Is 60:1), and guide them on the pathway to peace. Peace (Shalom in Hebrew) does not mean merely freedom from war and strife; it means all that works for human good. Jesus Christ would enable people to walk in the ways that lead to life, and no longer trod the path that leads to death.
REFLECTING: Have my words and deeds proclaimed peace this Advent?
PRAYING: Lord God, thank you for showing us your mercy by sending your Son to lead us to the light.
December 24
Christmas at Greccio
Christmas at Greccio
What better way to prepare for the arrival of the Christ Child
than to take a brief journey to Greccio, the spot in central Italy where St.
Francis of Assisi created the first Christmas crib in the year 1223.
Francis,
recalling a visit he had made years before to Bethlehem, resolved to create the
manger he had seen there. The ideal spot was a cave in nearby Greccio. He would
find a baby (we’re not sure if it was a live infant or the carved image of a
baby), hay upon which to lay him, an ox and an ass to stand beside the manger.
Word went out to the people of the town. At the appointed time they arrived
carrying torches and candles.
One of
the friars began celebrating Mass. Francis himself gave the sermon. His
biographer, Thomas of Celano, recalls that Francis “stood before the
manger…overcome with love and filled with a wonderful happiness…/” For Francis,
the simple celebration was meant to recall the hardships Jesus suffered even as
an infant, a savior who chose to become poor for our sake, a truly human Jesus.
Tonight,
as we pray around the Christmas cribs in our homes, we welcome into our hearts
that same Savior.
Comment:
God’s choice to give human beings free will was, from the beginning, a decision to be helpless in human hands. With the birth of Jesus, God made the divine helplessness very clear to us, for a human infant is totally dependent on the loving response of other people. Our natural response to a baby is to open our arms, as Francis did, to the infant of Bethlehem and to the God who made us all.
God’s choice to give human beings free will was, from the beginning, a decision to be helpless in human hands. With the birth of Jesus, God made the divine helplessness very clear to us, for a human infant is totally dependent on the loving response of other people. Our natural response to a baby is to open our arms, as Francis did, to the infant of Bethlehem and to the God who made us all.
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