December 25, 2016 - The Nativity of the Lord
(Christmas)
At the Vigil Mass
Lectionary: 13
At the Vigil Mass
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.
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: : 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 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.
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)
THE SEASON OF CHRISTMAS
The Christmas season immediately follows Advent. The traditional Twelve Days of Christmas begins with Christmas Eve on the evening of December 24 and continues until the feast of Epiphany. The actual Christmas season continues until the Feast of the Baptism of Christ, which in the present form of the Roman Rite is celebrated on the Sunday after 6 January. Epiphany commemorates the recognition of Jesus as the Son of God by the three Wise Men (and by all nations). The season of Christmas ends on the Monday after the Solemnity of the Baptism of the Lord, which signifies the purification of the world, through Christ himself.
Saturday 24 December 2016
Sat 24th. Christmas Vigil.
Isaiah 62:1-5. For ever I will sing the goodness of
the Lord—Ps 88(89):4-5, 16-17, 27, 29. Acts 13:16-17, 22-25. Matthew 1:1-25.
Salvation through a person.
A person will save us. This is the
antiphon this Christmas season. Just one person. It sounds so naïve, especially
given the events of the preceding months, where it is precisely the person that
is guilty of the most heinous crimes, and precisely the person that is
destroyed by them. With the bodies of so many strewn across the streets and
seas, the Gospels present to us that scandalous claim that it is through a
person that salvation will come to us, not just any event or command. The
Gospel begins with a litany of people through which the goodness of God is made
manifest, and especially through one person, Jesus Christ, through which we
find our salvation. The question to ask ourselves is whether our sufferings are
due to placing salvific value on anybody other than the person of Christ.
VIGIL OF CHRISTMAS
In the first ages, during the
night before every feast, a vigil was kept. In the evening the faithful
assembled in the place or church where the feast was to be celebrated and
prepared themselves by prayers, readings from Holy Writ (now the Offices of
Vespers and Matins), and sometimes also by hearing a sermon. On such occasions,
as on fast days in general, Mass also was celebrated in the evening, before the
Vespers of the following day. Towards morning the people dispersed to the
streets and houses near the church, to wait for the solemn services of the
forenoon.
This vigil was a regular
institution of Christian life and was defended and highly recommended by St.
Augustine and St. Jerome (see Pleithner, "Aeltere Geschichte des
Breviergebetes", pp. 223 sq.). The morning intermission gave rise to grave
abuses; the people caroused and danced in the streets and halls around the
church (Durandus, "Rat. Div. off.", VI, 7), and St. Jerome
speaks of these improprieties (Epist. ad Ripuarium).
The Synod of Seligenstadt (1022)
mentions vigils on the eves of Christmas, Epiphany, the feast of the Apostles,
the Assumption of Mary, St. Laurence, and All Saints, besides the fast of two
weeks before the Nativity of St. John. After the eleventh century the fast,
Office, and Mass of the nocturnal vigil were transferred to the day before the
feast, and even now [1909] the liturgy of the Holy Saturday (vigil of Easter)
shows, in all its parts, that originally it was not kept on the morning of
Saturday, but during Easter Night. The day before the feast was henceforth
called vigil.
A similar celebration before the
high feast exists also in the Orthodox (Greek) Church, and is called pannychis
or hagrypnia. In the Occident only the older feasts have vigils, even the
feasts of the first class introduced after the thirteenth century (Corpus
Christi, the Sacred Heart) have no vigils, except the Immaculate Conception,
which Pope Leo XIII (Nov. 30 1879) singled out for this distinction. The
number of vigils in the Roman Calendar besides Holy Saturday is seventeen,
viz., the eves of Christmas, the Epiphany, the Ascension, Pentecost, the
Immaculate Conception, the Assumption, the eight feasts of the Apostles, St.
John the Baptist, St. Laurence, and All Saints. Some dioceses and
religiousorders have particular vigils, e.g. the Servites, on the Saturday next
before the feast of the Seven Dolours of Our Lady; the Carmelites, on the eve
of the feast of Mount Carmel. In the United States only four of theses vigils
are feast days: the vigils of Christmas, Pentecost, the Assumption, and All
Saints.
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