CHRISTMAS,
THE NATIVITY OF THE LORD
Psalter: Proper / (White)
Ps 98:1, 2-3, 3-4, 5-6
All the ends of the earth have seen the saving power of God.
1st Reading: Is 52:7-10
How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who herald peace and happiness, who proclaim salvation and announce to Zion: ”Your God is King!”
Together your watchmen raise their voices in praise and song; they see Yahweh face to face returning to Zion.
Break into shouts of joy, O ruins of Jerusalem, for Yahweh consoles his people and redeems Jerusalem.
Yahweh has bared his holy arm in the eyes of the nations; all the ends of the earth, in alarm, will witness God‘s salvation.
2nd Reading: Heb 1:1-6
Gospel: Jn 1:1-18
In the beginning was the Word. And the Word was with God and the Word was God; he was in the beginning with God.
All things were made through him, and without him nothing came to be. Whatever has come to be, found life in him; life, which for human beings was also light, light that shines in darkness, light that darkness could not overcome.
A man came, sent by God; his name was John.
He came to bear witness, as a witness to introduce the Light, so that all might believe through him.
He was not the Light, but a witness to introduce the Light; for the Light was coming into the world, the true Light that enlightens everyone.
He was in the world, and through him the world was made, the very world that did not know him.
He came to his own, yet his own people did not receive him; but to all who received him, he empowers to become children of God, for they believe in his name.
These are born, but not by seed, or carnal desire, nor by the will of man: they are born of God.
And the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us; and we have seen his glory, the glory of the only Son of the Father: fullness of truth and lovingkindness.
John bore witness to him openly, saying, ”This is the one who comes after me, but he is already ahead of me, for he was before me.”
From his fullness we have all received, favor upon favor.
For God had given us the law through Moses, but Truth and Lovingkindness came through Jesus Christ.
No one has ever seen God, but God-the-only-Son made him known: the one, who is in and with the Father.
Reflections
The majestic opening of John‘s Gospel shows us the cosmic scope of the mystery of the Incarnation. He is the definitive self-expression of God, the one through whom God created all things in the beginning. He stretches out the cosmos as the canvas for the expression of God‘s glory. The prologue climaxes with the announcement: ”The Word became flesh and dwelt among us.” It‘s God‘s concrete embodiment in humanity. This presence came about through God‘s passion for humanity and for the whole of creation. The Christmas message announces a new divine presence among us. Each day of our lives we seek the personal presence of those whom we care for and who care about us. We cannot imagine leaving friendship and love at a distance. Photographs, memories, letters, e-mail, text messages and phone calls are not enough. We want to enjoy the personal presence of those who fill our minds and let us live in their hearts. We live in God‘s heart, and Christmas visibly brought among us the Son of God who cares infinitely for each of us. God did not want to live his presence at a distance. The Word became close to real people in real time. Through the wonder and mystery of the Incarnation, the Word did not become a theory, or a concept to be discussed, debated, or pondered. But the Word became a person to be followed, enjoyed and loved! Our redemption is found in the Child of Bethlehem. Christmas inaugurates a completely new kind of real friendship with God. He comes and share our struggles, joys and pains. It is God‘s expression of concrete solidarity with the human condition and gives every person the hope to live differently and aspire to build a new set of relationships marked by peace, justice and ecological care. Christmas is a celebration of who God is in our lives – Emmanuel – God who is very intimate with us and comes to be with us and share what is possible within us if we care to pay attention to the divinity with each of us.
Daily Reflection 2018
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Biblical Texts are taken from Christian Community Bible, Catholic Pastoral Edition (57th Edition) The New English Translation for the ROMAN MISSAL
With permission from the EPISCOPAL COMMISION ON LITURGY of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines
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