December 25, 2015 Friday
THE WORD
FIRST READING
Is 52: 7–10
How beautiful upon the mountains
are the feet of the one bringing good news,
Announcing peace, bearing good news,
announcing salvation, saying to Zion,
“Your God is King!”
Listen! Your sentinels raise a cry,
together they shout for joy,
For they see directly, before their eyes,
the LORD’s return to Zion.
Break out together in song,
O ruins of Jerusalem!
For the LORD has comforted his people,
has redeemed Jerusalem.
The LORD has bared his holy arm
in the sight of all the nations;
All the ends of the earth can see
the salvation of our God.
SECOND READING
Heb 1: 1–6
Brothers and sisters: In times past, God spoke in partial and various ways to our ancestors through the prophets; in these last days, he spoke to us through a son, whom he made heir of all things and through whom he created the universe, who is the refulgence of his glory, the very imprint of his being, and who sustains all things by his mighty word. When he had accomplished purification from sins, he took his seat at the right hand of the Majesty on high, as far superior to the angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs.
For to which of the angels did God ever say: “You are my son; this day I have begotten you”? Or again: “I will be a father to him, and he shall be a son to me”? And again, when he leads the first-born into the world, he says: “Let all the angels of God worship him.”
GOSPEL READING
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 came to be through him, and without him nothing came to be. What came to be through him was life, and this life was the light of the human race; the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
A man named John was sent from God. He came for testimony, to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him.
He was not the light, but came to testify to the light.
The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world.
He was in the world, and the world came to be through him, but the world did not know him.
He came to what was his own, but his own people did not accept him.
But to those who did accept him he gave power to become children of God, to those who believe in his name, who were born not by natural generation nor by human choice nor by a man’s decision but of God.
And the Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us, and we saw his glory, the glory as of the Father’s only Son, full of grace and truth.
John testified to him and cried out, saying, “This was he of whom I said, ‘The one who is coming after me ranks ahead of me because he existed before me.’” From his fullness we have all received, grace in place of grace, because while the law was given through Moses, grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.
No one has ever seen God. The only Son, God, who is at the Father’s side, has revealed him.
IN OTHER WORDS
I am reminded of a heartwarming story I once read in the Internet. There was a couple who celebrated Christmas in one of New York City’s upscale restaurants. After finishing their meal and paying their bill, the husband told his wife: “So, shall we go home now?” The wife said,” Wait, today is Christmas Day. We should do something to spread the special message of Christmas.” The husband asked, “How?” The wife said, “Do you see this couple in the next table? Let us secretly pay their bill!” They called the head waiter and told him they would pay the bill of the couple in the next table, and told the waiter to wait until they have left before informing the other couple what they had done. When the other couple called for their bill, they were pleasantly surprised to learn that unknown strangers did a very good thing to them. Then spontaneously, they told the waiter they would also pay secretly the bill of the people in the next table. Later on, the waiters would recall how an unplanned and unexpected chain reaction of generosity spread that day in that restaurant. It was a truly Christmas experience for the diners and the waiters who witnessed it, a reminder of what a wonderful world it can be when love and sharing abound.
The birth of Jesus was described by John as the coming of the true Light that enlightens everyone. Through His love and self-sacrifice, we learn how good it is to imitate it in our little way. As the diners in the restaurant were inspired to pass on the good experiences they received, they realized that something good must not be kept to themselves, it is better to let others experience it also. The light that came into the world brings light into our hearts and we should kindle also in others this same light to make the world a truly brighter and better place.
- Fr. Gil Alejandria, SVD (CTManila)
The Word in other words 2015
An annual project of Logos Publications, The WORD in Other Words Bible Diary contains daily scripture readings and reflections written by priest, brothers, and sisters of the three congregations founded by St. Arnold Janssen (the SVD, SSpS, and SSpSAP). It hopes to serve as a daily companion to readers who continually seek the correlation of the Word of God and human experience.
