2019년 12월 25일 수요일 예수 성탄 대축일
오늘의 복음 : http://info.catholic.or.kr/missa/default.asp
자정 미사
제1독서
이사야서. 9,1-6
1 어둠 속을 걷던 백성이 큰 빛을 봅니다.
암흑의 땅에 사는 이들에게 빛이 비칩니다.
2 당신께서는 즐거움을 많게 하시고 기쁨을 크게 하십니다.
사람들이 당신 앞에서 기뻐합니다,
수확할 때 기뻐하듯 전리품을 나눌 때 즐거워하듯.
3 정녕 당신께서는 그들이 짊어진 멍에와 어깨에 멘 장대와 부역 감독관의 몽둥이를
미디안을 치신 그날처럼 부수십니다.
4 땅을 흔들며 저벅거리는 군화도 피 속에 뒹군 군복도
모조리 화염에 싸여 불꽃의 먹이가 됩니다.
5 우리에게 한 아기가 태어났고 우리에게 한 아들이 주어졌습니다.
왕권이 그의 어깨에 놓이고 그의 이름은 놀라운 경륜가,
용맹한 하느님, 영원한 아버지, 평화의 군왕이라 불리리이다.
6 다윗의 왕좌와 그의 왕국 위에 놓인 그 왕권은 강대하고
그 평화는 끝이 없으리이다.
그는 이제부터 영원까지 공정과 정의로 그 왕국을 굳게 세우고 지켜 가리이다.
만군의 주님의 열정이 이를 이루시리이다.
제2독서
티토. 2,11-14
사랑하는 그대여, 11 모든 사람에게 구원을 가져다주는
하느님의 은총이 나타났습니다.
12 이 은총이 우리를 교육하여, 불경함과 속된 욕망을 버리고
현세에서 신중하고 의롭고 경건하게 살도록 해 줍니다.
13 복된 희망이 이루어지기를, 우리의 위대하신 하느님이시며 구원자이신
예수 그리스도의 영광이 나타나기를 기다리는 우리를
그렇게 살도록 해 줍니다.
14 그리스도께서는 우리를 위하여 당신 자신을 내어 주시어,
우리를 모든 불의에서 해방하시고 또 깨끗하게 하시어,
선행에 열성을 기울이는 당신 소유의 백성이 되게 하셨습니다.
복음
루카. 2,1-14
1 그 무렵 아우구스투스 황제에게서 칙령이 내려,
온 세상이 호적 등록을 하게 되었다.
2 이 첫 번째 호적 등록은 퀴리니우스가 시리아 총독으로 있을 때에 실시되었다.
3 그래서 모두 호적 등록을 하러 저마다 자기 본향으로 갔다.
4 요셉도 갈릴래아 지방 나자렛 고을을 떠나
유다 지방, 베들레헴이라고 불리는 다윗 고을로 올라갔다.
그가 다윗 집안의 자손이었기 때문이다.
5 그는 자기와 약혼한 마리아와 함께 호적 등록을 하러 갔는데,
마리아는 임신 중이었다.
6 그들이 거기에 머무르는 동안 마리아는 해산 날이 되어, 7 첫아들을 낳았다.
그들은 아기를 포대기에 싸서 구유에 뉘었다.
여관에는 그들이 들어갈 자리가 없었던 것이다.
8 그 고장에는 들에 살면서 밤에도 양 떼를 지키는 목자들이 있었다.
9 그런데 주님의 천사가 다가오고 주님의 영광이 그 목자들의 둘레를 비추었다.
그들은 몹시 두려워하였다.
10 그러자 천사가 그들에게 말하였다. “두려워하지 마라.
보라, 나는 온 백성에게 큰 기쁨이 될 소식을 너희에게 전한다.
11 오늘 너희를 위하여 다윗 고을에서 구원자가 태어나셨으니,
주 그리스도이시다.
12 너희는 포대기에 싸여 구유에 누워 있는 아기를 보게 될 터인데,
그것이 너희를 위한 표징이다.”
13 그때에 갑자기 그 천사 곁에 수많은 하늘의 군대가 나타나
하느님을 이렇게 찬미하였다.
14 “지극히 높은 곳에서는 하느님께 영광
땅에서는 그분 마음에 드는 사람들에게 평화!”
낮미사
제1독서
이사야서. 52,7-10
7 얼마나 아름다운가, 산 위에 서서 기쁜 소식을 전하는 이의 저 발!
평화를 선포하고 기쁜 소식을 전하며 구원을 선포하는구나.
“너의 하느님은 임금님이시다.” 하고 시온에게 말하는구나.
8 들어 보아라. 너의 파수꾼들이 목소리를 높인다.
다 함께 환성을 올린다.
주님께서 시온으로 돌아오심을 그들은 직접 눈으로 본다.
9 예루살렘의 폐허들아, 다 함께 기뻐하며 환성을 올려라.
주님께서 당신 백성을 위로하시고 예루살렘을 구원하셨다.
10 주님께서 모든 민족들이 보는 앞에서 당신의 거룩한 팔을 걷어붙이시니
땅끝들이 모두 우리 하느님의 구원을 보리라.
제2독서
히브리서. 1,1-6
1 하느님께서 예전에는 예언자들을 통하여
여러 번에 걸쳐 여러 가지 방식으로 조상들에게 말씀하셨지만,
2 이 마지막 때에는 아드님을 통하여 우리에게 말씀하셨습니다.
하느님께서는 아드님을 만물의 상속자로 삼으셨을 뿐만 아니라,
그분을 통하여 온 세상을 만들기까지 하셨습니다.
3 아드님은 하느님 영광의 광채이시며 하느님 본질의 모상으로서,
만물을 당신의 강력한 말씀으로 지탱하십니다.
그분께서 죄를 깨끗이 없애신 다음,
하늘 높은 곳에 계신 존엄하신 분의 오른쪽에 앉으셨습니다.
4 그분께서는 천사들보다 뛰어난 이름을 상속받으시어,
그만큼 그들보다 위대하게 되셨습니다.
5 하느님께서 천사들 가운데 그 누구에게
“너는 내 아들. 내가 오늘 너를 낳았노라.” 하고 말씀하신 적이 있습니까?
또 “나는 그의 아버지가 되고 그는 나의 아들이 되리라.” 하고
말씀하신 적이 있습니까?
6 또 맏아드님을 저세상에 데리고 들어가실 때에는 이렇게 말씀하십니다.
“하느님의 천사들은 모두 그에게 경배하여라.”
복음
요한. 1,1-18<또는 1,1-5.9-14>
1 한처음에 말씀이 계셨다.
말씀은 하느님과 함께 계셨는데 말씀은 하느님이셨다.
2 그분께서는 한처음에 하느님과 함께 계셨다.
3 모든 것이 그분을 통하여 생겨났고 그분 없이 생겨난 것은 하나도 없다.
4 그분 안에 생명이 있었으니 그 생명은 사람들의 빛이었다.
5 그 빛이 어둠 속에서 비치고 있지만 어둠은 그를 깨닫지 못하였다.
6 하느님께서 보내신 사람이 있었는데 그의 이름은 요한이었다.
7 그는 증언하러 왔다.
빛을 증언하여 자기를 통해 모든 사람이 믿게 하려는 것이었다.
8 그 사람은 빛이 아니었다. 빛을 증언하러 왔을 따름이다.
9 모든 사람을 비추는 참빛이 세상에 왔다.
10 그분께서 세상에 계셨고 세상이 그분을 통하여 생겨났지만
세상은 그분을 알아보지 못하였다.
11 그분께서 당신 땅에 오셨지만
그분의 백성은 그분을 맞아들이지 않았다.
12 그분께서는 당신을 받아들이는 이들,
당신의 이름을 믿는 모든 이에게
하느님의 자녀가 되는 권한을 주셨다.
13 이들은 혈통이나 육욕이나 남자의 욕망에서 난 것이 아니라
하느님에게서 난 사람들이다.
14 말씀이 사람이 되시어 우리 가운데 사셨다.
우리는 그분의 영광을 보았다.
은총과 진리가 충만하신 아버지의 외아드님으로서 지니신 영광을 보았다.
15 요한은 그분을 증언하여 외쳤다.
“그분은 내가 이렇게 말한 분이시다.
‘내 뒤에 오시는 분은 내가 나기 전부터 계셨기에 나보다 앞서신 분이시다.’”
16 그분의 충만함에서 우리 모두 은총에 은총을 받았다.
17 율법은 모세를 통하여 주어졌지만
은총과 진리는 예수 그리스도를 통하여 왔다.
18 아무도 하느님을 본 적이 없다.
아버지와 가장 가까우신 외아드님, 하느님이신 그분께서 알려 주셨다.
December 25, 2019
The Nativity of the Lord (Christmas)
Daily Mass : http://www.catholictv.com/shows/daily-mass
Mass at Midnight
Reading 1
Is 9:1-6
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 Psalm
Ps 96: 1-2, 2-3, 11-12, 13
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 2
Ti 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.
Alleluia
Lk 2:10-11
I proclaim to you good news of great joy:
today a Savior is born for us,
Christ the Lord.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel
Lk 2:1-14
In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustusthat 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.”
Mass During the Day
Reading 1
Is 52:7-10
are the feet of him who brings glad tidings,
announcing peace, bearing good news,
announcing salvation, and saying to Zion,
“Your God is King!”
Hark! Your sentinels raise a cry,
together they shout for joy,
for they see directly, before their eyes,
the LORD restoring Zion.
Break out together in song,
O ruins of Jerusalem!
For the LORD comforts his people,
he redeems Jerusalem.
The LORD has bared his holy arm
in the sight of all the nations;
all the ends of the earth will behold
the salvation of our God.
Responsorial Psalm
Ps 98:1, 2-3, 3-4, 5-6
Sing to the LORD a new song,
for he has done wondrous deeds;
his right hand has won victory for him,
his holy arm.
R. All the ends of the earth have seen the saving power of God.
The LORD has made his salvation known:
in the sight of the nations he has revealed his justice.
He has remembered his kindness and his faithfulness
toward the house of Israel.
R. All the ends of the earth have seen the saving power of God.
All the ends of the earth have seen
the salvation by our God.
Sing joyfully to the LORD, all you lands;
break into song; sing praise.
R. All the ends of the earth have seen the saving power of God.
Sing praise to the LORD with the harp,
with the harp and melodious song.
With trumpets and the sound of the horn
sing joyfully before the King, the LORD.
R. All the ends of the earth have seen the saving power of God.
Reading 2
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 has spoken to us through the 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 firstborn into the world, he says:
Let all the angels of God worship him.
Alleluia
R. Alleluia, alleluia.A holy day has dawned upon us.
Come, you nations, and adore the Lord.
For today a great light has come upon the earth.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel
l Jn 1:1-18
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.
Or
Jn 1:1-5, 9-14
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.
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.
http://evangeli.net/gospel/tomorrow
«Today a Savior has been born to you in David's town; he is the Messiah and the Lord»
Fr. Ramon Octavi SÁNCHEZ i Valero
(Viladecans, Barcelona, Spain)
Today, the Savior has been born. This is the good news of this Christmas eve. Like in every Christmas, Jesus is born again in the world, in each home, in our heart.
But unlike what our consumerist society celebrates, Jesus is not born in an environment of waste, purchases, comfort, whim and meals. Jesus is born in the humility of the Nativity scene.
And he does it this way because he has been refused by men: nobody had wanted to house them, neither in homes nor in hostels. Mary, Joseph and the just born Jesus felt what rejection ,lack of generosity and of solidarity mean.
Later on things will change with the Angel's announcement: «Don't be afraid; I am here to give you good news, great joy for all the people. Today a Savior has been born to you in David's town; he is the Messiah and the Lord» (Lk 2:10). Everybody will run towards the Nativity scene in order to adore the Son of God. A bit like in our society where many people are marginalized, because they are poor, aliens or simply different from us, while we celebrate Christmas speaking words of peace, solidarity and love.
We Christians are joyous today, we are rightfully happy. As Saint Leo the Great said: «There is no place for sadness now that life has been born». But we can not forget that Jesus' birth means a commitment for us all: living Christmas in the most similar way as the Holy Family lived it. That is, no ostentation, no unnecessary expenses. Celebrating and having a party is compatible with austerity and even with poverty.
on the other hand, if we do not have true feelings of solidarity towards those who have been rejected, aliens or homeless people during these days, it is because we are like the inhabitants of Bethlem: we do not welcome the infant Jesus in our hearts.
MASS AT DAWN (Gospel: Lk 2:15-20) «Found Mary and Joseph with the baby lying in the manger»
Fr. Bernat GIMENO i Capín
(Barcelona, Spain)
Today, a light will shine on us: the Lord is born for us! Just as the Sun rises every morning to light up and enliven our world, this Christmas Mass at Dawn, when still quite murky, calls forth the figure of the small Infant born at Bethlehem as a rising Sun that rises to illuminate the human family.
After Mary and Joseph, those shepherds of the Gospel were the first ones to be enlightened by the presence of the Infant Jesus. Those shepherds, that were meant to be the last ones in their society. We also have to become shepherds to welcome the Infant, while realizing our own nothingness.
That Jesus is light cannot leave us unconcerned. Let us look at the shepherds: the joy they felt for what they had seen was so great they could not stop talking about: «And all were astonished on hearing the shepherds» (Lk 2:19).
«Your Saviour comes», the prophet tells us, and we are filled up with joy and peace. Dear brothers, this is what we are lacking now a days: to be able to speak about Him with joy, peace and conviction; each one of us from his/her own vocation, that is, from the eternal design God has “for me”. And this will only be possible if we are previously convinced of our identity: the lay, the monastic and the priests. We all form “the holy people” prophet Isaiah speaks about.
It was God's design the shepherds went to worship the Infant Jesus. We are all shepherds too. We must be poor and humble, the very last ones... When we look at the manger at home, with its plastic or ceramic shepherds, we see an image of the Church, which the prophet in the first lecture describes as a “city that is not forsaken” and calls “My Delight” (cf. Is 62:4-12). This Christmas we have to set up our mind upon loving more our Church... which is not ours, but His, and which we receive and go into to participate as unworthy servants. Our Church, which we receive as a gift, as an unmerited present. This is why, this coming Christmas, our outburst of joy must be a sincere and profound thanksgiving.
http://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/daily.html
Christmas greetings to you, the faithful readers of this site! We are all tonight rejoicing in the great light of abundant joy along with the masses of believers past and present throughout the earth. Nothing brings so many people together to celebrate peace and joy as does the birth of the Christ child. Yet, many of us call for putting the Christ back in Christmas because the birth of Jesus has too often been over sentimentalized and sugar coated to the extent that it is just the story of an innocent baby who draws shepherds and angels to a humble stable of straw to announce peace on earth, goodwill toward men. As such, it is a non-threatening message - an invitation to come closer.
Not everyone does, however. For many, the message of salvation this little child brings is hidden behind the piles of packages under a tree and the great light is substituted for those little twinkling lights that circle the central image of Christmas. The carols we sing are traditional favorites. What about the “new song” we need to sing to announce the day after day salvation the Savior brings? How can that darling little baby rule the earth with justice? Many of us are not really prepared for the saving grace of God to appear, we just want to see sweet angels when we sing, “Angels we have heard on high, sweetly singing ore the plain.” That reduces Christmas to just so much sugar!
Like the shepherds, what might it be like for us if we were to suddenly be confronted by a light so bright that we would be struck by fear? Can we really grasp the good news of great joy that comes to us and all people in the birth of Christ the Lord? Can we grasp the power of that light? I am very challenged by that light this Christmas. Throughout Advent, I have been daring to come closer to that light. From what I have glimpsed, It is a light so bright that it illuminates the justice of God. It brings judgment and it brings peace because of its constancy and grace. It really is our salvation! It is a way out of all our problems. That light illuminates the glory of the Lord, what the Lord can do for us, and what we can do in response.
It starts, I think, with helping others see how an innocent baby can be the face of God in all children born into poverty. That baby comes to all families forced to conform to unjust laws and to migrate away from their homes for their safety. That light helps us see the face of God in all parents who struggle to provide safety and a future for their children. That light does indeed strike fear in us when we consider that what we have seen in terms of Gods great love for us, calls us to action on behalf of Christ. I pray tonight that we will all by struck by great joy and inspired by hope as we gaze into that great light and share its peace with others.
“Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests!”
http://www.presentationministries.com/obob/obob.asp
FOOTPRINTS | ||
| "How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of Him Who brings glad tidings, announcing peace, bearing good news, announcing salvation." �Isaiah 52:7 | ||
We parents can spend much time gazing at our babies. We enjoy the way our infant's feet and toes curl up and expand. We count the number of toes and fingers. Each little movement brings fresh delight. Before we know it, we've spent a half-hour contemplating our baby. We can spend hours looking at our own baby, and never tire of it. This is because we love our baby so much. Jesus took on flesh and became a human Baby (Jn 1:14). Now we can relate to Him in a way that we couldn't previously. As a parent delights in admiring each aspect of their newborn, so we can reflect on the many aspects of the incarnate Infant, Jesus. This Christmas season, as you contemplate the Baby Jesus, reflect especially upon Jesus' beautiful feet (Is 52:7). He traveled dusty roads to proclaim the Good News of the Kingdom of God (Mt 10:14). He let His feet be washed by the penitent woman (Lk 7:44-45) so we would know that love overcomes a multitude of sins (1 Pt 4:8). He allowed His feet to be pierced and nailed to a cross and bleed for our salvation. His feet pushed painfully upon the nails so He could breathe enough to speak His last words on the cross. Choose the better portion this Christmas (Lk 10:42). Sit at the beautiful feet of Jesus and listen to His words (Lk 10:39). | ||
| Prayer: Father, give me such a love for Jesus that I never tire of meditating on Him. Thank You for sending Jesus to save us all. | ||
| Promise: "Any who did accept Him He empowered to become children of God." —Jn 1:12 | ||
| Praise: Praise You, Infant Jesus! Your innocence and beauty have transformed the world. Alleluia! |
http://dailyscripture.servantsoftheword.org/readings/
Have you read the news today - the "good news" of Jesus Christ, the Son of God and son of Mary who was born for us and for our salvation. The word gospel literally means good news! 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).
The first to hear the good news of the savior's birth were not the rulers and religious leaders of Israel who were robed in riches and power. The angels first came to those who were humble and ready to receive the newborn king who was born in poverty and was now lying in a manger made for animals. Just as God had chosen and anointed David, a lowly shepherd of Bethlehem to become the shepherd king of Israel, so Jesus, likewise chose the path of humility and lowliness in coming to Israel as the good shepherd king who would lay down his life for their sake and salvation. After the angels had sung their hymn of glory in the presence of the shepherds, the shepherds made haste to adore the newborn king and sing their hymn of glory as well.
Many of the early church fathers have written hymns and homilies in praise of the Incarnation. John the Monk, an 8th century writer, in his Hymn of the Nativity, sings of the great exchange in the mystery and wonder of the Incarnation - God becoming man in order to bring man to heaven:
Heaven and earth are united today, for Christ is born! Today God has come upon earth, and humankind gone up to heaven. Today, for the sake of humankind, the invisible one is seen in the flesh. Therefore let us glorify him and cry aloud: glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace bestowed by your coming, Savior: glory to you! Today in Bethlehem, I hear the angels: glory to God in the highest! Glory to him whose good pleasure it was that there be peace on earth! The Virgin is now more spacious than the heavens. Light has shone on those in darkness, exalting the lowly who sing like the angels: Glory to God in the highest! Beholding him [Adam] who was in God’s image and likeness fallen through transgression, Jesus bowed the heavens and came down, without change taking up his dwelling in a virgin womb, that he might refashion Adam fallen in corruption, and crying out: glory to your epiphany, my Savior and my God! [Stichera (hymn) of the Nativity of the Lord]
Why was it necessary for the Word of God to become flesh? We needed a savior who could reconcile us with God. Throughout the ages Christians have professed the ancient Nicene Creed: "He became man for our sake and for the sake of our salvation." The eternal Word became flesh for us so he could offer his life as an atoning sacrifice for the sins of the world through the shedding of his blood on the cross. The Word became flesh to show us the infinite love and tender mercy of God for us sinners.
In the feast of Christmas we celebrate present realities - Jesus Christ our redeemer who reigns in heaven and who also lives and reigns in our hearts through the gift and working of the Holy Spirit. And we commemorate past events - the birth of the newborn Messiah King and his manifestation to Israel and to the gentile nations. We thank and bless God for the way in which he has saved us from the power of sin and the curse of death and destruction by sending his son to ransom us and give us pardon and abundant life through the gift and working of the Holy Spirit. Today we celebrate the birthday of our King and Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.
God wants to fill our hearts anew with joy and gratitude for the greatest gift he could possibly give us - his beloved Son Jesus. What can we give thanks for in this great feast of the Incarnation? We can praise and thank God our Father for the fact that the Son of God freely and joyfully assumed a human nature in order to accomplish our salvation in it. Jesus came to release the captives from slavery to sin and to open the gates of paradise once again. This day the Holy Spirit invites us to make haste - as the shepherds of Bethlehem did - to adore Jesus our King and Messiah. The Lord Jesus Christ is our eternal good shepherd who guides and cares for us unceasingly and who gives us abundant everlasting life and union with the triune God - Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
This day the whole community of heaven joins with all believers of good will on earth in a jubilant song of praise for the good news proclaimed by the angels on Christmas eve: Behold, I bring you good news of a great joy which will come to all the people, for to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord (Luke 2:10-11).
The joy of Christmas is not for a day or a season. It is an eternal joy, a joy that no one can take from us because it is the joy of Jesus Christ himself made present in our hearts through the Holy Spirit who dwells within us (see Romans 5:2-5). The Lord gives us a supernatural joy which no pain nor sorrow can diminish, and which neither life nor death can take away. Do you know the joy of your salvation in Jesus Christ?
"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 fulness of his glory has filled the earth."
Psalm 97:1-6, 11-12
1 The LORD reigns; let the earth rejoice; let the many coast lands be glad!
2 Clouds and thick darkness are round about him; righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne.
3 Fire goes before him, and burns up his adversaries round about.
4 His lightnings lighten the world; the earth sees and trembles.
5 The mountains melt like wax before the LORD, before the Lord of all the earth.
6 The heavens proclaim his righteousness; and all the peoples behold his glory.
11 Light dawns for the righteous, and joy for the upright in heart.
12 Rejoice in the LORD, O you righteous, and give thanks to his holy name!
Daily Quote from the early church fathers: The shepherds are the first proclaimers of the Gospel, by Bede the Venerable, 672-735 A.D.
"The shepherds did not keep silent about the hidden mysteries that they had come to know by divine influence. They told whomever they could. Spiritual shepherds in the church are appointed especially for this, that they may proclaim the mysteries of the Word of God and that they may show to their listeners that the marvels which they have learned in the Scriptures are to be marveled at." (excerpt from HOMILIES on THE GOSPELS 1.7)
More Homilies
Christmas
Christmas - A Cycle - Luke 2:11-14
The owl asked the dove, "What does a snowflake weigh?" "Nothing," said the dove. "Well," the owl replied, "let me tell you what happened to me one Christmas. I was perched on the branch of an evergreen when it began to snow heavily. I began to count the snowflakes falling on my branch. The number was 3,742,356. When the next snowflake, which you claim weighs nothing, fell on the branch, it broke off and fell to the ground." The owl flew off.
The dove reflected for a time. Finally she said, "No one can do everything, but, like that last snowflake, everyone can do something. Perhaps it's just my voice that is needed to bring about peace among my family." I can be that last snowflake.
The regrettable part of Christmas, as someone has remarked, is that there is so little of it. It takes us four weeks to prepare for Christmas day. Yet in twenty-four hours it is history.
But, while we still have it, we rush to church to mark the birth of the Colossus who is Christ - this hero no one could ever invent. (Robert Griffin)
Much of our world finds it impossible to believe in the birth of the God-Man, but that same world is most loath to turn its back on the birth either. Many people want some share of its magic no matter how tiny their portion might be.
Others feel themselves too sophisticated to accept the simple lines of the oft-told Christmas Gospel, but there is a force in them which will not allow them to let it go entirely.
Almost everyone wishes to believe with a passion that the last words God spoke to His Son immediately before His birth were, "Be sure to give everyone down there my love." (Unknown)
But the Christmas story is deserving serious study by the fact that it is so unbelievable. If you wished to spin a tale about the Creator that would fool people, you would hardly dress your God in diapers and have Him sleeping fitfully in a crudely crafted trough - all the time bothered by flies and tics. You would not be that stupid. (Griffin)
If you really wanted to deceive, would you be so obtuse as to think that your scam victims would accept your inference that the oak was already growing that would be axed down to make the cross? Would you expect them to allow that God would permit His only Child to be whipped and spat upon, stripped naked before jeering and lustful eyes, and then be crucified? (Ibid)
When this scarred and wounded globe is scheduled to spin about for its last time, people will still be discovering fresh points to make regarding this most extraordinary of births. There is a depth to the story of the birth of Jesus, it has been said, which no one of us will ever exhaust. It is a tale that will never have an ending. New pages are forever being written. The busy pens never stop.
This feast reminds each of us that God lit up a star to break through the darkness. Each year at this time, He reminds us it is better to light a star than to curse the darkness. (Ibid)
What will be our gift to Him? What good news can you bring to the world around you today?
No one can do everything, but each of us can do something. Perhaps, as the dove has taught us, it is just your voice that is needed to bring peace among your family or friends. Let that beau geste be your gift to the colossus who is Christ - this hero you could never invent.
You may say, "I have tried to be a peacemaker, but I have failed. So, I do nothing." Michael Jordan, the 20th century Babe Ruth of basketball, replies to you. "I've missed more than 9,000 shots in my basketball career. I've lost more than 300 games, and 26 times I've missed the game-winning shot. Throughout my career I've failed and failed again. I kept trying. That's why I succeed."
At this season where gifts hold sway in our thinking, it is so refreshing to believe that I myself am a gift. To this world, God sends me. In this world, I have a mission to complete, a task to fulfill. And this is only possible if I make a total response to God's spirit within me. (James Tahaney)
If you wish to give yourself, says the monk, here's your gift list: the gift of listening, the gift of an embrace, the gift of laughter, the gift of a letter, the gift of a compliment, the gift of a kindness.
Frjoeshomilies.net
Christmas
The Solemnity of the Nativity of the Lord, Christmas: Making the Spiritual Real
The lights in the neighborhood, the carols, the cards, the cookies, the smiles on peoples' faces, the children's excitement, all of these and so much more make this the most special time of the year. I love all the traditions that have evolved around Christmas, even those that are just legends. For example, the song The Little Drummer Boy was popularized in the 1950's. There wasn't a little drummer boy in Bethlehem, well at least there's no record of one. And the robin probably didn't receive his red breast from fanning the fire in the stable to keep the Baby Jesus warm. But, all the traditions and legends of Christmas have this element of truth: they present the joy of the world at the birth of its Savior.
A member of the parish said to me that she felt conflicted regarding this Christmas. She felt the joy of the season, but she also felt an overwhelming sadness. She didn't know where the sadness is coming from, she and her family were healthy; everyone was getting along well, but she still felt sad.
I told her that she might be reacting to what was a very difficult year for our country as well as the world. Every day we hear about horrible things taking place in some part of the world. We have gone from one mass murder to another while the most powerful lobby in Washington, DC vigorously defends the rights of people to own weapons designed for the battlefield. And the politicians listen to them, not to the overwhelming majority of the people. Every day brings new absurdities from one of the branches of the government, or, some days, from all three of them.
What we have to remember is that the events of the country and the world are on the physical plane. What the world needs, longs for, is the spiritual. Jesus Christ is our King, but his Kingdom is not physical. It is spiritual. He came to restore the Life of God to the world and to individuals. He became a King, but one who wore a crown of thorns. He was not concerned with the machinations of the governments of his time. He was concerned with establishing the Kingdom of God. In Jesus Christ the spiritual becomes physical. Listen to what John says in the introduction to his First Letter:
What was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have looked upon and touched with our hands, concerns the Word of Life. For the life was made visible. We have seen it and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life that was with the Father and was made visible to us, what we have seen and heard we proclaim now to you, so that you may have fellowship with us; for our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. We are writing this so that our joy may be complete. Now this is the message that we have heard from him and proclaim to you: God is Light, and in him there is no darkness. If we say, “We have fellowship in him” while continuing to walk in darkness, we lie and do not act in truth. But if we walk in the Light as He is in the Light, then we have fellowship with one another and the blood of his Son Jesus cleanses us from all sin. 1 John 1:1-7.
Is the world all that much different than it was at the time of the Lord? Granted our society has technology that could not even be imagined 2000 years ago. But then as now the poor were taken advantage of, the dark streets of the cities enticed many to sin, people were told that they had to take care of themselves first, and materialism was worshiped as the supreme good.
But there is this big difference: In the time before the Lord everywhere people looked they experienced evil. Now people who look hard, people who seek, can and do experience good. They experience good in the members of the Kingdom of God who take stands against hatred, bigotry and prejudice, They experience good in those who seek to restore morality to the world. They experience good in those who place others before themselves......and God before all.
Jesus was born in a stable in Bethlehem, completely void of the materialistic trappings that would accompany so many celebrations of his birth. Why? Why wasn't Jesus born in a palace? What was God saying to us? St. Francis of Assisi, who is credited with beginning the tradition of the Christmas crèche in the thirteenth century, was certain that in Bethlehem God proclaimed that materialism does not matter. The physical takes its value from its union with the spiritual.
Bethlehem was 2000 years ago, but we are here now. We must provide the world with an authentic celebration of the Divine Child's birth. Our lives have value when we are united to the spiritual. We can transform the world from its despicable exaltation of materialism, to union with God. Throughout scripture, God is presented as a bridegroom, seeking marriage to his people, his bride. He marries us so that our lives might be full of Divine Love.
My sisters and my brothers, we have to reject hatred. We should not even allow the word hate to enter our vocabulary. We cannot be part of a mob mentality that accepts any form or degree of hatred for what it claims is a greater good. Good never comes from hate. Jesus said in Matthew 7:16, “By their fruits you will know them.” History has shown us the toleration of hatred has resulted in the most despicable actions of mankind.
We must be different. We can and we must put the Love of God before everything else. This is what Jesus did when He accepted the worst that the world could do to Him and adamantly refused to hate. This is what we do when we love those who attack us be they members of our families, people in the neighborhood or at work or school, or even members of terrorist organizations. “By patient endurance you will save your lives,” Jesus said in Luke 21:19. Patient endurance is the scriptural term for martyrdom, for giving witness to Christ.
A child is born in a stable. He calls his followers, his disciples, us, to proclaim the Good News, the Gospel, to the ends of the world. The Spiritual has become physical. And now we, the physical can become spiritual. We can join the Prince of Peace by choosing Love. We can and we must unite ourselves to Him, the Divine Lover, and make the spiritual real.
The world longs for a Savior. In Romans 8:19 St. Paul wrote: Creation waits with eager expectation the revelation of the children of God. We are those children. We have received the mandate to assure the world first with our lives and then with our
More Homilies
December 25, 2013 Solemnity of the Nativity of the Lord (Christmas
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