2022년 12월 25일 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, 2022
The Nativity of the Lord (Christmas)
Daily Mass : https://www.youtube.com/c/EWTNcatholictv
: https://www.youtube.com/c/DailyTVMass
Mass at Midnight
Reading 1
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!
Responsorial Psalm
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.
Reading 2
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
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.
Gospel
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.”
Mass During the Day
Reading 1
How beautiful upon the mountains
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
R. (3c) All the ends of the earth have seen the saving power of God.
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
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
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.
Or
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://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/daily.ht
Christmas Day 2022 readings, Dawn and Day
In the beginning…
In the beginning…
Where does this phrase take you? In the beginning? I thought of the creation story in Genesis. Then John’s Gospel. Both seem one and the same. Except, in the dark void Light existed, the WORD.
Genesis 1:1 - In the beginning when God created the heavens and the earth…
a dark void.
John 1:1 - 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, THE WORD…THE LIGHT
All creation came to be through the Word.
Imagine ourselves sitting with the Trinity deciding how to take care of humanity for since the beginning humans were struggling. God has always desired to live in relationship with them. In the Hebrew Scriptures, God, the Creator, makes a covenant saying: I will be your God and you shall be my people. More was needed. People seemed not to hear, nor understand what God, Creator had given or desired.
In union with Trinity, the Wholeness of God, the Word, the Christ with the Spirit chooses to enter into the human experience, totally from being born of a woman, unto death. Trinity asks Mary to be Mother of God. She said YES!
And the Word became Flesh – The New Creation
And made his dwelling among us,
And we saw his glory,
The glory of God’s only Son
Full of grace and truth.
Behold! It is Christmas! No more darkness but LIGHT. A birthing, LIFE is given. This life was the light of the human race. God with us. God’s name is Jesus! This gift of self generously and lovingly given in kindness and with mercy. Is this Christmas for you?
Christmas narratives give us many images of what that first Christmas was like. We have a manger, shepherds, kings, animals, stars with one that shone brighter than all the others. Yes, too, Joseph, Mary, and the baby Jesus. Mary kept all these things, reflecting on them in her heart. Can you imagine yourself there? What is in your heart?
All the ends of the earth have seen the saving power of God! Christmas is a cosmic experience of stars, creation and of the Christ, the center of the universe. It is celebrated among many cultures in unique ways. Nature, Creation, Faith, and Cultures come together as light returns, stars show the way and Hope is realized in a tiny baby born for us and our salvation. Love is given!
May we never forget that first Christmas when God was born into humanity. The First Noel! The First Birth of a pregnant God overflowing with Love and Life through Mary becomes flesh. May we never forget that Christ is with us, now, through the Spirit.
If we have imagined ourselves with the Trinity, around a table in the beginning, imagine how we continue to meet that wholeness of God at the Eucharistic Table and in our homes, persons, dwellings places of God. We may have our own small Creche to make Christmas not just a memory, but real and present.
Let us go, then, to Bethlehem
To see this thing that has taken place
Which the Lord has made known…
Go now to the Bethlehem of your heart and meet Jesus. Be still. Listen. Be amazed!
We humans, in union with all of creation, are heirs in hope of eternal life where we will forever be one in Christ, knowing the fullness and wholeness of a loving Creator who is Self-giving Love made flesh, God among us. God with us! Now! Today! Everyday! Christmas Eternal!
This great feast day of the Incarnation, Christmas, lives on in and through each of us. It does when we give witness to Christ Jesus’ Word, his presence in our world today. We too, through our actions can give birth to Jesus in a struggling world. May we see, hear, speak, and live as Jesus taught, so that the Christ, the New Creation, may come to fullness. Christmas IS a new beginning celebrating Christ the New Creation.
Let us reflect upon our beginning with gratitude being one with a God who loves us so greatly chose to become human and enter into our human experience.
In the beginning…You formed my inmost being;
You knit me in my mother’s womb….(Psalm 139:13)
In the beginning…
The WORD became Flesh and made his dwelling among us! (John 1:14)
Merry Christmas!
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LOVE-CHRISTMAS
“The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us.” —John 1:14
“Jesus Christ is true God and true man” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 464). At His birth, Jesus moved from the womb of Mary to the outside world. This made it possible for people to relate to Him in a personal way. Jesus was then able to be held, kissed, touched, seen, and heard. He was also able to be hit, hurt, rejected, and crucified. The change from being in the womb to living in the outside world is dangerous. That’s why we celebrate a birth. A dangerous transition has been made without any serious problems, although the danger of living in a fallen world still remains.
By the power of the Holy Spirit, we can still relate to Jesus in a personal way. We can be like Mary, Joseph, the shepherds, the wise men, Simeon, and Anna. We can lavish our love on Jesus — person to Person. However, we can also be like Herod by rejecting Jesus and refusing to make any room for Him in our lives and hearts (see Lk 2:7). Christmas reminds us that Jesus remains available to us on a person to Person basis.
On this first day of the Christmas season, obey the first commandment of all. Love the Lord with all your heart, all your soul, all your strength, and all your mind (Lk 10:27).
Prayer: Jesus, on this Christmas Day, I decide to love You completely, unconditionally, and forever by Your grace.
Promise: “Of His fullness we have all had a share — love following upon love.” —Jn 1:16
Praise: “I come to proclaim good news to you — tidings of great joy to be shared by the whole people. This day in David’s city a Savior has been born to you, the Messiah and Lord” (Lk 2:10-11). Merry Christmas!
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)
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