Xmas16

Since there are so many readings for a typical Christmas I will cherry pick thoughts and texts going from Christmas Vigil to the ‘Mass During the Day”.   Isaiah 62 declares that Zion’s victory will be “like a burning torch.”   For us that can be taken to be a reference to the King to be born who will be the Messiah.  The Acts of the  Apostles 13 declares that from the line of King David, according to God’s promise, a savior, Jesus, has been brought to Israel.  Matthew 1 begins, “The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David,  the son of Abraham.  God’s work was rooted in the past, grow into the future through the power of God working in his people.  Emmanuel, God is always with us.  Joseph took Mary, pregnant with the Messiah, into his home.  The people of God are to take Jesus into our earthly home.

Mass At Night:  “The people who walked in darkness (of sin) have seen a great light”.  “For a child is born to us, a son is given us.” “They name him Wonder-Counselor, God-Hero, Father-Forever, Prince of Peace.” “The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this!”  Luke 2 declares, “For today in the city of David a savior has been born for you who is Christ and Lord.”  God sends his angels to the poorest of the poor, the shepherds, to make of them earthly angels, that is messengers of this awesome news, that God has come to dwell among his people, who have no room for him so that he has to be housed in a stable and lie in a manger (an animals’ feeding trough).  “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.”  His favor rests on those who are open to receive him and not filled with themselves and their own preconceptions.  Paul’s letter to Titus declares that those who are ready to receive him have first accepted the grace of God that saves and trains us “to reject godless ways and worldly desires and to live temperately, justly, and devoutly.”

In the “Mass at Dawn” the shepherds announce the message they had heard from the angels.  “And Mary kept all these things, reflecting on them in her heart.”  Paul writes to Titus that God our savior “saved us through the bath of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit,” “so that we might be justified by his grace and become heirs in hope to eternal life.”

In ‘the Mass during the Day’ in John 1 Jesus is referred to as the ‘Word’, which I take to mean God the Father’s redeeming expression of love.  Then in another poetic way he is referred to as the light that shines in the darkness where the darkness is set in opposition to the light (evil against goodness).  “But to those who did accept him he gave power to become children of God.”  Christmas only has its true meaning to those who choose to live with Jesus as their God.  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 Jesus we see God.  In Hebrews 1, God says, “Let all the angels of God worship him” (Jesus).