Gospel: December 25, 2023

(Monday)

Solemnity of the Nativity of the Lord

Psalter: Proper / (White)

Ps 98: 1, 2-3, 3-4, 5-6 (3c)

All the ends of the earth have seen the saving power of God.

1st Reading: Isaiah 52: 7-102nd Reading: Hebrews 1: 1-6Gospel: John 1: 1-18In 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 loving kindness.

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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 loving kindness 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.

Reflection:“Christ has come and God’s kingdom is at hand!”

How great is our joy on this holy day! The Lord of heaven and God of all creation has come to earth and made his dwelling among us as flesh as blood, as one like us in all things but sin. For millenniums, God’s faithful people waited for the Messiah to come. They recalled the stories of their ancestors and gathered hope from the words of the prophets. How lucky are we to know that the Christ has come and that God’s kingdom is at hand! How blessed that we can know the Lord, meditating on his Word and receiving him in the Eucharist.

St. Athanasius described the incarnation thusly: God became human so that humanity might become divine. Christmas is not just about the baby lying in the manger, heralded by the angels, and adored by shepherds. Christmas is about God coming into our world so that he could destroy death forever and welcome all who believe into eternal life—the first Christmas gift.