The joy and peace of Christmas are meant for all people…
Reflections on the readings for the Nativity of the Lord – Mass During the Day (December 25, 2019): IS 52:7-10; PS 98:1,2-3,3-4,5-6; HEB 1:1-6; JN 1:1-18
MISSIO offers “Mission In Scripture” to nurture a missionary heart, providing reflections on the missionary themes in the readings of Sundays, Feast Days and Holy Days
“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 1:14).
On this Christmas day, we get together with family and other loved ones, and we gather at church with those who also believe that Jesus is our Lord and our Savior. It is a marvelous time to celebrate with the treasured people in our life. And it is a perfect time to thank God for the gifts of life and love and eternity. The Father presented His Son to the world as the newborn Son of the Blessed Virgin Mary, conceived through the power of the Holy Spirit. He is truly the Word made flesh because the reality of Jesus Christ is that He is completely divine and completely human.
The readings celebrate the coming of the Savior. We read in Isaiah (52:8, 10): “Listen! Your sentinels raise a cry, together they shout for joy, for they see directly, before their eyes, the Lord’s return to Zion…. All the ends of the earth can see the salvation of our God.” St. Paul, in writing to the Hebrews, acknowledges the prophecies of the Messiah, as he acknowledges their fulfillment in Jesus: “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…” (Hebrews 1:1-2)
On this Christmas Day, we too rejoice in the coming of the Savior, through Whom God speaks to us. We celebrate too our belief in Jesus. And, in recognizing His mercy and generosity to us, we can better understand that He wants us to offer that same mercy and generosity to others. So many people who are among our own loved ones, as well as those in our communities half a world away need our attention because suffer in body or soul. We can ease their burdens by choosing to cooperate with God’s grace. Let us ask Him to guide us in sharing our faith through our prayer and example, through our words and our actions. May the Holy Infant bless us all, today and every day. And may we respond with a grateful and gracious heart, being as He is, “the light shining in the darkness” (see John 1:5).
Suggested missionary action: As we join with loved ones this Christmas, let us thank God for the gift of faith in His Son. We can also pray that those who do not yet know and love our Lord will believe in Him through those who spread the Good News around the world. We can support their efforts.