“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!’” (Isaiah 52:7)
Reflections on the readings for the Nativity of the Lord -- Mass during the Day (December 25, 2022): IS 52:7-10; PS 98:1,2-3,3-4,5-6; HEB 1:1-6; JN 1:1-18
MISSIO offers “Preaching Mission,” as a homily help, providing connections to mission from the readings of Sundays, Feast Days and Holy Days.
The Savior of the world comes to partake of our human nature; no longer are we alone and forsaken.
On this cherished holy day, we unite with Christians everywhere in celebrating the birth of Jesus. The words of Isaiah call to mind those of the angels who appeared to the shepherds to proclaim the coming of our Lord and Savior. It was to these poor laborers on the edges of society that the heavenly messengers brought glad tidings of peace and salvation. Christ had come into the world, not carried on a heavenly cloud or riding a horse at the front of a great army. Rather, they would find a baby lying in a manger, a trough to feed animals. This is the Son of God who is also the Son of Mary, both Divine and human. This is our loving and generous Redeemer, whose first shelter was a stable and whose last would be a tomb for His sacrificed body. But, as St. Paul reminds us, that was not the end of His life. Through His Resurrection, He gave us life everlasting. “When (Christ) had accomplished purification from sins, the 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” (Hebrews 1:3-5).
Held in the arms of His Blessed mother, protected by His guardian St. Joseph, adored by angels, venerated by shepherds, Jesus Christ now lived among us -- and we would never be on our own. Pope Francis has said: “Today, the Son of God is born, and everything changes. The Savior of the world comes to partake of our human nature; no longer are we alone and forsaken. The Virgin offers us her Son as the beginning of a new life. … Now we must put away all fear and dread, for the light shows us the path to Bethlehem. … We must set out to see our Savior lying in a manger. This is the reason for our joy and gladness: this Child has been born to us; He was given to us, as Isaiah proclaims.” So let us take our place among the shepherds and angels, revering and worshipping our beloved Brother and King of the Universe.
