The Nativity of the Lord

First Reading

Isaiah 9,1-6

The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light; on the inhabitants of a country in shadow dark as death light has blazed forth. You have enlarged the nation, you have increased its joy; they rejoice before you as people rejoice at harvest time, as they exult when they are dividing the spoils. For the yoke that weighed on it, the bar across its shoulders, the rod of its oppressor, these you have broken as on the day of Midian. For all the footgear clanking over the ground and all the clothing rolled in blood, will be burnt, will be food for the flames. For a son has been born for us, a son has been given to us, and dominion has been laid on his shoulders; and this is the name he has been given, 'Wonder-Counsellor, Mighty-God, Eternal-Father, Prince-of-Peace' to extend his dominion in boundless peace, over the throne of David and over his kingdom to make it secure and sustain it in fair judgement and integrity. From this time onwards and for ever, the jealous love of Yahweh Sabaoth will do this.

Psalmody

Psalm 96

Antiphon

Let the upright rejoice in the Lord.

The Lord is king, let the earth rejoice,
let all the coastlands be glad.

Cloud and darkness are his raiment;
his throne, justice and right.

A fire prepares his path;
it burns up his foes on every side.

His lightnings light up the world,
the earth trembles at the sight.

The mountains melt like wax
before the Lord of all the earth.

The skies proclaim his justice;
all peoples see his glory.

Let those who serve idols be ashamed,
those who boast of their worthless gods.
All you spirits, worship him.

Zion hears and is glad;
the people of Judah rejoice
because of your judgements O Lord.

For you indeed are the Lord
most high above all the earth
exalted far above all spirits.

The Lord loves those who hate evil :
he guards the souls of his saints;
he sets them free from the wicked.

Light shines forth for the just
and joy for the upright of heart.

Rejoice you just, in the Lord;
give glory to his holy name.

Second Reading

Titus 2,11-14

You see, God's grace has been revealed to save the whole human race; it has taught us that we should give up everything contrary to true religion and all our worldly passions; we must be self-restrained and live upright and religious lives in this present world, waiting in hope for the blessing which will come with the appearing of the glory of our great God and Saviour Christ Jesus. He offered himself for us in order to ransom us from all our faults and to purify a people to be his very own and eager to do good.

Reading of the Gospel

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia

Glory to God in the highest
and peace on earth to the people he loves.

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia

Luke 2,1-14

Now it happened that at this time Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be made of the whole inhabited world. This census -- the first -- took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria, and everyone went to be registered, each to his own town. So Joseph set out from the town of Nazareth in Galilee for Judaea, to David's town called Bethlehem, since he was of David's House and line, in order to be registered together with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. Now it happened that, while they were there, the time came for her to have her child, and she gave birth to a son, her first-born. She wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger because there was no room for them in the living-space. In the countryside close by there were shepherds out in the fields keeping guard over their sheep during the watches of the night. An angel of the Lord stood over them and the glory of the Lord shone round them. They were terrified, but the angel said, 'Do not be afraid. Look, I bring you news of great joy, a joy to be shared by the whole people. Today in the town of David a Saviour has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. And here is a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger.' And all at once with the angel there was a great throng of the hosts of heaven, praising God with the words: Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace for those he favours.

 

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia

Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia

Homily

The Christmas Gospel speaks of Mary and Joseph's journey uphill. Yes, we too must "go up" to Bethlehem, to that cave. And there, the angel tells us today as he told the shepherds, 'you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger." From that manger the new story begins. It begins with a small group of shepherds, humble and despised people. It may seem a minor, secondary story, and yet it is the event that radically changes the world. Christmas asks us to welcome that child, "Prince of Peace." He is unarmed, yet "His authority shall grow continually, and there shall be endless peace," writes the prophet Isaiah. That child has the face of the many children of this world who weep for war and violence, and asks us to welcome the immense cry of those who no longer have hope for the future. In that child is the dream of a renewed, saved world. The Apostle Paul writes to Titus: "For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all." Yes, on this night - the night of an inhuman world - the mystery of Christmas returns so that the proclamation of the Gospel to the poor may be stronger, so that the prophecy of peace may be higher.
Let us welcome the mystery of Christmas! Let us not be afraid to be reborn with that Child! Of allowing ourselves to be guided by Him. Last night, with the beginning of the Jubilee year, a door was opened in history, through which God returns to give us with Jesus his mercy and the hope of renewing our hearts and the life of the world. This Christmas only asks us to be reborn with him to live from his love. He asks it of us as he asked of those shepherds who, after seeing the child, "returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them." Not only did they not despise him, they welcomed him with joy and immediately began to speak of him: "After they had seen him they reported what had been told them about the child." They welcomed him and became shepherds of men and women. They were ignorant, but they received new and wise words to communicate the joy of Christmas. With them began a new story that has continued down the centuries and comes down to us. So many await the Gospel to rise to a more serene life, so many await the community to dream of peace, they knock on its doors to ask for help and stretch out their hands to be taken and accompanied. That child is the answer to the need for love that rises from this world of ours.