Mass Reading: Christmas Day

First reading
Isaiah 52:7-10
Rejoice, for the Lord is consoling his people

How beautiful on the mountains,
are the feet of one who brings good news,
who heralds peace, brings happiness,
proclaims salvation,
and tells Zion,
‘Your God is king!’

Listen! Your watchmen raise their voices,
they shout for joy together,
for they see the Lord face to face,
as he returns to Zion.

Break into shouts of joy together,
you ruins of Jerusalem;
for the Lord is consoling his people,
redeeming Jerusalem.

The Lord bares his holy arm
in the sight of all the nations,
and all the ends of the earth shall see
the salvation of our God.

The word of the Lord.

________

Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 97(98):1-6

All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.

Sing a new song to the Lord
    for he has worked wonders.
His right hand and his holy arm
    have brought salvation.

All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.

The Lord has made known his salvation;
    has shown his justice to the nations.
He has remembered his truth and love
    for the house of Israel.

All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.

All the ends of the earth have seen
    the salvation of our God.
Shout to the Lord, all the earth,
    ring out your joy.

All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.

Sing psalms to the Lord with the harp
    with the sound of music.
With trumpets and the sound of the horn
    acclaim the King, the Lord.

All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.

________

Second reading
Hebrews 1:1-6
God has spoken to us through his Son

    At various times in the past and in various different ways, God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets; but in our own time, the last days, he has spoken to us through his Son, the Son that he has appointed to inherit everything and through whom he made everything there is. He is the radiant light of God’s glory and the perfect copy of his nature, sustaining the universe by his powerful command; and now that he has destroyed the defilement of sin, he has gone to take his place in heaven at the right hand of divine Majesty. So he is now as far above the angels as the title which he has inherited is higher than their own name.

    God has never said to any angel: You are my Son, today I have become your father; or: I will be a father to him and he a son to me. Again, when he brings the First-Born into the world, he says: Let all the angels of God worship him.

The word of the Lord.

________

Gospel Acclamation

Alleluia, alleluia!

A hallowed day has dawned upon us.
Come, you nations, worship the Lord,
for today a great light has shone down upon the earth.

Alleluia!

________

Gospel
John 1:1-18
The Word was made flesh, and lived among us

In the beginning was the Word:
and the Word was with God
and the Word was God.
He was with God in the beginning.
Through him all things came to be,
not one thing had its being but through him.
All that came to be had life in him
and that life was the light of men,
a light that shines in the dark,
a light that darkness could not overpower.

A man came, sent by God.
His name was John.
He came as a witness,
as a witness to speak for the light,
so that everyone might believe through him.
He was not the light,
only a witness to speak for the light.

The Word was the true light
that enlightens all men;
and he was coming into the world.
He was in the world
that had its being through him,
and the world did not know him.
He came to his own domain
and his own people did not accept him.
But to all who did accept him
he gave power to become children of God,
to all who believe in the name of him
who was born not out of human stock
or urge of the flesh
or will of man
but of God himself.

The Word was made flesh,
he lived among us,
and we saw his glory,
the glory that is his as the only Son of the Father,
full of grace and truth.

John appears as his witness. He proclaims:
‘This is the one of whom I said:
He who comes after me ranks before me
because he existed before me.’

Indeed, from his fullness we have, all of us, received –
yes, grace in return for grace,
since, though the Law was given through Moses,
grace and truth have come through Jesus Christ.
No one has ever seen God;
it is the only Son, who is nearest to the Father’s heart,
who has made him known.

The Gospel of the Lord.

 

Mass Reading: Monday - 25th December 2023

First reading
Isaiah 52:7-10
Rejoice, for the Lord is consoling his people

    How beautiful on the mountains,
are the feet of one who brings good news,
who heralds peace, brings happiness,
proclaims salvation,
and tells Zion,
‘Your God is king!’

    Listen! Your watchmen raise their voices,
they shout for joy together,
for they see the Lord face to face,
as he returns to Zion.

    Break into shouts of joy together,
you ruins of Jerusalem;
for the Lord is consoling his people,
redeeming Jerusalem.

    The Lord bares his holy arm
in the sight of all the nations,
and all the ends of the earth shall see
the salvation of our God.

The word of the Lord.

________

Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 97(98):1-6

All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.

Sing a new song to the Lord
    for he has worked wonders.
His right hand and his holy arm
    have brought salvation.

All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.

The Lord has made known his salvation;
    has shown his justice to the nations.
He has remembered his truth and love
    for the house of Israel.

All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.

All the ends of the earth have seen
    the salvation of our God.
Shout to the Lord, all the earth,
    ring out your joy.

All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.

Sing psalms to the Lord with the harp
    with the sound of music.
With trumpets and the sound of the horn
    acclaim the King, the Lord.

All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.

________

Second reading
Hebrews 1:1-6
God has spoken to us through his Son

    At various times in the past and in various different ways, God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets; but in our own time, the last days, he has spoken to us through his Son, the Son that he has appointed to inherit everything and through whom he made everything there is. He is the radiant light of God’s glory and the perfect copy of his nature, sustaining the universe by his powerful command; and now that he has destroyed the defilement of sin, he has gone to take his place in heaven at the right hand of divine Majesty. So he is now as far above the angels as the title which he has inherited is higher than their own name.

    God has never said to any angel: You are my Son, today I have become your father; or: I will be a father to him and he a son to me. Again, when he brings the First-Born into the world, he says: Let all the angels of God worship him.

The word of the Lord.

________

Gospel Acclamation

Alleluia, alleluia!

A hallowed day has dawned upon us.
Come, you nations, worship the Lord,
for today a great light has shone down upon the earth.

Alleluia!

________

Gospel
John 1:1-18
The Word was made flesh, and lived among us

    In the beginning was the Word:
and the Word was with God
and the Word was God.
He was with God in the beginning.
Through him all things came to be,
not one thing had its being but through him.
All that came to be had life in him
and that life was the light of men,
a light that shines in the dark,
a light that darkness could not overpower.

    A man came, sent by God.
His name was John.
He came as a witness,
as a witness to speak for the light,
so that everyone might believe through him.
He was not the light,
only a witness to speak for the light.

    The Word was the true light
that enlightens all men;
and he was coming into the world.
He was in the world
that had its being through him,
and the world did not know him.
He came to his own domain
and his own people did not accept him.
But to all who did accept him
he gave power to become children of God,
to all who believe in the name of him
who was born not out of human stock
or urge of the flesh
or will of man
but of God himself.

    The Word was made flesh,
he lived among us,
and we saw his glory,
the glory that is his as the only Son of the Father,
full of grace and truth.

    John appears as his witness. He proclaims:
‘This is the one of whom I said:
He who comes after me ranks before me
because he existed before me.’

    Indeed, from his fullness we have, all of us, received –
yes, grace in return for grace,
since, though the Law was given through Moses,
grace and truth have come through Jesus Christ.
No one has ever seen God;
it is the only Son, who is nearest to the Father’s heart,
who has made him known.

The Gospel of the Lord.

Mass Reading: Sunday - 25th December 2022

First reading
Isaiah 52:7-10
Rejoice, for the Lord is consoling his people

How beautiful on the mountains,
are the feet of one who brings good news,
who heralds peace, brings happiness,
proclaims salvation,
and tells Zion,
‘Your God is king!’

Listen! Your watchmen raise their voices,
they shout for joy together,
for they see the Lord face to face,
as he returns to Zion.

Break into shouts of joy together,
you ruins of Jerusalem;
for the Lord is consoling his people,
redeeming Jerusalem.

The Lord bares his holy arm
in the sight of all the nations,
and all the ends of the earth shall see
the salvation of our God.

The word of the Lord.

________

Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 97(98):1-6

All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.

Sing a new song to the Lord
    for he has worked wonders.
His right hand and his holy arm
    have brought salvation.

All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.

The Lord has made known his salvation;
    has shown his justice to the nations.
He has remembered his truth and love
    for the house of Israel.

All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.

All the ends of the earth have seen
    the salvation of our God.
Shout to the Lord, all the earth,
    ring out your joy.

All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.

Sing psalms to the Lord with the harp
    with the sound of music.
With trumpets and the sound of the horn
    acclaim the King, the Lord.

All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.

________

Second reading
Hebrews 1:1-6
God has spoken to us through his Son

    At various times in the past and in various different ways, God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets; but in our own time, the last days, he has spoken to us through his Son, the Son that he has appointed to inherit everything and through whom he made everything there is. He is the radiant light of God’s glory and the perfect copy of his nature, sustaining the universe by his powerful command; and now that he has destroyed the defilement of sin, he has gone to take his place in heaven at the right hand of divine Majesty. So he is now as far above the angels as the title which he has inherited is higher than their own name.

    God has never said to any angel: You are my Son, today I have become your father; or: I will be a father to him and he a son to me. Again, when he brings the First-Born into the world, he says: Let all the angels of God worship him.

The word of the Lord.

________

Gospel Acclamation

Alleluia, alleluia!

A hallowed day has dawned upon us.
Come, you nations, worship the Lord,
for today a great light has shone down upon the earth.

Alleluia!

________

Gospel
John 1:1-18
The Word was made flesh, and lived among us

In the beginning was the Word:
and the Word was with God
and the Word was God.
He was with God in the beginning.
Through him all things came to be,
not one thing had its being but through him.
All that came to be had life in him
and that life was the light of men,
a light that shines in the dark,
a light that darkness could not overpower.

A man came, sent by God.
His name was John.
He came as a witness,
as a witness to speak for the light,
so that everyone might believe through him.
He was not the light,
only a witness to speak for the light.

The Word was the true light
that enlightens all men;
and he was coming into the world.
He was in the world
that had its being through him,
and the world did not know him.
He came to his own domain
and his own people did not accept him.
But to all who did accept him
he gave power to become children of God,
to all who believe in the name of him
who was born not out of human stock
or urge of the flesh
or will of man
but of God himself.

The Word was made flesh,
he lived among us,
and we saw his glory,
the glory that is his as the only Son of the Father,
full of grace and truth.

John appears as his witness. He proclaims:
‘This is the one of whom I said:
He who comes after me ranks before me
because he existed before me.’

Indeed, from his fullness we have, all of us, received –
yes, grace in return for grace,
since, though the Law was given through Moses,
grace and truth have come through Jesus Christ.
No one has ever seen God;
it is the only Son, who is nearest to the Father’s heart,
who has made him known.

The Gospel of the Lord.

Mass Reflection: Sunday - 25th December 2022

 

IS 52: 7-10; PS 98: 1-6; HEB 1: 1-6; JN 1: 1-18

“For today in the city of David a savior has been born for you who is the Messiah and Lord, and this will be a sign for you: you will find an infant wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger, and suddenly there was a multitude of the heavenly host with the angel, praising God and saying: ‘Glory to God in the highest’.”
 
We are all very familiar with the report of Jesus’ birth. We know about the multitude singing, and we are aware of how the shepherds came from the fields to see and worship the child. On this glorious day we are the heavenly host singing and we in a sense are the shepherds who kneel in admiration of this child. This child is like none other. We know that every child changes the world in his or her own way. But the birth of Jesus, the Son of God and the son of Mary does more than change the world. He changes our lives completely. He comes to save us. He comes to embrace us. And He invites each of us to embrace Him.
 
Most of us are aware that the first four Books of the New Testament — Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John — are called the Gospels. We also know in general that these Gospels tell the story of Jesus Christ — His birth, ministry, teachings, miracles, death, and resurrection. What you may not know nonetheless is that the first three Gospels, which we call the Synoptic Gospels, are very different from the Gospel of John, from which our Gospel for today comes.
 
The Gospel of John is unique in many ways. For example, almost 90 percent of the material it contains about Jesus’ life is not found in the other three Gospels. Also, you might say that the Synoptic Gospels tend to be more historical while the Gospel of John is more theological. Today’s Gospel Reading, which is the opening statement of John’s Gospel, is an example of this difference. Note how John describes Jesus’ birth: “In 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 came to be through Him. And without Him nothing came to be. What came to be through Him was life; and this life was the light of the human race: the light shines in the darkness.”
 
On this magnificent Christmas Day we receive the life, and we receive His light. It is no wonder that all our readings reflect that life and that light and the joy that results. Just listen to the words and phrases we find in the First Reading from Isaiah. These are perfect descriptions of what we should feel on this day: “beautiful; glad tidings; peace; good news; salvation; shout for joy; break out in song.” What a summary of this day!
 
The Second Reading from the Letter to the Hebrews complements and affirms the feelings expressed in Isaiah. The writer makes it clear that Jesus is God and that today marks the beginning of salvation for us. This passage from Hebrews parallels our Gospel today in that it is the opening words of the letter to the Hebrews. The first word is “God” as that is where it all begins. God speaks to us in the birth of Jesus, and the author of the letter uses a word to describe Jesus that may be foreign to us: the author speaks of the “refulgence of his glory.” Refulgence means brightness or radiance. The original Greek word from which this is translated is apaugasma. That means brightness beyond our understanding. It is as if we cannot see or look upon the Lord — only through the light of Jesus His Son.
 
The Gospel, as explained previously, speaks of the Christ child in a way that is not found in the other Gospels. Jesus is the Word incarnate. If we review what we know about Jesus, we might say He was from Nazareth or He was born in Bethlehem, or He is descended from Abraham through David. However, John wants us to understand that Jesus has come to us directly from God as He is One with God. He is the Word. Toward the end of His Gospel John states of his Gospel: “But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name.” Today is day of life and light. It is truly a day on which we must proclaim “Glory to God in the highest.”