The SOLEMNITY of the Nativity of the Lord. [Year ABC]- - December 25 -

The SOLEMNITY of the Nativity of the Lord. [Year ABC]- - December 25 -

https://creator.nightcafe.studio/creation/WAutWg0Ci6rCrMjveAw4?ru=Paul-Evangelion

 

Readings for All Christmas Masses will be the Readings for Mass during the Night (as follows):
FIRST READING: Isa 9:1-6
Ps 96:1-2a, 2b-3, 11-12, 13. "Today is born our saviour, Christ the Lord."
SECOND READING: Titus 2:11-14
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION (Luke 2:10-11). Alleluia, alleluia! Good news and great joy to all the world. Today is born our Saviour, Christ the Lord.
GOSPEL: Luke 2:1-14
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Please listen to the audio recordings of the Mass – (Readings, prayers, and homily), for the Solemnity of the Nativity of the Lord. - December 25 - by clicking this link here: https://soundcloud.com/user-633212303/faith-hope-and-love-christmas/s-LW0yGIPc2AZ

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To listen to the Christmas Mass (including homily) from Surfers Paradise Catholic Parish, please visit this link: Liturgy for you at Home (by SPCP) -  If the Mass for Christmas is not yet published, please re-visit regularly a day or so before Christmas 

https://soundcloud.com/user-633212303/tracks    

Also found at -   https://tinyurl.com/FHLpwk  

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My brothers and sisters in Jesus, whose birth saved the whole world and brought true hope to our hearts. As we gather at this Christmas at Mass, and as we move through the community at this time, it's wonderful to see the smiling faces of family and friends, the wonder in the eyes of children, and the warmth that fills our hearts. Christmas is indeed a very special time of joy.

 

Time for shared meals, catch-ups, laughter, and even tears. It's a moment when we reconnect, not just with those nearby, but also with those who may be far away, yet close in spirit and close to our hearts. This season reminds us of God's peace, love and kindness, which we can carry with us throughout the whole of the coming year.

 

It's a time when we celebrate the birth of Jesus, the baby, God the Son, who came to dwell among us. He is the embodiment of hope, born into a world that often seems far from hope, chaotic and uncertain. At Christmas we proclaim peace on earth, but as we look around the world and even at times closer to home, we can ask, where is this peace? When will it be fulfilled? That's indeed a good question.

 

It feels like the world has hardly ever seemed less peaceful. But then we remember peace isn't a thing. It's not a concept.

 

Peace is a person. It is the person and presence of Christ. Jesus is our peace.

 

United to Christ, God's Son, who became human to share our condition and be with us always, He is our peace. United to Him, He lives in our hearts, minds and actions. Jesus is our way through the darkness.

 

He's our truth in a world clogged with contradictions and lies, our hope when we need it the most. The way He lived, in His earthly ministry, the values He embodies, the priorities He made, this is our faith, hope and love. He wants to stay with us and guide us by joining His life to ours forever.

 

He and His life and all His teachings and compassion, His mercy, love and justice is a true light shining out in the darkness to illuminate our path, to show us the way. This fills us with hope and peace in every situation, come what may. We know that today celebrates that the eternal Word of God became flesh and dwelt among us.

 

I came across a beautiful poem by British writer Godfrey Rust, which speaks about this idea of the Word made flesh. It's entitled The Word. Sometimes words are not enough for everything we have to say.

 

Words can't beat like a heart. A verb won't sweat or bleed. A noun doesn't get thirsty.

 

An adjective cannot feel pain. Something gets lost in the translation into words. So when God needed to express a love deeper than words, He used body language of a kind not known on earth before.

 

How beautifully put. So this Word, this living Word, became flesh and blood and shared life with us and in us. This Word was living and active and has saved us.

 

Think back to that first Christmas night over 2,000 years ago when Jesus was born in Bethlehem. Mary and Joseph faced tremendous difficulties. No place to stay, no warm room for the birth of their child.

 

They found refuge in a stable, a humble beginning for the King of all creation. This was not a mere accident. It was part of God's divine plan from the outset.

 

Amid the worry and strife, God chose to enter our world, reminding us that His love is not dependent on perfect circumstances. Just as the birth of any baby will not wait for ideal conditions, God's love does not wait either. God enters our lives, messy and complicated as they may be, offering us hope and salvation and companionship along the journey.

 

We often forget that the first announcement of Jesus' birth was made to shepherds, those who were marginalized and looked down upon in that society. Yes, it was to these simple, humble workers that God revealed His greatest gift. These shepherds were likely tending the flocks destined for sacrifice in the temple.

 

These were the first to witness the Lamb of God. Isn't it beautiful to think that those charged with caring for the sacrificial lambs were the first to meet the ultimate sacrificial Lamb, Christ our Savior? And let us not overlook the heavenly choir that welcomed Jesus into the world. Since there was no earthly music to welcome this King of the Universe, the angels stepped in and sang a glorious hymn, better than any hymn could ever be sung, to celebrate His birth.

 

This reminds us that in our lives, when earthly joy seems absent, God provides His own beautiful music, His very presence, to lift our spirits and to give us the strength we need to keep going. As we reflect on the story of Christmas, let us remember that Jesus came not in grandeur, but in humility. He did not choose a palace to reveal Himself as a King, but a stable.

 

And this shows us that true greatness lies not in trappings of power and symbols of great wealth, but in love, compassion, and being present with one another in our struggles, as well as our joys. God's message is very clear. He wants to dwell in our hearts, always.

 

Yet, like the innkeepers at Bethlehem, we often find ourselves too busy or too preoccupied to make room for Him. This Christmas, let us open our hearts wide and our lives wider to Christ. As 18th century poet Alexander Pope wrote, what does it profit me if Jesus is born in thousands of Christmas cribs all around the world, but not in my own heart? Let us create a great space for Jesus.

 

Let Him be born in our own hearts too, the stable of our own heart. Let us open wide our heart to His peace, His love, and His transformative power of compassion and mercy. As we celebrate Christmas, let's also commit ourselves to following His example.

 

Let us be bearers of His love and peace in a world that desperately needs, perhaps more than ever before, this peace. Let us choose to be part of the solution and not the problem. Finally, I want to share a heartfelt thought from a parishioner who sent me a Christmas message.

 

It beautifully encapsulates the essence of our celebration. God, in His immense love, chose to be with us, to walk alongside us, and to share in our lives, in our joys and sorrows, our graces and temptations. This is the profound truth of Christmas.

 

God is with us always. And so this beautiful Christmas message that I received, and I pass on to you.

 

May you have the spirit of Christmas, which is peace.

May you have the gladness of Christmas, which is hope.

And may you have the heart of Christmas, which is love.

 

May we carry this message in our hearts and share it with everyone, embodying the love we celebrate today.

 

Merry Christmas to you all, and may the joy of this season utterly fill your lives with love and peace of mind, now and also throughout every day of the coming year.

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References:

 

Fr Paul Kelly

 

Alain de Botton. "The Course of Love -By: ISBN: 9781501134517 - Penguin Books: 20th June 2017. P112-113}

 

https://creator.nightcafe.studio/creation/WAutWg0Ci6rCrMjveAw4?ru=Paul-Evangelion

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The SOLEMNITY of the Nativity of the Lord. [Year ABC] - December 25 -

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

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On this Feast day of The Birth of Our Lord, Heaven has been joined to earth. God has become flesh and dwelt among us.
A blessed, happy and peaceful Christmas to everyone.
 

My brothers and sisters, we have gathered to celebrate the Holy Eucharist on this wonderful Solemnity of the Birth of Our Lord. So let us pause and reflect upon our sins to rejoice in God's loving mercy.

Lord Jesus, you came into the world to give us eternal life. Lord have mercy.

You are the eternal light, who shines in the darkness. Christ have mercy.

You are the word made flesh, to make us all children of the light. Lord have mercy. 

May almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us our sins, and bring us to everlasting life.  Amen.

GLORIA - SUNG   
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COLLECT- (The Feast of the Nativity of the Lord)

Let us pray,
O God, who have made this most sacred (night/day) radiant with the splendour of the true light, grant, we pray, that we, who have known the mysteries of his light on earth, may also delight in his gladness in heaven. Who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, forever and ever.
Amen.

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Ps 96:1-2a, 2b-3, 11-12, 13. "Today is born our saviour, Christ the Lord."

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION (Luke 2:10-11). Alleluia, alleluia! Good news and great joy to all the world. Today is born our Saviour, Christ the Lord.
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Memorial Acclamation
When we eat this Bread and drink this Cup, we proclaim your Death, O Lord, until you come again.
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Nativity I

Eucharistic Prayer II

(pre+post variation: v1-long)

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Prayer after Communion- (The Feast of the Nativity of the Lord)

Let us pray.
Grant us, we pray, O Lord our God, that we, who are gladdened by participation in the feast of our Redeemer's Nativity,
may through an honourable way of life become worthy of union with him, who lives and reigns forever and ever. Amen.
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I pray that you have a truly blessed and joyous Christmas and that Our Lord's love and peace will completely fill your hearts and minds, //and safe travelling to and from your destinations …
 
God bless.


(Solemn Blessing)
The Lord be with you.

(Let us bow our heads and pray for God's blessing)

May the God of infinite goodness,
who by the Incarnation of his Son has driven darkness from the world, and by that glorious Birth has illumined this most holy (night/day),
drive far from you the darkness of vice
and illumine your hearts with the light of virtue.
Amen.

May God, who willed that the great joy
of his Son's saving Birth be announced to shepherds by the Angel,
fill your minds with the gladness he gives
and make you heralds of his Gospel. Amen.
And may God, who by the Incarnation,
brought together the earthly and heavenly realm,
fill you with the gift of his peace and favour
and make you sharers with the Church in heaven.
Amen.

And may the blessing of almighty God,
the Father, and the Son, + and the Holy Spirit
come down on you and remain with you forever.
Amen.

Go and announce the Gospel of the Lord.

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Archive of homilies and reflections:  http://homilycatholic.blogspot.com.au
To contact Fr. Paul, please email:  paulwkelly68@gmail.com

To listen to the audio podcast, please click this link here:  https://soundcloud.com/user-633212303/tracks


Further information relating to the audio productions linked to this Blog:

"Faith, Hope and Love - Christian worship and reflection" - Led by Rev Paul Kelly

Roman Missal, 3rd edition, 2010, (ICEL)

Scriptures - New Revised Standard Version: © 1989, and 2009 by the NCC-USA.

"The Psalms" by The Grail - 1963, 2009.

Prayers of the Faithful - Robert Borg "Together we pray" - (1993).

St. Ralph Sherwin Gloria  - written and sung By Jeffrey M. Ostrowski.  2011 ccwatershed.org.

Christmas Hymn - "Word Made Flesh" by Paul W. Kelly. Based upon: John's Gospel 1:14,  1 John 4:9, & Isaiah 9:2, 6, 7. (Written on 1988, 8/5/20; 10/9/20).  Arranged and sung by Stefan Kelk, with adjusted lyrics.  2020. https://www.airgigs.com/user/stefankelk

Traditional hymns:
O Holy Night (Vocal Duet),
Joy to the World (Choir),
Away in a Manger (Choir), performed by the Bobby Cole Chamber Choir, licensed via Shockwave-Sound.com
(https://www.shockwave-sound.com)

 [ Production - KER - 2024]

May God bless and keep you.
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