The SOLEMNITY of the Nativity of the Lord. Year A - December 25 - (EPISODE-454 )
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. Year A - December 25 - by clicking this link here: https://soundcloud.com/user-633212303/faith-hope-and-love-the-nativity-of-the-lord-jesus-christ-christmas-year-b-episode-454/s-wqwyYRUgGzW (EPISODE- 454)
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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
It is such a beautiful time this Christmas Season.
We celebrate God, who loved us so much that he made his home with us… to share our joys and sorrows, our graces and temptations, our failures and successes.
The wonder of this Christmas season is shown by the sight of so many people… Family, friends, and parishioners gathered together at Christmas masses and wonderful gatherings for meals.
Making contact with family and friends who are far away…..
Christmas is about family. And through the Birth of Our Lord, that first Christmas night, we are all made, forever, brothers and sisters in God's family. We are all one beloved family in Christ who loves us beyond words.
It is hard to imagine this now, but in the very early years of the church, Christmas was actually not a major feast. But, over the centuries, it grew in importance, and the great and inspiring Saint Francis of Assisi catapulted the popularity of the Christmas feast's popularity 800 years ago today- Happy anniversary to the Christmas Crib…. The nativity scene……… Way back in the year 1223, THE HUMBLE and inspiring Saint Francie created the first nativity scene in a cave with live animals. Christmas Midnight Mass was celebrated there, and it was a huge hit with the whole town. The tradition of the Christmas crib or crèche was born. Francis loved Christmas, considering it the "Feast of Feasts" because God chose to take the humble form of a poor baby. (and he was so right!) Now, all these centuries later, we still very much allow the wonder of the God-made-flesh to fill our hearts and minds. (prepare the word 2023)(&)
God could have come to this world in any way he wanted - to save us… but God chose exactly this way to enter into human history… and bring us the fullness of life….. by being born as a poor baby in a stable…. Lying in a food trough….(a manger), and Attended to by his devoted mother and step-father, and only some poor shepherds……
This was deliberate,,,,
The great saint, John Vianney (Cure de Ars) says that the people of Israel had spent - 4000 years praying for God to come.. But, when he eventually came, there weren't sufficient people alert enough to give the son of God and his mother and step-father even a place to rest for the night he was born… So many people missed his arrival completely ……because Their idea of what this king.. and son of God would be like had gotten so caught up with earthly concepts that they missed him when he actually finally arrived….. humble, poor and approachable. (%)
Throughout history, people have still questioned….. why God chose to be born in a stable in Bethlehem. Surely, it was too poor and unseemly a place for "The Christ" and the "King of the universe" to be born.
But, St Thomas Aquinas responded, [The Lord] put to silence the vain boasting of people who take pride in being born in great cities, where they also desire to receive great honours. On the contrary, Christ willed to be born in a poor city and a humble stable….and willed that, at the end of his life, to suffer reproach in a great city. [St Thomas added}/…., [And] so ……, He chose a poor mother and a birthplace poorer still. .. because - as said so well in the Scriptures: "God chose the weak things of the world to confound the strong"
There is a beautiful uniqueness to the God we believe in …… Very much different from other images of (lower-case) false "gods" throughout history….
One can sum up the Christmas message compared with different images of God in an example featuring three different characters – I am sure we can recognise which description represents our God… the one and only and true God….
Imagine a person has fallen into a deep and muddy well and is now hopelessly stuck there…….
Imagine three different versions of a god walking past and seeing that person stuck down there……
The first image of god is one who tells us humans….
1. If you had listened to me, you wouldn't have fallen in the hole…. And walks on…….
2. Come up here, and I can help you with your decisions here…that will prevent you from falling into a hole again….…..
….. And walks away….
And thirdly and most beautifully
3. This God…. … ties a rope to himself… and Jumps straight down into the muddy hole…and trudges towards the poor person mired in the mud, then - clambering around in the mess….. drags and lifts him out….…. even ready to lose his own life, to save the person who is stuck.(#)
This last one is, of course, Jesus… "God with us,…" ..
Why Was Jesus Born When and Where He Was? --- because in the whole history of time… this was the moment most able to spring forth the fullness of God's unfolding plan of love……
Why a poor and utterly vulnerable baby?????
"We are used to loving others in return for what they can do for us, for their capacity to entertain, charm, or soothe us. Yet babies …..teach us to give without expecting anything in return, simply because (they completely need our help, care and love to survive) - and we are in a position to provide that love and care.
This is what Our Lord did! - on that first Christmas eve… { and every day after that……he reaches out with generous, giving love… inviting us to do the same……..}.
And it has changed the world forever… and by this he has brought salvation to the world!}
We remember today, the birthday of a person whose whole life (from birth, ministry, death to resurrection) speaks of complete self-giving and love.
Jesus shows us how to act and respond with purpose - filled with kindness and generosity, come what may. . (Jesus, even in the face of the absolute worst things that an ungrateful world threw back at him, steadfastly refused to return hatred for hatred… He refused to return lack of love with a similar lack of love……. He would not ever stop giving freely of his compassion, his mercy, his generosity, and his healing. In short. He loved unreservedly... He IS love !! He shows us God's nature as love… in human form…… and invites us to join him in living his love and giving this to others too...
Amidst all this joy and hope, and also the worry and messiness of life….. (today/tonight) is indeed news of extraordinary joy and amazing wonder and significance. Joy to be shared by all people of every time and place!.
May Christ grant us peace, and joy this season, and all year round…. … And plant peace in the hearts and minds of people everywhere.
The world needs the peace of the Christ-child more than ever. May the Lord grant the world his deep and abiding peace.
Happy Christmas
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References:
Fr Paul W. Kelly
(1) **Alain de Botton. "The Course of Love -By: ISBN: 9781501134517 - Penguin Books: 20th June 2017.
(&)Prepare the Word (2023) – Take Five for Faith article -25/12/23.
(%) Sermons of the Cure of Ars - - Translated by Una Morrisy. Henry Regnery Company. Chicago: 1960
(#) 1500 Illustrations for Biblical Preaching - Ed Michael P. Green. Baker Books. Michigan. 1982, 1989.
The SOLEMNITY of the Nativity of the Lord. Year A - December 25 - (EPISODE-454 )
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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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. Year B)
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. Year B)
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 - 2023]
May God bless and keep you.
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