The Light Of Christmas Brings God’s Salvation to Humankind
December 25, 2005 Christmas - Mass at Midnight (B) - White
The Proclamation of the Birth of Christ
(The Christmas Proclamation is sung at the start of the mass either by the priest-celebrant, a deacon, or a lay.)
The twenty-fifth day of December.
In the five thousand one hundred and ninety-ninth year of the creation of the world from the time when God in the beginning created the heavens and the earth;
the two thousand nine hundred and fifty-seventh year after the flood; the two thousand and fifteenth year from the birth of Abraham;
the one thousand five hundred and tenth year from Moses and the going forth of the people of Israel from Egypt;
the one thousand and thirty-second year from David’s being anointed king;
in the sixty-fifth week according to the prophecy of Daniel;
in the one hundred and ninety-fourth Olympiad;
the seven hundred and fifty-second year from the foundation of the city of Rome;
the forty second year of the reign of Octavian Augustus; the whole world being at peace,
in the sixth age of the world,Jesus Christ the eternal God and Son of the eternal Father,
desiring to sanctify the world by his most merciful coming,
being conceived by the Holy Spirit,
and nine months having passed since his conception,
was born in Bethlehem of Judea of the Virgin Mary,
being made flesh.The Nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ according to the flesh.
During the singing of the GLORIA, the image of the infant Jesus is processed through the main aisle and the priest presents the new-born child to the congregation. Afterwhich, the image is placed at the Christmas Crib. The Nativity Scene may be blessed during the Gloria.
First Reading: Isaiah 9:1-6
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 96 "Today is born our Savior, Christ the Lord."
Second Reading: Titus 2:11-14
Gospel: Luke 2:1-14
"Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests."
Tonight, the long waiting for the coming of the Lord is over. Tonight, the covenant of God to humankind is established. Tonight, the plan of God for human salvation, made known through the prophets, is fulfilled. Tonight, in the city of David, Christ is born. Merry Christmas to one and all.
As the angel announced to Mary nine months ago, "Behold, you will conceive and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus," the God-become-man has started his existence and relationship with human kind. Working inside the womb of the Blessed Mother, Jesus Christ visited his people. John the Baptist leaped for joy during the visitation, alluding to the joy that the Christ-child brings. Also, the drama of Mary’s Canticle of Praise was made possible by the Holy Spirit working with Christ inside her mother’s womb.
And after nine months of waiting, inside the darkness of a cave in Bethlehem, Jesus is born of the Virgin Mary. God becomes one like us - not just merely a passing visitor - but truly human like us. Christmas is God’s perfect response to our human condition. Christ’s birth radically renews the world, all peoples, our nation, our families, the very core of our person. God’s gift - Christ - meets and fulfills human needs perfectly.
Another imagery visible in tonight’s liturgy is the image of light. First is that, the angels, in a form of a light, revealed, in the region where the shepherds are keeping watch over their flocks, the birth of the Savior. The announcement or news of the Savior’s birth is a light in itself. We also see that the angels announced the Savior’s birth, not to the rich and royalty of Israel, but to the poor and lowly in society. Second, we see the light of the star that shone above Christ’s birthplace. This light of the star made possible for people to know and see the dawning of man’s salvation - seen in the babe lying in the manger in the cold of the night. Third, the birth of Christ is light in itself. The birth of Christ, when the world was at peace, proved that God works in mysterious ways. God divests himself of divinity and makes himself small. He humbles himself and accepts that his birth is that among the poor ones of Israel - in the most humble place in the planet, the stable/cave where the animals live. Hence, this event is light in the darkness.
God’s manifestation of divine light is beautifully woven into the liturgy of Christmas midnight. The opening prayer of tonight’s liturgy introduces us to "Jesus Christ our light…the true light of the world." The first reading begins with the people of Israel "who walked in darkness have seen a great light." The preface of Christmas III further develops the theme of light: "Today in him a new light has dawned upon the world: God has become one with us, and we have become one again with God."
Jesus is born to us. He is Wonderful-Counselor, God-hero, Father-forever, and Prince of Peace. Let us celebrate our Christmas thanksgiving with grateful hearts, willing to accept Christ in our lives, making ourselves vessels of Christ’s light in the world. A Blessed Christmas to all!!!
N.B. Those who attended the Christmas Mass at Midnight have fulfilled their Sunday obligation. Those who attended the anticipated mass for Christmas should attend any Mass during the Day to fulfill their Sunday obligations.
