Reading 1 Is 52:7-10
How beautiful upon the mountains
are the feet of him who brings glad tidings,
announcing peace, bearing good news,
announcing salvation, and saying to Zion,
"Your God is King!"
Hark! Your sentinels raise a cry,
together they shout for joy,
for they see directly, before their eyes,
the LORD restoring Zion.
Break out together in song,
O ruins of Jerusalem!
For the LORD comforts his people,
he redeems Jerusalem.
The LORD has bared his holy arm
in the sight of all the nations;
all the ends of the earth will behold
the salvation of our God.
Responsorial Psalm Ps 98:1, 2-3, 3-4, 5-6
R. (3c)All the ends of the earth have seen the saving power of God.
Sing to the LORD a new song,
for he has done wondrous deeds;
his right hand has won victory for him,
his holy arm.
R. All the ends of the earth have seen the saving power of God.
The LORD has made his salvation known:
in the sight of the nations he has revealed his justice.
He has remembered his kindness and his faithfulness
toward the house of Israel.
R. All the ends of the earth have seen the saving power of God.
All the ends of the earth have seen
the salvation by our God.
Sing joyfully to the LORD, all you lands;
break into song; sing praise.
R. All the ends of the earth have seen the saving power of God.
Sing praise to the LORD with the harp,
with the harp and melodious song.
With trumpets and the sound of the horn
sing joyfully before the King, the LORD.
R. All the ends of the earth have seen the saving power of God.
Reading 2 Heb 1:1-6
Brothers and sisters:
In times past, God spoke in partial and various ways
to our ancestors through the prophets;
in these last days, he has spoken to us through the Son,
whom he made heir of all things
and through whom he created the universe,
who is the refulgence of his glory,
the very imprint of his being,
and who sustains all things by his mighty word.
When he had accomplished purification from sins,
he took his seat at the right hand of the Majesty on high,
as far superior to the angels
as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs.
For to which of the angels did God ever say:
You are my son; this day I have begotten you?
Or again:
I will be a father to him, and he shall be a son to me?
And again, when he leads the firstborn into the world, he says:
Let all the angels of God worship him.
Gospel Jn 1:1-18
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,
and the darkness has not overcome it.
A man named John was sent from God.
He came for testimony, to testify to the light,
so that all might believe through him.
He was not the light,
but came to testify to the light.
The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world.
He was in the world,
and the world came to be through him,
but the world did not know him.
He came to what was his own,
but his own people did not accept him.
But to those who did accept him
he gave power to become children of God,
to those who believe in his name,
who were born not by natural generation
nor by human choice nor by a man's decision
but of God.
And the Word became flesh
and made his dwelling among us,
and we saw his glory,
the glory as of the Father's only Son,
full of grace and truth.
John testified to him and cried out, saying,
"This was he of whom I said,
'The one who is coming after me ranks ahead of me
because he existed before me.'"
From his fullness we have all received,
grace in place of grace,
because while the law was given through Moses,
grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.
No one has ever seen God.
The only Son, God, who is at the Father's side,
has revealed him.
Or Jn 1:1-5, 9-14
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,
and the darkness has not overcome it.
The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world.
He was in the world,
and the world came to be through him,
but the world did not know him.
He came to what was his own,
but his own people did not accept him.
But to those who did accept him
he gave power to become children of God,
to those who believe in his name,
who were born not by natural generation
nor by human choice nor by a man's decision
but of God.
And the Word became flesh
and made his dwelling among us,
and we saw his glory,
the glory as of the Father's only Son,
full of grace and truth.
Meditation: John 1:1-18
The Nativity of the Lord
The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. (John 1:14)
For two thousand years, we have celebrated this day—and for good reason. This was no ordinary birth! On this day, Jesus, the “bread of God” came “down from heaven and gave life to the world” (John 6:33). So as we celebrate this joyous occasion, let’s look a little more closely at the way Jesus gave life to the world.
When Jesus came, he brought with him a whole new teaching. He taught us how to think, act, and pray in a way that would bring us closer to his Father. He taught us that it is as important to love one another as it is to love God himself. So let’s vow to put the teachings of Jesus into practice each day. Let’s vow to love one another as Jesus loves us.
Jesus also performed many miracles while he walked this earth. These miracles showed that he had power over nature, over sickness, and over sin. What’s more, he told us that if we believe, we too will be able to perform great miracles (John 14:12). So today, let’s vow to put our faith in Jesus’ words. Let’s renew our belief in him and his power. Let’s pray for miracles, both small and large, and believe that God will answer our prayers.
Jesus came two thousand years ago so that he could save us from sin. He is God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God. Only he has the power to destroy sin and death. So today, let’s look at the baby in the manger and say: “Thank you for saving me and bringing me into eternal life.”
The Incarnation is a deep mystery. It is every bit as incomprehensible as the mystery of the Trinity. How can the Creator enter creation? How can the Eternal enter time? Today, and every day for the rest of our lives, let’s all proclaim:
“Jesus, you are my Lord. I consecrate myself to you.”
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Questions for Reflection or Group Discussion
(Isaiah 52:7-10; Psalm 98:1-6; Hebrews 1:1-6; John 1:1-18)
1. In the first reading, we hear these words, “How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings glad tidings, announcing peace, bearing good news, announcing salvation, and saying to Zion, ‘Your God is King.’” Each of us is called to bring to others this good news of God’s love that is revealed in the birth, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Who in your family, or friends and neighbors, need to hear this good news? What steps can you take to bring it to them?
2. The responsorial psalm tells us to sing joyfully and sing praise to the Lord. If someone were to ask you the source of your joy and peace during this Christmas season, how would you answer them?
3. The second reading tells us that “In these last days God has spoken to us through his Son.” How does Jesus “speak” to you and what difference has it made in your life?
4. In the Gospel reading, we hear these words, “But to those who did accept him he gave power to become children of God, to those who believe in his name, who were born not by natural generation nor by human choice nor by a man’s decision but of God.” What do these words mean to you? Share the impact in your life of personally accepting Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior?
5. The meditation reminds us that Jesus “taught us that it is as important to love one another as it is to love God himself.” It goes on to challenge us with these words: “So let’s vow to put the teachings of Jesus into practice each day. Let’s vow to love one another as Jesus loves us.” Are there people in your life that you have a hard time loving and forgiving? What steps can you take to respond to Jesus’ words and love them as he loves you and forgive them as your heavenly Father has forgiven you?
6. Take some time now to pray that this Christmas season would be a special time of grace for you—a time to receive Jesus Christ into your life in a deeper way and surrender your life more completely to him. Use the prayer at the end of the meditation as the starting point.
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