Christmas Day (Español) (Vietnamese)
Our commentary this week is provided by Auxiliary Bishop John Dolan of the Diocese of San Diego. For a PDF version, visit http://www.christ-ion.com
Prayer
Father in Heaven,
We thank you for Your Son, Jesus Christ, the Word made flesh to dwell among us. As we celebrate His birthday, may we give you glory and praise through the same Christ Our Lord. Amen. Mary, Mother of Jesus, our Lord and our God, pray for us!
Commentary
1st Reading: Isaiah 52:7-10
The CION commentaries for this Christmas
Day come from the selection of readings
given “At the Mass During the Day.” They
differ from the Christmas Vigil Readings
Isaiah reminds the people of Israel that “God is King.”
More specifically, he tells them, “YOUR God is King!”
Israel forgot this important message. Long before Kings
Saul and David were selected, God was the King of Israel.
In fact, this is what made the Hebrew people so unique.
Of all of the nations surrounding them, only Israel had a
King who was divine and unseen. The people of Israel
had to follow their unseen King through faith.
God reluctantly allowed human kings to rule Israel, but
they were to remember that God was the King of kings
and Lord of Lords.
On this Christmas Day, we celebrate the tremendous gift
of God who remains divine but is also very human. This
God-man king has a name: Jesus the Christ (King)!
Question
How is God Your King?
2nd Reading: Hebrews 1:1-6
Our 2nd Reading from Hebrews reminds us that Jesus
Christ is truly the King of Israel and of all creation.
Through him, the Father created the universe. He is before
all that exists. This God-man and King also sustains us and
purifies us from our sins. Finally, as the
Only begotten Son of the Father, He sits at
the Lord’s right hand where he rules over
all things.
In this short reading, we see the distinction
between the Father and the Son. While
they are One God, they are two different
persons.
God the Father operates through His Son, who creates,
sustains, and redeems all that is seen and unseen. Even
angels adore him. We do not worship angels or any created
being. Rather, God commands, “Let all the angels of God
worship him.”
Question
How will you plan to worship Jesus the Lord this Christmas?
Gospel: John 1:1-18
If there was any doubt about the nature and purpose of
Jesus in the early Church, this prologue to the Gospel of
John was written to clear matters up. Here, there is no
doubt that Jesus is the Word, and that “the Word was with God, and the
Word was God.”
Moreover, this “Word became flesh
and made his dwelling among us ... as
the Father’s only Son.”
With these fews words, we see the
nature of Jesus Christ. He is both fully
divine (God) and fully human (flesh).
While our nature is human (flesh)
with body and soul, Jesus is both God
and human.
However, through the same Christ, we
have the “power to become children
of God.” This means that while our
nature is only human, by grace we
have a share in the divinity (Godly) of
Christ who humbled himself to
become flesh. This tremendous
mystery is granted to us through belief
in Jesus and through Baptism. We are regenerated and are
properly called Christian. We are true children of God.
What a Christmas gift!
Question
How do you celebrate your status as a child of God?
Christmas Task
You are invited to make the most out of Christmas by
attending daily Mass this week. The Christmas Season is
more than a day. We celebrate through the Solemnity of
Mary, the Mother of God, the Feast of the Epiphany, and to
the Baptism of the Lord.
Join all of the angels, the saints, and your fellow parishioners
as you gather around the table of the Lord at Mass this
Christmas Season.
Hark the Herald:
Christ by highest heav’n adored
Christ the everlasting Lord!
Late in time behold Him come
Offspring of a Virgin’s womb
Veiled in flesh the Godhead see
Hail the incarnate Deity
Pleased as man with man to dwell
Jesus, our Emmanuel
Hark! The herald angels sing
“Glory to the newborn King!”
Continue with Psalm 98
Response: 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.
Conclude with an Our Father
Our commentary this week is provided by Auxiliary Bishop John Dolan of the Diocese of San Diego. For a PDF version, visit http://www.christ-ion.com
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