Catholic Mass Readings and Reflection December 25, 2024
The Nativity of The Lord
25th December 2024 (Wednesday)
Psalter: Week 4
Readings of the Day
First Reading: Isaiah 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.
Psalm 98:1, 2-3, 3-4, 5-6 (R. 3c)
R/. All the ends of the earth have seen the saving power of God
Second Reading: Hebrews 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 Acclamation
V/. Alleluia
R/. Alleluia
V/. A holy day has dawned upon us. Come, you nations, and adore the Lord. For today a great light has come upon the earth.
R/. Alleluia.
Gospel: John 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.
Daily Gospel Reflection
Wednesday – The Nativity of The Lord
Guidelines: Christ is born for us, amidst us, as one of us. Therefore,
1. Identify Christ:
We need to constantly search for him. Discover him. He may be hidden. He may be disguised. He may be disfigured. He may be dehumanized. Do we search for him? People in the world search for so many things – money, possessions, power, position, name, popularity, prestige, privilege, influence, domination. But how many really search for God and good? And how many are really ready to take the trouble to identify him, recognize him?
2. Identify (yourself) by Christ:
We must seek our identity from our belonging to Christ. In simple words, it means our care of (c/o) address must be Christ. Let each priest and religious be identified as c/o Christ. He becomes our reference point. Those who see us and interact with us shall be reminded that we belong to Christ.
In this context, it is worthwhile to think of some of the false or defective identities that we seek and foster. Many seek their identity in their functions or responsibilities, in their roles, titles, honors, and ranks. They substitute their core identity with their work identity or role identity. But these are not our true identity. They do not make me what I am. Some seek their identity in their gifts, talents, and skills. In recent times, this tendency and trend are also very strong. Talents and skills, performance, and competence are replacing the true identity of being consecrated to Christ. My talent, my ability is not my identity. Still many others seek their identity in their affinities like caste, region, state, tribe, culture, rite, et cetera. That is why, today we have dioceses and congregations fuming with divisions and discriminations, and venting out a lot of animosity and conflicts. People become highly sectarian and narrow in the name of these. But my affinity is not my identity. These are only accidental. My consecration, my belonging to Christ alone is my identity.
3. Identify (yourself) with Christ:
We must seek to become like Christ. This is what our hallowed MSFS Constitutions exhorts us: speaking of the aim of formation, it states that the whole “aim of formation is to become Christ-like”. And we know well that all of us are in an unceasing ongoing formation. This formation and growth never cease till the end, till we reach the grave. Those who think they have enough grown already stopped growing. We must grow more and more in the image and likeness of Christ. We must resemble Christ. This is exactly the motto of St Francis de Sales: “Live Jesus!” Our life reflects his life. Our mission resembles his mission. This is the same conviction with which St Paul affirms: It is no longer I who live but Christ Jesus who lives in me. Therefore, my way of thinking, my way of feeling, my way of seeing, my way of reasoning, my way of approaching, my way of judging and assessing, my way of discerning and deciding, my way of speaking and communicating, my way of doing, dealing and behaving – all of mine will ever strive to resemble that of Christ.
4. Be the identity for Christ:
The world of today wants to see Jesus born. He must be seen in and through us. We become the reflexes and the mirrors of Jesus. Those who meet and interact with us must see that something of Christ is in us. They must experience something of God’s love, His humility, His honesty, His integrity, His patience, His gentleness, His selfless sacrifice and generosity, His loyalty and commitment. We become the identity cards of Jesus.
Practice: This is the real birth of Jesus – a regeneration, a rejuvenation of the spirit and culture of Jesus!
