Wednesday, December 23, 2015

Infant Jesus born in the city of David, wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger


The Nativity of the Lord (Christmas)
Mass at Midnight

Reading 1

1The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; upon those who dwelt in the land of gloom a light has shone.

2You have brought them abundant joy and great rejoicing, as they rejoice before you as at the harvest, as people make merry when dividing spoils.

3For the yoke that burdened them, the pole on their shoulder, and the rod of their taskmaster you have smashed, as on the day of Midian.

4For every boot that tramped in battle, every cloak rolled in blood, will be burned as fuel for flames.

5For a Child is born to us, a Son is given us; upon His shoulder dominion rests. They name Him Wonder-Counselor, God-Hero, Father-Forever, Prince of Peace.[1] 6His dominion is vast and forever peaceful, from David’s throne, and over his kingdom, which he confirms and sustains by judgment and justice, both now and forever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this!

Responsorial Psalm

R. (Luke 2:11) Today is born our Savior, Christ the Lord.

1Sing to the LORD a new song; sing to the LORD, all you lands. 2Sing to the LORD; bless His name.

R. Today is born our Savior, Christ the Lord.

2Announce His salvation, day after day. 3Tell His glory among the nations; among all peoples, His wondrous deeds.

R. Today is born our Savior, Christ the Lord.

11Let the heavens be glad and the earth rejoice; let the sea and what fills it resound; 12let the plains be joyful and all that is in them! Then shall all the trees of the forest exult.

R. Today is born our Savior, Christ the Lord.

13They shall exult before the LORD, for He comes; for He comes to rule the earth. He shall rule the world with justice and the peoples with His constancy.

R. Today is born our Savior, Christ the Lord.

Reading 2

11Beloved: The grace of God has appeared, saving all[2] 12and training us to reject godless ways and worldly desires and to live temperately, justly, and devoutly in this age,  13as we await the blessed hope,  the appearance of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ,[3] 14who gave Himself for us to deliver us from all lawlessness  and to cleanse for Himself a people as His own, eager to do what is good.

Alleluia Luke 2:10-11

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
I proclaim to you good news of great joy: today a Savior is born for us, Christ the Lord.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel

1In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that the whole world should be enrolled.[4][5] 2This was the first enrollment, when Quirinius was governor of Syria.

3So all went to be enrolled, each to his own town. 4And Joseph too went up from Galilee from the town of Nazareth to Judea, to the city of David that is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David,[6] 5to be enrolled with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child.

6While they were there, the time came for her to have her Child, 7and she gave birth to her Firstborn son. She wrapped Him in swaddling clothes and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.[7]

8Now there were shepherds in that region living in the fields and keeping the night watch over their flock.[8] 9The angel of the Lord appeared to them and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were struck with great fear.

10The angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11For today in the city of David a Savior has been born for you who is Christ and Lord.[9] 12And this will be a sign for you: you will find an Infant wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger.”

13And suddenly there was a multitude of the heavenly host with the Angel, praising God and saying: 14“Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to those on whom His favor rests.”


The Nativity of the Lord (Christmas)


The Nativity of the Lord (Christmas)


The Nativity of the Lord (Christmas)


The Nativity of the Lord (Christmas)





Notes on Readings:


[1] Isaiah 9:5 - A child: the Immanuel of Isaiah 7:14 and Isaiah 8:8; compare with Isaiah 11:1, 2, 9. In Christian tradition and liturgy, this passage is used to refer to Christ. Upon His shoulder dominion rests: authority. Wonder-Counselor: remarkable for His wisdom and prudence. God-Hero: a warrior and a defender of His people, like God himself. Father-Forever: ever devoted to His people. Prince of Peace: His reign will be characterized by peace.

[2] Titus 2:11-15 - Underlying the admonitions for moral improvement in Titus 2:1-10 as the moving force is the constant appeal to God's revelation of salvation in Christ, with its demand for transformation of life.

[3] Titus 2:13 - The blessed hope, the appearance: literally, "the blessed hope and appearance," but the use of a single article in Greek strongly suggests an epexegetical, that is, explanatory sense. Of the great God and of our savior Jesus Christ: another possible translation is "of our great God and savior Jesus Christ."

[4] Luke 2:1-2 - Although universal registrations of Roman citizens are attested in 28 B.C., 8 B.C., and A.D. 14 and enrollments in individual provinces of those who are not Roman citizens are also attested, such a universal census of the Roman world under Caesar Augustus is unknown outside the New Testament. Moreover, there are notorious historical problems connected with Luke's dating the census when Quirinius was governor of Syria, and the various attempts to resolve the difficulties have proved unsuccessful. P. Sulpicius Quirinius became legate of the province of Syria in A.D. 6-7 when Judea was annexed to the province of Syria. At that time, a provincial census of Judea was taken up. If Quirinius had been legate of Syria previously, it would have to have been before 10 B.C. because the various legates of Syria from 10 B.C. to 4 B.C. (the death of Herod) are known, and such a dating for an earlier census under Quirinius would create additional problems for dating the beginning of Jesus' ministry (Luke 3:1, 23). A previous legateship after 4 B.C. (and before A.D. 6) would not fit with the dating of Jesus' birth in the days of Herod (Luke 1:5; Matthew 2:1). Luke may simply be combining Jesus' birth in Bethlehem with his vague recollection of a census under Quirinius (see also Acts 5:37) to underline the significance of this birth for the whole Roman world: through this child born in Bethlehem peace and salvation come to the empire.

[5] Luke 2:1 - Caesar Augustus: the reign of the Roman emperor Caesar Augustus is usually dated from 27 B.C. to his death in A.D. 14. According to Greek inscriptions, Augustus was regarded in the Roman Empire as "savior" and "god," and he was credited with establishing a time of peace, the pax Augusta, throughout the Roman world during his long reign. It is not by chance that Luke relates the birth of Jesus to the time of Caesar Augustus: the real savior (Luke 2:11) and peace-bearer (Luke 2:14; see also Luke 19:38) is the child born in Bethlehem. The great emperor is simply God's agent (like the Persian king Cyrus in Isaiah 44;28- 45:1) who provides the occasion for God's purposes to be accomplished. The whole world: that is, the whole Roman world: Rome, Italy, and the Roman provinces.

[6] Luke 2:14 - On earth peace to those on whom His favor rests: the peace that results from the Christ event is for those whom God has favored with His grace. This reading is found in the oldest representatives of the Western and Alexandrian text traditions and is the preferred one; the Byzantine text tradition, on the other hand, reads: "on earth peace, good will toward men." The peace of which Luke's gospel speaks (Luke 2:14; 7:50; 8:48; 10:5-6; 19:38, 4224:36)  is more than the absence of war of the pax Augusta; it also includes the security and well-being characteristic of peace in the Old Testament.

[7] Luke 2:7 - Firstborn son: the description of Jesus as firstborn Son does not necessarily mean that Mary had other sons. It is a legal description indicating that Jesus possessed the rights and privileges of the firstborn son (Genesis 27; Exodus 13:2; Numbers 3:12-13; 18:15-16; Deuteronomy 21:15-17). See the footnotes on Matthew 1:25; Mark 6:3. Wrapped Him in swaddling clothes: there may be an allusion here to the birth of another descendant of David, his son Solomon, who though a great king was wrapped in swaddling clothes like any other infant (Wisdom 7:4-6). Laid him in a manger: a feeding trough for animals. A possible allusion to Isaiah 1:3 LXX.

[8] Luke 2:8-20 - The announcement of Jesus' birth to the shepherds is in keeping with Luke's theme that the lowly are singled out as the recipients of God's favors and blessings (see also Luke 1:48, 52).

[9] Luke 2:11 - The basic message of the infancy narrative is contained in the angel's announcement: this child is savior, Messiah, and Lord. Luke is the only synoptic gospel writer to use the title savior for Jesus (Luke 2:11; Acts 5:31; 13:23; see also Luke 1:69 ; 19:9; Acts 4:12). As savior, Jesus is looked upon by Luke as the one who rescues humanity from sin and delivers humanity from the condition of alienation from God. The title christos, "Christ," is the Greek equivalent of the Hebrew masiah, "Messiah," "anointed one." Among certain groups in first-century Palestinian Judaism, the title was applied to an expected royal leader from the line of David who would restore the kingdom to Israel (see Acts 1:6. The political overtones of the title are played down in Luke and instead the Messiah of the Lord (Luke 2;26) or the Lord's anointed is the one who now brings salvation to all humanity, Jew and Gentile (Luke 2:29-32). Lord is the most frequently used title for Jesus in Luke and Acts. In the New Testament it is also applied to Yahweh, as it is in the Old Testament. When used of Jesus it points to his transcendence and dominion over humanity.

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Dear Humanity,

I personally encourage everyone to emulate JESUS' values on LOVE, FAITH, HOPE
and CHARITY, as the humanity has been a failure; which resulted to the more than two (2) years of pandemic and its after-effects on economy, not only here in the Philippines but worldwide.

And the saddest part of it, is that, it affected the POOREST of the POOR to even extremely be more poorer, in exchange of the affluent to be more richer.

Thank you and may GOD bless you and the whole family to have an enjoyed life's journey at home, Church, schools/universities, corporate commitments, public and places of interest.