The Nativity of the Lord (Cycle A, Year I)
Community Word:
The coming of Christ brings joy to the people of God.
Theme:
We rejoice in the coming of Christ when we experience the fullness of His grace andtruth.
Promise:
“I will be a father to him and he shall be a son to me.”(Heb 1:5b)
Reflection:
After the four-weeks of Advent, this week opens providentially with the Solemnity of the Nativity of our Lord. This Solemnity allows us to reflect on how we, as disciples of Christ, prepared ourselves to mark the birth of our Lord and Savior. If during the four weeks of Advent, we have focused more on the material aspects of Christmas, by now, we may well be physically exhausted by the days decorating our homes,shopping, and going to endless parties. And now, as we look at our credit standing and decreased savings account, we ponder what Christmas is all about.
On the other hand, if we had spent time reflecting daily on the readings of the Advent, we should by now have come to a realization once again, of how much God loves us, having sent His only begotten Son, Jesus, to save us from our sinfulness. St. Paul tells us: “But when the fullness of time had come, God sent His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to ransom those from the law, so that we may receive adoption.As proof that you are children, God sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying out, “Abba Father!” So you are no longer a slave, but a child, and if a child then also an heir, through God.” (Gal 4:4-7)
And so, with eyes of faith we are now able to observe the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ. He came into this world in humble circumstances – born in a stable with only Mary and Joseph present by his side and surrounded by animals. The nativity scene underscores the importance of family. St. Adolph Kolping said: “The first thing that a person finds in life and the last to which he holds out his hand, and the most precious that he possesses, even if he does not realize it, is family life.”In that stable, the Lord reminds us that we should live simply and in humility rather than ostentatiously, or in ceaseless striving for great wealth, power, worldly honors and public acclaim. A clean heart is what matters to Jesus. His first visitors were lowly shepherds. Our Lord also reminds us to share our blessings with the lowly, especially this Christmas season, bearing the final judgment in mind when Jesus will ask us if we have given food to the hungry, drink to the thirsty, welcome to strangers, clothed the naked, or visited prisoners. (Mt 26: 35)
If our spiritual preparation has been as good as our physical preparations, we should be able to celebrate and rejoice on this the Solemnity of the Nativity of our Savior, Jesus Christ. As we continue to follow Him by obeying His commandments and sharing our resources with the needy, we will find great delight in the simple things of life – the amazing evidence of his work in the world around us and, closer to home, our family, friends, community – and best of all, in knowing that God our Father will continue to provide for all our needs, for we are truly His beloved children, with an imperishable, inheritance that is kept for usin heaven undefiled and unfading (1 Pet 1:4). He assures us with this week’s promise: “I will be a father to him and he shall be a son to me.”(Heb 1:5b).
Prayer:
Lord, with grateful hearts, we thank you for giving us Your own Son, Jesus. As we remember his birth on Christmas day, open our hearts to the fullness of Your grace so that are lives will be truly transformed in following Jesus with virtues He taught us, that of humility, obedience, and compassion.
Reflection Questions:
1.How did I prepare for the Solemnity of the Nativity of Jesus Christ?
2.How do I celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ?
This Week’s Daily Mass Reading Guide:
December 25, 2016 (Sun) Is 52:7-10/Ps 98:1-6/ Hb 1:1-6/Jn 1:1-18
December 26, 2016 (Mon) Acts 6:8-10;7:54-59/Ps 31:3-4,6,8,17
December 27, 2016 (Tue) 1Jn 1:1-4/Ps 97:1,2,5,6,11,12/Jn 20:2-8
December 28, 2016 (Wed) 1Jn 1:5-2:2/Ps 124:2-5,7,8/Mt 2:13-18
December 29 2016 (Thu) 1Jn 2:3-11/Ps 96:1-3,5,6/Lk 2:22-35
December 30, 2016 (Fri) Sir 3:2-6,12-14/Ps 128:1-5/Col 3:12-21/Mt 2:13-15,19-23
December 31, 2016 (Sat) 1Jn 2:18-21/Ps96:1,2,11-13/Jn 1:1-18
“Ignorance of the Bible is ignorance of Christ. Read your Bible daily!”
WSC Reflection 25 December 2016
