The Nativity of the Lord (Christmas) Mass during the Day, December 25, 2023

Gospel

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 himhe 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.

Reflection

I love this Gospel for how beautifully written it is, such hope and joy is expressed throughout John’s writing. It was almost like unwrapping a present and finding something new with every re-read.

John talks of Jesus being born or coming into the world…”the Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us”. As we know this is a time of joyful celebration with the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ, but this also reminded me of the hypostatic union of Jesus, where He is fully human and fully divine. Meaning that Jesus always was God, there was never a time where he “became” God, he always was. Like it said at the start of the reading, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God…”. What a great mystery of our faith to get to ponder.

This reading also gives such hope…”the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it”. The imagery of these words immediately gave me comfort when I read them. It reminded me of how good has already triumphed over evil, and how the birth of Jesus represented the new covenant that was the only one to remain unbroken when he died on the cross for us.

My sister told me how last week was the feast of St Lucy, whose name means light in Latin. In a priest’s homily at a Mass she went to, he spoke about how light is brightest in the dark, and he drew “the Dark Night of The Soul” by St. John of the Cross into it as well....The Word becoming Flesh is the fulfillment of God’s covenants. I think this is definitely something to sit with. “Our Almighty God, in His awesome power, sent His only begotten Son to us so that we, in our humanity, could share in His divinity and be fully united in Him/through Him/with Him. Fully united in love, to Love, through love.“

Moreover, at the end of the passage it again represents great hope, “But to those who did accept him he gave power to become children of God, to those who believe in his name.” While this made me question the true meaning of this statement (as I wondered are we not all children of God regardless if we choose to accept it), it also reminded me of what a gift our free will is. What a gift that God chose to give us His only son and allowed us to have free will and the power to then choose Him. That he made us in His image and likeness and wants us to be in divinity with Him.

Lastly, I want to leave y’all with the Angelus prayer as my sister reminded me of it and it seemed very fitting for this Gospel…

The Angel of the Lord declared to Mary: 
And she conceived of the Holy Spirit.

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee; blessed art thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of
our death. Amen.

Behold the handmaid of the Lord: Be it done unto me according to Thy word.

Hail Mary...

And the Word was made Flesh: And dwelt among us.

Hail Mary...


Pray for us, O Holy Mother of God, that we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ. 

Let us pray:

Pour forth, we beseech Thee, O Lord, Thy grace into our hearts; that we, to whom the incarnation of Christ, Thy Son, was made known by the message of an angel, may by His Passion and Cross be brought to the glory of His Resurrection, through the same Christ Our Lord.

Amen. 
 

'Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with you' (Lk 1: 28)

'Blessed are you among women, 
and blessed is the fruit of your womb'
(Lk 1: 42).

Merry Christmas and Happy Birthday Jesus!!