Category: Christmas

“You are my beloved Son.” | The Baptism of the Lord

From the responsorial psalm: “The voice of the LORD is over the waters, the LORD, over vast waters. The voice of the LORD is mighty; the voice of the LORD is majestic. The Lord will bless his people with peace.”

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke (Luke 3:15-16, 21-22)

After all the people had been baptized and Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, heaven was opened and the Holy Spirit descended upon him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.”

The people are filled with excitement and expectation about John the Baptist and asking themselves if he might be the Messiah. John responds by making clear that his baptism is with water but that there is one mightier coming after him who will baptize with the Holy Spirit and fire. After being baptized by John and as Jesus is praying, the heavens open and the Holy Spirit descends upon him in a form like a dove. The voice from heaven is that of the Father who is well pleased in his beloved Son. In the second reading, we hear that God anointed his Son with the Holy Spirit and power. And as prophesied by Isaiah, the LORD is well pleased in his servant, Jesus, the incarnation of the New Covenant. “I, the LORD, have called you for the victory of justice, I have grasped you by the hand.”

God, help me throughout the day be aware that you are present as I dwell on the baptism of your only begotten Son. In meditating on your love for Jesus, I think also of the love Zechariah had for his son John, who says of him in his canticle: “You, my child, shall be called the prophet of the Most High.” In the powerful, affirming love of a father for a son is a glimpse of your filial love for us as your children. Christ accomplished in his baptism the forgiveness of our sins and the way to eternal life as your sons and daughters. In calling your Son for the victory of justice, you have freed us and opened the heavens so that we always give to you the glory due your name. “Give to the LORD, you sons of God, give to the LORD glory and praise.”

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Feast of the Holy Innocents, martyrs

From the responsorial psalm: “Had not the LORD been with us— When men rose up against us, then would they have swallowed us alive, When their fury was inflamed against us. Our soul has been rescued like a bird from the fowler’s snare.”

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew (Mt 2:13-18)

When the magi had departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Rise, take the child and his mother, flee to Egypt, and stay there until I tell you. Herod is going to search for the child to destroy him.” Joseph rose and took the child and his mother by night and departed for Egypt.

Matthew describes the events surrounding the flight of the Holy Family into Egypt to escape King Herod’s decree to kill all male infants in Bethlehem. An attempt to maintain absolute control, Herod’s decree to kill all male children two years old and under reveals the brutality that results from attempting to control and maintain political power and authority. In contrast to this, Joseph’s obedience to the angel’s command reflects his submission and obedience to God’s divine guidance. Without a single word, Joseph rises from sleep and immediately takes Mary and the Christ Child, fulfilling the prophecy “Out of Egypt I have called my son.” Even in his infancy, Jesus reveals that the path of the Messiah is not one of power and control but complete reliance on God’s divine protection in the face of suffering and adversity.

God, help me recall throughout the day how Joseph responded to the command of an angel. In the face of the unfolding tragedy, he did not question the angel or wake up Mary and confer with her about what the command might mean and whether it was literal. Just as you spoke to Joseph through the message of an angel, I want to be attentive to do what is good in accordance to your will. For me to do that, I have to have ears open to hearing you and a heart that trusts in your divine guidance and protection. Give me the grace to find quiet throughout the day so that I can hear and obey your will. Help me trust that the same God who protected the Holy Family is mine to turn to with absolute faith and trust. Holy Innocents, martyrs, pray for us!

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Feast of Saint John, Apostle and evangelist

From the responsorial psalm: “Light dawns for the just; and gladness, for the upright of heart. Be glad in the LORD, you just, and give thanks to his holy name. Rejoice in the Lord, you just!”

A reading from the holy Gospel according to John (Jn 20:1a and 2-8)

When Simon Peter arrived after him, he went into the tomb and saw the burial cloths there, and the cloth that had covered his head, not with the burial cloths but rolled up in a separate place. Then the other disciple also went in, the one who had arrived at the tomb first, and he saw and believed.

John describes the events that take place at the discovery of the empty tomb following the resurrection of Jesus. Mary Magdalene first goes to the tomb and finds that the stone has been rolled away and then tells Peter, the first pope, and John, the disciple whom Jesus loved. Peter and John immediately run to the tomb, and John arrives first and out of respect for his authority of office waits for him to enter first. Going inside the tomb, Peter finds the burial cloths and the cloth that had covered Jesus’ head. John then enters and sees the burial cloths. In John’s own account, which he describes in third person writing about himself, he says, “he saw and believed.” As the first apostles, Mary Magdalene, Peter, and John run to seek out the risen Christ. The risen Christ, present in the Eucharist, is ours to run to today.

God, help me take in the words of Saint John from the first reading as it applies to the Gospel: “what we have seen and heard we proclaim now to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; for our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. We are writing this so that our joy may be complete.” Fellowship with you and with Jesus is your gift and mine to receive. Give me the grace to do that through participation in the sacraments of the Church and through the intercession of Saint John and the Blessed Mother. Just as John accepted the invitation of Jesus from the cross to take Mary into his home, show me the way to do the same for the sake of your glory. Saint John, pray for us!

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Christmas Weekday| January 3

A reading from the holy Gospel according to John (Jn 1:29-34)

John testified further, saying, “I saw the Spirit come down like a dove from the sky and remain upon him. I did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water told me, ‘On whomever you see the Spirit come down and remain, he is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’ Now I have seen and testified that he is the Son of God.”

When John the Baptist sees Jesus coming toward him, he says, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.” Twice John says “I did not know him” and that God sent him to baptize with this mission: “On whomever you see the Spirit come down and remain, he is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.” Twice John says that he would recognize Jesus because the Holy Spirit would descend on him and remain upon him. In the same way, we know we remain in God when we do not sin. As Saint John the evangelist says in the first reading: “You know that he was revealed to take away sins, and in him there is no sin. No one who remains in him sins; no one who sins has seen him or known him.”

God, help me remain in you today. Guide me in recognizing Jesus your Son as he approaches. Send your Spirit upon me so that I remain in you and recognize you. “No one who sins has seen him or known him.” Free from sin as long as I remain in you, I ask for the the grace today to see you and know you. Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world. Have mercy on us.

From the Gospel acclamation: “The Word of God became flesh and dwelt among us. To those who accepted him he gave power to become the children of God.”

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

“Good news of great joy.” | The Nativity of the Lord (Christmas)

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke (Lk 2:15-20)

When the angels went away from them to heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go, then, to Bethlehem to see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us.” So they went in haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the infant lying in the manger.

After the shepherds find Mary and Joseph, seeing near them Jesus lying in the manger, they go out and proclaim the message the angel had shared with them before they began their journey: “Do not be afraid;” the angel said, “for behold, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For today in the city of David a savior has been born for you who is Messiah and Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find an infant wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger.” And then the shepherds witnessed a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying: “Glory to God in the Highest and on earth peace to those on who his favor rests.” Mary must have been the first among those to hear the shepherd’s story, keeping all these things, reflecting on them in her heart.

Father in heaven, thank you for sending Jesus and placing him in the care of Mary and Joseph. “Good news of great joy that will be for all people . . . a savior has been born for you.” These unknown, humble shepherds were the first to hear of the birth of Jesus. After seeing Jesus, they immediately go out and tell others what they had witnessed: “When they saw this, they made known the message that had been told them about this child.” Lord, help me see the birth of Jesus as a way to get back to basics, unafraid to share with others what I have witnessed: Jesus is Messiah and Lord, a savior born for me and for all the people. Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.

From the second reading: “He saved us through the bath of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he richly poured out on us through Jesus Christ our savior, so that we might be justified by his grace and become heirs in hope of eternal life.”

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.