Solemnity of Christmas (A)

(Edited for 12/25/2025) Reflection (from) Christmas Mass for the Day (B), December 25, 2011

Author's note: The Liturgical readings for Christmas Mass for the Day is the same for all liturgical cycles: Year A, B, & C

Liturgical readings
Isaiah 52:7-10
Psalm 98
Hebrews 1:1-6
John 1:1-18

"The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us."

Modern man has lost his rootedness in a past that was deeply religious in context. This is perhaps the reason why many have also lost the depth of listening that is a prerequisite for focusing on what truly matters in life. If one were to review the writings of great spiritual writers, one will discover a depth of understanding not often found in a modern world filled with distractions that limit our senses to surface realities.

In a sermon for Christmas, St. Bernard (a Cistercian abbot of the monastery of Clairvaux in the beginning of the 2nd millenium), describes the mystery of Christmas as follows:

"A little child has been given to us, but in Him dwells all the fullness of a divine nature...the smaller He became through His human nature the greater was His goodness; the more He lowered Himself for us, the dearer He is to us."

What can humble some human minds is the challenge to have faith in this little child, who has that fullness of divinity which contains the Wisdom of God - a Wisdom not only for the known universe that everyone knows, but also for what is unknown. In a little child, the hope of humanity is borne in the lowliness of a baby, born of a simple maiden from Nazareth.

Looking at the traditional Christmas crèche, and taking time to contemplate how God-became-flesh-in-Jesus, can fill any soul with a hope not like any hope found in the other liturgical seasons of the Catholic faith. As present external circumstances appear to be heading towards negativity and a downtrend often presented in a lot of news, the mystery of hope and joy which the Christ-Child presents every Christmas to all the faithful, is enough to dispel any form of discouragement or sorrow one may have encountered in the difficulties of life this year. And it gives all a source of hope for a future that all seek sincerely and anticipate. This hope for a future within the deepest desire of the human heart is now found in the Christmas spirit of the Eucharist itself. And it is magnified with the knowledge that the Spirit of God is present in all who receive this hope in the Eucharist in every corner of the world. The Eucharist brings that Christmas hope to every heart until it overflows and benefits others as well.

It has been two millenia since that mystery of the Word-became-flesh quietly entered human history in a small town in Bethlehem. This Spirit of the Word-became-flesh from then on continued to be poured out all over the nations through the zeal of the apostles and their followers. Even to this day, it continues to be poured out to all humanity through the Church, and all its baptized members of every culture and race. Though there are still others who may not as yet see the light of the truth of the mystery of the Incarnation, every faithful soul knows by heart, that the spirit of joy and hope which the poor Bethlehem scene brings, can still, and can continue to inspire a world in need of this Christmas spirit until the end of the world. It is the task therefore of every baptized Catholic not only to remain in this Christmas hope, but to bring it to others in the very circumstances of each one's respective work and state of life. Since the spirit of Christmas is strong and vibrant, there are no words necessary to extend the joy and the hope of the season to others. A

• kind gesture,
• a smile,
• a helping hand,
• a small contribution,
• giving one's time to listen,
• to reply,
• to thank,
• to chat,

is already an extension of the Word-made-flesh in deed.

4th Sunday of Advent (A)

Sunday reflections for liturgical years 2014 (A), 2015 (B), and 2016 (C)

December 22, 2013 (edited for 12/21/2025)

Liturgical readings
Isaiah 7:10-14
Psalm 24
Romans 1:1-7
Matthew 1:18-24

"Joseph received Mary into his home as his wife."

Last Sunday of Advent was Gaudete Sunday. The spirit of joy and anticipation of Christ's advent filled all Eucharistic celebrations - signaling that Christmas day is near. A symbol that represents joyful anticipation is the third Advent candle, which is colored rose or pink. Rose or pink represents joy in the Advent season. And that joy is expressed in the gospel for the 3rd Sunday of Advent: 'the blind see, cripples walk, lepers are cured, the deaf hear, dead men live again, and the poor receive the Good News. Now, this fourth Sunday of Advent, that spiritual joy experienced last Gaudete Sunday is magnified in the present readings of the Eucharistic liturgy. The Lord Jesus, the Word of God made flesh in the womb of a humble virgin, will loom before the lives and relationships of everyone. It is a time and an opportunity to thank God for all the blessings received not only this Advent Season, but throughout the whole year. Everyone is encouraged to love God more, be kinder to others (and ourselves), and to act justly in the eyes of God and our fellow man. For He who is to come, is coming for all humanity.

This 4th Sunday of Advent brings us nearer to the image of the Nativity, as we listen to the gospel story of Mary and Joseph. Joseph, a just man, wanted initially to divorce Mary quietly when he found her with child. However, when an angel revealed to him in a dream that Mary's Child would be the the Son of God, the Savior of his people, the Emmanuel prophesied by the prophet Isaiah, Joseph obeyed what the angel of God told him in the dream. He did God's will by not pursuing his intention to divorce Mary, but welcomed her and the Child in her womb into his home. So the word of the prophet Isaiah has been fulfilled in Isaiah 7:14, 'the birth of Immanuel' - meaning 'God-with-us' or 'God-is-with-us' is to be born of Mary and under the guardianship of St. Joseph. The God who was incarnated in the womb of Mary through the power of the Holy Spirit is the God who will not only be with Mary and Joseph, but also with all the faithful in their journey as a people in the Church.

Never in the entire history of human civilization has mankind been privileged to be visited by a God who was incarnated in human flesh. Although the Son of God, in His humility, was incarnated in Jewish ancestry and culture, He and His mission is really meant for all. Whatever the angels of God revealed to Mary and to Joseph, truly changed the direction of human civilization. The "yes" of both Mary and Joseph to God's will has began the process of mankind's salvation from sin. If you have an opportunity to read the book entitled, "Life of Christ", by Bishop Fulton Sheen, he writes that history is full of men who claim to have come from God. These are men like Buddha, Mohammed, Confucius, Lao-tze, and many others. However, their births were not pre-announced; only Christ's birth was pre-announced. Christ's birth was pre-announced by: the Jewish prophets, Tacitus of ancient Rome, Chinese chroniclers, the Greek Aeschylus, Cicero, Suetonius, and Virgil. And today's gospel speaks of this pre-announcement by the mention of the Magi from the East. Such a great mystery as the Incarnation is a miracle that evokes wonder and awe. The greatness of Mary's and Joseph's faith and obedience to God's will is an example for all to follow. Their intercession for the Church is a blessing for all to be thankful always for the grace to have faith in God and to obey His will as best as each can in whatever circumstance life brings to all.

Scripture quotes from the readings:
The Lord himself will give you this sign: the virgin shall be with child (Isaiah 7)
He whose heart is clean shall receive a blessing from the Lord (Psalm 24)
Jesus Christ our Lord was descended from David according to the flesh but was made Son of God in power, according to the spirit of holiness (Romans 1)
Joseph, son of David, it is by the Holy Spirit that Mary has conceived this child (Matthew 1)

3rd Sunday of Advent (A)

Sunday reflections from liturgical years 2014 (A), 2015 (B), and 2016 (C)

December 15, 2013 (edited for 12/14/2025)
Liturgical readings
Isaiah 35:1-6, 10
Psalm 146
James 5:7-10
Matthew 11:2-11

"Go back and report to John what you hear and see."

St. John the Baptist and Jesus the Messiah. Both of them prophets. Both were martyred. John prepared the way for Christ. And Christ prepared the way for His people, and continues to prepare the Way for all, through the ministers of the Sacraments in the Catholic Church.

After John finished his mission to baptize in the river Jordan, he decreases in stature; and Christ's mission begins to be in the forefront - to build the Kingdom of God by His mission of healing and preaching to the Jews and Gentiles who professed faith in Him. As Jesus now enters the forefront, He commends John the Baptist for his great role in preparing the people Israel to be saved from sin.

These were two great men in their own right. They call all humanity to follow in their footsteps. The mission is especially the responsibility of the faithful, who are called to bring themselves and others back to God in the fire of the Holy Spirit, by a life of repentance and amendment of life. It is the amendment and reform of one's life as well as its promotion to non-believers that witness to the life of Christ and God's Kingdom.

The baptisms performed by John the Baptist, and our own baptism in the name of the Holy Trinity, makes us share in the prophetic mission of of both John the Baptist and Jesus. How are we to understand the prophetic vocation we received from baptism? A prophet is one who speaks in behalf of God to the people. He announces the Good News. And he denounces the evil of his times. This was what John the Baptist and Christ Jesus Himself also did. The gospel reveals that both their announcement of God's Kingdom and the denouncement of the evil of their own times have cost them their life. Not all are called to be martyrs like John and Christ, but all the faithful have a responsibility to be the "salt of the earth and the light of the world" - to show to the world that a life in Christ makes a big difference in the lives of others through daily acts of patience, courage, and kindness.

Given the circumstances of the world we now live in, how can we specifically be the "salt of the earth and the light of the world" for 2026? Like John the Baptist and Christ, we can follow their footsteps to witness to what they stood for: Life in all its fullness. Prophetic witness can be as simple as opting to follow the stance of the Church with regard to the culture of life. This culture of life was emphasized and made clear to everyone in the world during the pontificate of St. John Paul II. By simply respecting life in all its stages (from womb to tomb), the faithful can make a stand in Christ, and with the Church, for the mission to value the sacrality of life as a gift from God, and a responsibility to defend and protect in the very secular contexts of family, work, and charitable deeds. And this stance can also mean in our own times, to adopt the mindset of inclusivity and acceptance of diversity in the world: that no person, no community, and no country, ought to be left behind.

Verses from this Sunday readings:
Say to those whose hearts are frightened; be strong fear not! (Isaiah 35)
The Lord gives food to the hungry; He sets captives free (Psalm 146)
Steady your hearts because the coming of the Lord is at hand (James 5)
History has not known man born of woman greater than John the Baptizer (Matthew 11)