The Word was made flesh and dwelt among us"

Jesus Christ, the divine "Word", became a real human being,

living among people to reveal God's glory, grace, and truth.

"The Word" : Refers to Jesus, 

 

＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊      

Isaiah 52:7-10

How beautiful

On the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news,

who herald peace and happiness, who proclaim salvation and announce to Zion: "Your God is King!"

Together your watchmen raise their voices in praise and song; they see the Lord face to face returning to Zion.

Break into shouts of joy, O ruins of Jerusalem, for the Lord consoles his people and redeems Jerusalem.

The Lord has bared his holy arm in the eyes of the nations; all the ends of the earth, in alarm, will witness God's salvation.

 

Ps 98:1, 2-3, 3-4, 5-6 

All the ends of the earth have seen the saving power of God.

 

＊＊＊ 2nd Reading ＊＊＊

Hebrews 1:1-6

God has spoken, in the past, to our ancestors, through the prophets in many different ways,

although never completely; but, in our times, he has spoken definitively to us, through his Son.

He is the one God appointed heir of all things, since, through him, he unfolded the stages of the world.

 

He is the radiance of God’s glory, and bears the stamp of God’s hidden being,

so that his powerful word upholds the universe. And after taking away sin, he took his place,

at the right hand of the divine Majesty, in heaven. So he is now far superior to angels,

just as the name he received sets him apart from them. To what angel did God say: You are my son,

I have begotten you today? And to what angel did he promise:

I shall be a father to him and he will be a son to me?

On sending his Firstborn to the world, God says: Let all the angels adore him.

 

＊＊＊ Gospel ＊＊＊      

John 1:1-18

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 were made through him, and without him nothing came to be. Whatever has come to be,

found life in him; life, which for human beings, was also light, light that shines in darkness, light that darkness could not overcome.

A man came, sent by God; his name was John.

 

He came to bear witness, as a witness to introduce the Light,

so that all might believe through him.

He was not the Light, but a witness to introduce the Light;

for the Light was coming into the world, the true Light that enlightens everyone.

He was in the world, and through him the world was made, the very world that did not know him.

 

He came to his own, yet his own people did not receive him;

but to all who received him, he empowers to become children of God, for they believe in his name.

These are born, but not by seed, or carnal desire, nor by the will of man: they are born of God.

And the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us; and we have seen his glory,

the glory of the only Son of the Father: fullness of truth and loving-kindness.

 

John bore witness to him openly, saying, "This is the one who comes after me,

but he is already ahead of me, for he was before me." From his fullness we have all received, favor upon favor.

For God had given us the law through Moses, but Truth and Loving-kindness came through Jesus Christ.

No one has ever seen God, but God-the only Son made him known: the one, who is in and with the Father.

 

Gospel Reflection ：

"The Word was made flesh and dwelt among us."

Christmas is a feast full of wonder and hope. What we celebrate is no less

than God's entry into the world to share fully in our human nature:

"The Word was made flesh and dwelt among us." At the heart of our faith is our belief in the love of God.

 

Christ's birth is proof of that. So, it's that love that should be at the heart of our Christmas celebrations.

God's love for us prompts our love for him and our love for others.

It's God's love that should fuel our family gatherings and our celebrations.

It's God's love that urges us to spare a thought for those less fortunate than ourselves,

and to care for and to pray for those who are struggling at this time.

 

Christ, the Son of God was born in a messy stable.

This tells us that God is near at every moment of life, including the toughest of times.

Christ enters our lives to offer hope, love and salvation and that is the Good News we celebrate.

Jesus has come to make his home in our hearts. So, let's thank him; let's praise him. Come let us adore him!