Saints + Scripture: The Nativity of the Lord

The Popish Plot
"It Is Christmas, for Christ's Sake"

'Tis the Solemnity of the Nativity of the Lord (Christmas): Nativity-link ūnus, Nativity-link duo, Nativity-link trēs, Wikipedia-link Nativity, & Wikipedia-link Christmas.

Commentary: Wayback Machine. "Advent of Hope" reflection (Array of Hope):

Christ is born! Let us rejoice in the wonder of Christmas, the birth of our Lord and Savior! He has come to share in our human existence. He comes to us this Christmas day in the most intimate and real way. He comes because He loves us. We are no longer alone, no longer walk in darkness, but have a Savior who is always with us. His love for us is infinite. It enters into our brokenness, suffering, and poverty to wipe away all our troubles and fill our heart with peace and hope. Do not doubt His love for you, but allow it to bring comfort to your heart.

Let us rejoice!

The joy of Christmas is not something we celebrate only once a year; it can be experienced every single day of our lives! Through the Holy Spirit, the Sacraments, and our loved ones, we can experience the birth of Christ within us each day. Our Advent preparations are meant to change us. His love within us will continue to transform and renew us. Reflect on how you have grown this Advent. Whether you successfully did all you wanted to do or not, apply your Advent practices to your daily life so that you may continue to grow in virtue and become the Saint you were created to be. May the peace of God enter your heart and ignite ignite it with the love of Christ.

Merry Christmas!

Video reflection by Father Joseph Mary Wolfe, M.F.V.A. & Michael Warsaw (Eternal Word Television Network): Merry Christmas!

Scripture of the Day
Mass Readings—Solemnity of the Nativity of the Lord: Vigil
The Book of Isaiah, chapter sixty-two, verses one thru five;
Psalm Eighty-nine (R/. two[a]), verses four & five, sixteen & seventeen, & twenty-seven & twenty-nine;
The Acts of the Apostles, chapter thirteen, verses sixteen, seventeen, & twenty-two thru twenty-five;
The Gospel according to Matthew, chapter one, verses one thru twenty-five
(or, the Gospel according to Matthew, chapter one, verses eighteen thru twenty-five).

Mass Readings—Solemnity of the Nativity of the Lord: Night
The Book of Isaiah, chapter nine, verses one thru six;
Psalm Ninety-six, verses one & two, two & three, eleven & twelve, & thirteen
(R/. the Gospel according to Luke, chapter two, verse eleven);
The Letter to Titus, chapter two, verses eleven thru fourteen;
The Gospel according to Luke, chapter two, verses one thru fourteen.

Mass Readings—Solemnity of the Nativity of the Lord: Dawn
The Book of Isaiah, chapter sixty-two, verses eleven & twelve;
Psalm Ninety-seven, verses one & six, eleven & twelve
(R/. "A light will shine on us this day: the Lord is born for us");
The Letter to Titus, chapter three, verses four thru seven;
The Gospel according to Luke, chapter two, verses fifteen thru twenty.

Mass Readings—Solemnity of the Nativity of the Lord: Day
The Book of Isaiah, chapter fifty-two, verses seven thru ten;
Psalm Ninety-eight (R/. three[c]), verses one, two & three, three & four, & five & six;
The Letter to the Hebrews, chapter one, verses one thru six;
The Gospel according to John, chapter one, verses one thru eighteen
(or, the Gospel according to John, chapter one, verses one thru five & nine thru fourteen).

Commentary: Reflection by Bishop Robert Barron (Word on Fire):

Friends, our Gospel for Christmas day is the Prologue to the Gospel of John. In many ways, it is the entire Gospel, indeed the entire Bible, in miniature.

Let’s turn to the central passage: "And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us." The word used in Greek here for "dwelt" is Eskenosen, which means literally, "pitched his tent among us." Don’t read that in a folksy way. It is meant to call to mind the tabernacle of the temple.

The Word becoming flesh is God coming to dwell definitively in his world, undoing the effects of sin, and turning it into what it was always meant to be. Notice, too, what we see in the wake of this tabernacling: "And we saw his glory, the glory as of the Father’s only Son, full of grace and truth."

So John is telling us that Jesus is the new Eden, the new temple, the restored creation, the realization of God’s intention for the world. And our purpose is not simply to gaze on this fact with wonder, but rather to enter into its power: "From his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace."

Reflect: Spend some time in quiet praise and thanksgiving today for the greatest gift of all times: the incarnate Son of God!

Video reflection by Jem Sullivan, Ph.D. (U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops): Daily Reflection.

Video reflection by Bishop Robert Barron (Word on Fire): "On Christmas and the Prologue of John."

Papal Quote o' the Day

"Look upon the Baby born in Bethlehem Who is beside His Mother Mary. Draw near to Him, prostrate yourselves to adore Him, & offer Him the gifts that you bear in your heart."
—Pope St. John Paul II the Great (1920-2005, feast day: 22 October)

Saint Quote o' the Day

"[Baby] Jesus pressed His head against my heart & gave me to know, by His profound gaze, how good He found it to be next to my heart."
—St. Maria Faustyna of the Blessed Sacrament, Diary § 1442 (1905-1938)

Chesterton Quote o' the Day

"Glory to God in the Lowest
The spout of the stars in spate—
Where the thunderbolt thinks to be slowest
And the lightning fears to be late;
As men dive for a sunken gem
Pursuing, we hunt and hound it,
The fallen star that has found it
In the cavern of Bethlehem."
—G. K. Chesterton (1874-1936)