Christmas,
Cycle C
Celebrant: In Christmas joy and
hope, let us present all our needs to God with confidence.
Deacon/Lector:
For the Holy Church of God
throughout the world, that as she celebrates the birth of Christ, she may grow
in holiness, we pray to the Lord…
For all those who do not yet
believe in Christ, that they may know that today a Savior is born for them, we
pray to the Lord…
For peace in the world, that
nations may resolve their conflicts by giving themselves over the Christ, the
Prince of Peace, we pray to the Lord…
For those who are alone or
abandoned, for the oppressed and the hungry, the homeless, and the unborn, we
pray to the Lord…
For all the sick of our families
and our parish, that they may join their sufferings to the sufferings of Christ,
we pray to the Lord…
For all those who have died, that
by the power of Christ's birth on earth, they may be born in heaven, we pray to
the Lord…
Celebrant:
Father, the birth of your Son
renews our hope.
As you answer our prayers,
Give us grace always to bear
witness to him
before the world,
For he is Lord forever and ever.
Amen.
Bulletin Insert
Click here for the
Spanish translation of this bulletin insert
Messiah and Lord
At midnight Mass of Christmas, we
hear the glorious announcement that a Savior has been born for us. From the
beginning of time, prophets announced that the Messiah of the Lord would come.
"Messiah," or "Christ" means "Anointed one." God anointed many people to carry
out special missions for him.
On Christmas, this prophecy was
fulfilled in a surprising way, because the angels did not simply announce that
Jesus was the Messiah of the Lord. They said the newborn child was Messiah AND Lord. God did not just send a Messiah.
He came himself.
This Child is the God who made us all. And by coming in this way, he joined
every human life, born and unborn, to Himself. Christmas is, indeed, the feast
of the dignity of every human life.
Homily Hints
Vigil:
Is 62:1-5
Acts 13:16-17, 22-25
Mt 1:1-25 or 1:18-25
Midnight:
Is 9:1-6
Ti 2:11-14
Lk 2:1-14
Dawn:
Is 62:11-12
Ti 3:4-7
Lk 2:15-20
Day:
Is 52:7-10
Heb 1:1-6
Jn 1:1-18 or 1:1-5, 9-14
A selection of Advent-Christmas
reflections, in general and also related to pro-life themes, can be found at
http://www.priestsforlife.org/preaching/advent-christmas.htm. This material
can be helpful for preaching on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.
In today’s readings, we see that
Christmas is linked to Easter. Christmas is the Feast of the Incarnation (not
only of the event of his birth), and Christ takes on a human body precisely so
as to offer the sacrifice of that body that saves the world. In fact, his
sacrifice is not limited to Calvary. It begins even in the womb. “A body you
have prepared for me … I come to do your will.” Even as an embryo, Jesus was
offering himself to the Father, in obedience to his will and for our salvation.
“A Savior is born for you.” He is a savior precisely because he bears our human
nature, and has a human body like we do – a body offered on the cross and in the
Eucharist.
As we see in the first reading
and the Gospel, the details of his birth are carefully planned by God and
foretold by his prophets. His birth is all about hope fulfilled and hope
inspired. That hope outlasts his birth, and extends to us today as we work to
build a world in harmony with the vision of peace, life, and love that Christmas
inspires.
Liturgical Resources
