Gospel Reading: John 1:1-5, 9-14
The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.
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 came to be through him, and without him nothing came to be. What came to be through him was life, and this life was the light of the human race; the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world came to be through him, but the world did not know him. He came to what was his own, but his own people did not accept him.
But to those who did accept him he gave power to become children of God, to those who believe in his name, who were born not by natural generation nor by human choice nor by a man’s decision but of God. And the Word became flesh made his dwelling among us, and we saw his glory, the glory as of the Father’s only Son, full of grace and truth.
Saint’s Words:
At the very moment Mary consented to become the Mother of God, several miraculous events took place. The Holy Spirit formed from the most pure blood of Mary’s heart a little body which he fashioned into a perfect living being: God created the most perfect soul that ever could be created. Eternal Wisdom, the Son of God, drew the body and soul into union with that person. Here we have the great wonder of heaven and the earth, the prodigious excess of the love of God.....God became man without ceasing to be God. This God-man is Jesus Christ and his name means Savior.
– Louis de Montfort, The Love of Eternal Wisdom.
A Christmas Day Prayer:
Praise to You, Lord God!
You have become one of us.
You have become a human being,
while still retaining all your power and holiness as God!
You, O Lord, made the journey of the unborn child.
By being an embryo, a fetus, and a newborn,
you joined all unborn and newborn children to you!
From the beginning of history, O Lord,
You were the Creator of every human life.
Now, with Christmas,
You join Yourself in an unthinkable way with the life You created.
Let this Christmas, O God,
fill all of us with awe and wonder
at how close human life is to You.
Cleanse the world of all that tarnishes
and rejects this gift.
Purify our hearts of all that fears this gift.
Let our Christmas joy be the joy of welcoming every human life!
Amen!
