December 25, 2025, Thursday, The Nativity of the Lord
(Christmas Mass during the Night)
Lectionary: #14, Luke 2: 1-14
Scripture
In those days, a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that the whole world should be enrolled. This was the first enrollment, when Quirinius was governor of Syria. So all went to be enrolled, each to his own town. And Joseph too went up from Galilee from the town of Nazareth to Judea, to the city of David that is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David, to be enrolled with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. While they were there, the time came for her to have her child, and she gave birth to her firstborn son. She wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
Now there were shepherds in that region living in the fields and keeping the night watch over their flock. The angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were struck with great fear. The angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For today in the city of David, a savior has been born for you who is Christ and Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find an infant wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was a multitude of the heavenly host with the angel, praising God and saying: “Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”
Reflection
The spirit of Christmas is expressed unforgettably at the close of this gospel. Since early childhood, we have heard the words and have sung them. They come into the picture when Luke writes: “Suddenly, there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying: “Glory to God in high heaven, peace on earth to those on whom his favor rests.”
The ultimate purpose of the birth of Christ among us is the glory of his Father, and the glory of his Father is that all people be saved and live in him. The prayer of Christmas is a prayer of adoration, praise, glory, and most profound thanksgiving.
We give thanks to the Lord for giving to his love a human face and a human heart, for giving to his mercy a human soul, for speaking his comfort and consolation through human lips, for expressing his forgiveness and pardon in human speech.
We praise him for taking on a human body to suffer for our sake and to be like unto us in all things but our own failings. We stand in awe and admiration for the mighty sweep of his love for us, a love so deep and unspeakable that he sent his only Son to place it on human display for all to see.
We give him glory for being a trustworthy and faithful God, true to his promise and loyal to his covenant in sending to every human being a personal Savior, Comforter, and a personal Healer and loving Reconciler.
Only when we have spoken this glory of praise and admiration can we hope for the peace that he alone can bring. Only after the heavenly host had praised God and said “Glory to high heaven” could it say “peace on earth to those on whom his favor rests.” This peace comes from singing “Glory” with all the power and strength of our being. It comes from giving to the Father uninhibited thanks.
The coming of Christ on earth at Christmas is the stunning revelation of a simple fact: God wants to become intimate with his people. He wants to mind our business. He wants to be our business. He wants to be our life, our strength, our patience, our love. When everything is said and done, the Good News consists in knowing of a sure and certain faith that the Lord has come. He has come into the world, and now he comes into our spirit, our life.
Normally, seeing is believing. Here, before the crib, believing is seeing.
La Salette Invocation
Our Lady of La Salette, reconciler of sinners,
pray without ceasing for us who have recourse to you.
