Sunday

25 Dec 2019

Solemnity of the Nativity of the Lord (Christmas), Cycle A Click here for all content for this cycle Solemnity of the Nativity of the Lord (Christmas), Cycle A

SUNDAY SUMMARY

VIGIL Isaiah 62:1-5/NIGHT Isaiah 9:1-6/DAWN Isaiah 62:11-12/DAY Isaiah 52:7-10  How beautiful the news: Our time in darkness is ended, for we are the delight of God.

Psalm 89:4-5, 16-17, 27, 29/Psalm 96:1-2, 2-3, 11-12, 13/Psalm 97:1, 6, 11-12/Psalm 98:1, 2-3, 3-4, 5-6  All the ends of the earth sing a new song: The Lord is born for us this day!

Acts of the Apostles 13:16-17, 22-25/Titus 2:11-14/Titus 3:4-7/Hebrews 1:1-6  In times past God revealed the divine plan to a few. Now, the blessed hope is for all.

Matthew 1:1-25/Luke 2:1-14/Luke 2:15-20/John 1:1-18  Through all of human history the Word of God hurtles toward us in love.

To access PREPARE THE WORD's library of Christmas homilies, click here.

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The inner word

What’s in your heart?

The readings at the various Christmas Masses contain many powerful images. Sometimes, because we've heard them so often, we need to come at them with fresh eyes.

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Exploring the word

Practice a loving Christmas presence

For everything there is a season, an ancient Hebrew sage once told us. The season of Christmas, which lasts for eight days, is surely a time for love. God shows his delight in the human race—yes, us: weak, faltering, faulty, disobedient, and disappointing as we often are.

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In other words

The Sunday gospel in everyday English

The Word was first, the Word present to God, God present to the Word.

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Homily stories

The package is not the gift

In fifth grade our teacher let us have a Christmas party, complete with a grab bag gift exchange. That morning I spied a big package—the size and shape of a fun board game—wrapped in shiny paper and with a big glitzy bow on it. I knew I had to have it.

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Homily stories

The Word shines out

To say the "Word became flesh" is to say that human beings in all their earthiness are holy creatures—true children of God made in the very image of God. Consequently the work of human hands is equally graced. 

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Homily stories

Christmas sings all year 'round

Why is it that Christmas carols, the same ones we sing year after year, mean so much to us? I hear "Silent Night," and I think of setting up the creche in the family grocery store. I hear "0 Holy Night," and I remember being thanked by an elderly couple from their window after going caroling through the neighborhood.

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Prayers

Penitential Act & Prayer of the Faithful

On this day of celebration of the coming of God's Son, we pray for the grace to welcome him and follow him.

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Quotes

Christmas is not just a seasonal celebration or the memory of a beautiful event. Christmas is an encounter!

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