These reflections are a result of more than 40 years of ministry as a Roman Catholic priest. Most of these years I spent in the Diocese of Charlotte which covers Western North Carolina. Now I am retired, and live in Medellín, Colombia where I continue to serve as a priest in the Archdiocese of Medellín.
(MASS DURING THE NIGHT)
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.
(Lk 2:1-14)
(MASS AT DAWN)
So the shepherds went in haste and found Mary and Joseph,
and the infant lying in the manger.
When they saw this,
they made known the message
that had been told them about this child.
(Lk 2:15-20)
The Son of God became the Son of Man so that all men and women could become the dear Children of God.
MERRY CHRISTMAS!
O Virgin of virgins, how shall this be?
For never before or after, has there been any like you.
Daughters of Jerusalem, why marvel at me?
For what you behold is a divine mystery.
In the tender compassion of our God
the dawn from on high shall break upon us,
to shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death,
and to guide our feet into the way of peace.
(Lk 1:67-79)
Our joyful waiting is almost at an end, as the Canticle of Zechariah proclaims, “the dawn from on high shall break upon us.”
O Emmanuel, our King and Giver of Law: come to save us, Lord our God!
All who heard these things took them to heart, saying,
“What, then, will this child be?"
For surely the hand of the Lord was with him.
(Lk 1:57-66)
“What will this child be?” A wonderful question whenever we encounter a child. For as people of faith we know that the hand of the Lord is with every child born into this world. I had an uncle who was born on December 26th. My grandmother always made sure to hold back one of his Christmas presents for him to open on his birthday and of course, there was always a birthday cake. And for all those who were born in this holy time, and share a birthday near the Lord’s, we know that your love is like His. The picture today is of John the Baptist from the Church of Saint Mary in West Jefferson, NC. The Christmas Carol today is from Colombia, Dulce Jesús Mío (My Sweet Jesus).
O King of all nations and keystone of the Church: come and save man, whom you formed from the dust!
He has cast down the mighty from their thrones
and has lifted up the lowly.
He has filled the hungry with good things,
and the rich he has sent away empty.
(Lk 1:46-56)
The Canticle of Hannah (which is the Responsorial Psalm of today) is the source of the Canticle of Mary. What is remarkable is that both canticles speak of God’s favor (God’s preferential option) for the humble and the poor. The picture today is of an Appalachian Mother & Child from the Great Depression. The Christmas Carol is from Colombia and is about poverty, El Niño No Nos Trajo (The Baby Jesus Brought Us Nothing).
O Radiant Dawn,
splendor of eternal light, sun of justice:
come and shine on those who dwell in darkness
and in the shadow of death.
Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit,
cried out in a loud voice and said,
“Most blessed are you among women,
and blessed is the fruit of your womb.
And how does this happen to me,
that the mother of my Lord should come to me?
For at the moment the sound of your greeting reached my ears,
the infant in my womb leaped for joy.
Blessed are you who believed
that what was spoken to you by the Lord
would be fulfilled.”
(Lk 1:39-45)
“Most blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb.“ Elizabeth’s words have echoed through the ages. As we come to these final days of waiting for the Lord’s coming, Mary’s faith gives us hope. As Elizabeth says of Mary, “Blessed are you who believed.” We share Mary’s faith in the Radiant Dawn, the Sun of Justice, the Splendor of Eternal Light, our Lord Jesus Christ. The picture is of the fresco, Mary Great with Child, in Saint Mary's Church, West Jefferson, NC. The Christmas Carol is Colombian, Salve Reina y Madre (Hail, Queen and Mother).
