Solemnity of the Lord’s Birth—Midnight
Lk 2:1-14
1In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that the whole world should be enrolled. 2This was the first enrollment, when Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3So all went to be enrolled, each to his own town. 4And 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, 5to be enrolled with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. 6While they were there, the time came for her to have her child, 7and 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.
8Now there were shepherds in that region living in the fields and keeping the night watch over their flock. 9The angel of the Lord appeared to them and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were struck with great fear.10The 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. 11For today in the city of David a savior has been born for you who is Messiah and Lord. 12And this will be a sign for you: you will find an infant wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger.” 13And suddenly there was a multitude of the heavenly host with the angel, praising God and saying: 14“Glory to God in the highest/ and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”
Reflection:
You will find an infant. These details should be in any Christmas picture. First, the baby. The angels tell the shepherds, “You will find an infant.” He is not named at the first Christmas that we may look for him in every child born or in every unborn and aborted child. It is said that if you cannot love the many children without names, you will not be worthy either to love those whose names you know.
Second, Mary wraps him in swaddling clothes. God could have chosen a better situation for his Son. But he wraps him in simplicity—conditions, parents, and guests. God’s choice is God’s message: the Son will be for people who seek him in simplicity of heart.
Third, she lays him in a manger. The manger is the “plate” for feeding the animals with hay. This Child will be food for people hungry for God. He will later offer himself as bread to be eaten. He will be the living bread for our souls.
Find the true meaning of Christmas in these three elements and you will find God. A blessed Christmas!
Be home and be present to all the kids visiting your home!