A. Back ground:
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A.1 PURPOSE OF ADVENT
Today we remember the birth of Christ. Previous 4 sundays we reflected how to give rise to christ birth in our life. From today until 6 th January we will be reflecting about the characteristics of holy family and Jesus, comparing their earthly characters. In order to understand this one should have given birth to Jesus, by understanding and following the knowledge and actions given in advent season and be convinced about Catholicism. Otherwise the reflection need to carry out in christmas time will be difficult!.
A.2- CHRISTMAS SEASON
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From December 25 th we start the Christmas season until January 6th. December 25 th we remember the historical event of Jesus birth. Jesus birth essentially remind us
(1) Promised messiah to relieve human to reach the intended happiness of God's creation
(2) How God beautifully send Jesus, like a normal human to this world. In order to do that how HE selected Holy Mary and Joseph
And of their virginal marriege.
(3)Jesus has shown the human + divine characteristics; Mary has shown how to follow God's will and Joseph represent all of human(including saints)how we should carry out God's will.
B. Preamble for today's reading:
B.1 Beauty of God's plan
God in HIS own wisdom, has decided how to send HIS own son Jesus to this world to show us a path for gaining happiness. the birth of Christ we remember age old prophecies that were made 500 of years in advance fulfilled,that a virgin would conceive (Is7:14), and redeemer would be born of the tribe of Judah(Gen 49:10),
The season of advent which prepares for Christmas reminds us that God never ceases to come to us in order to create"New Heavens,new earth where according to his promise,the justice of God will reside"(2 Pt3:13)
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But in order for God to come among us,we must welcome him."Here I stand,knocking at the door. If anyone hears me calling and open the door,I will enter his house"(Rv3:20) Each year Christmas allow us to realize again the necessity of creating a place for God to come &reside among us"&"create with us A NEW EARTH".B.2 Historical Jesus and living jesus
We cannot separate the jesus of history for what some people call the Christ of Faith. They are one and the same. We need to put Jesus back to the first century context. If we disconnect Him from history or come up with some sort of New Age Jesus, who is detached from the cross or the resurrection, we have lost His real identity. The same goes with anti-Semitism in the name of a Jesus whose first century Jewish ness has been ignored or suppressed. How are we going out to sort out the real Jesus from the fake, unless Jesus anchored in the historical gospels?. There are countless people who has disconnected Jesus from reality and then manufactured their own version of Him.- A Jesus who teaches them what they want to hear rather than what they separately need to know. This Jesus is anemic- powerless and pale, because He exists only in their imaginations. All the while the authentic Jesus- with His love and strength, His miraculous power and saving grace- stand patiently by. So many people are creating Jesus who matches their preconceptions about what they think He should be like, but in the process they are missing the real Jesus!.
B.3 Back ground of Christmas:
The feast of christmas," the mass of christ" is not one of the church's earliest festivals; in fact birth of christ used to be celebrated on January 6th in union of the visit of the Magi. The feast of nativity became distinct in the eastern church during the 3rd century, and at Rome about the year 300. Here the date was december 25 th, but other parts of the church kept different days for a long time. It is likely that the selection of the december date was due to an effort to supplant the great Roman Solar feast'natalis solis invicti'(the birth of the unconquerable sun God, by the celebration of the earthly birth of "The light of the world", who indeed is so unconquerable as our lord? Wrote st chrysostom in the 4th century.'HE IS THE SUN OF JUSTICE'.
B.4. Pope's Masses on christmas
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The pope used to say mid night mass of the angels in the great basilica of St Mary Major, where the relics of the manager are preserved, to recall our Lords Eternal Birth in the bosom of the Father' before the dawn of ages'.
The second mass at day break, 'The mass of the shepard' was said by the pope in St Anastasia's church.(Resurrection)basilica in Jerusalem, and it was the official chapel of the imperial Byzantine court at Rome. This Mass was to commemorate the human birth of the"Light of Light"
The 3rd and solemn mass of the feast is then celebrated in St Peters and was meant to symbolize christ's birth in the hearts of the faithful, and is coming in glory to every human. This 3rd mass came to be favorite one of the court ceremonies, such as the coronation of Charlenmagne by the pope in 800, or that of William of Normandy in westminister in 1066.
B.5. Popular catholic customs:
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Crib
St Francis of Assisi, originated, to adore holy babe in 1223. He erected a representation of the stable and manger with a live ox and Ass in a forest-cave near the little town of graccio. During the Mass, the saint preached to the villagers on the limit less mercy, pity and love of God, and the image of the Babe in his arms was seen to come to life for a short space.
Christmas Carols and Trees
In the 11th and 12th centuries the German. Christmas songs and 'Noels' came into being, and 'Carols' in 13th century. Jacopane da Todi at1306 AD is regarded as the composer of the charming 'stabat Mater Specioosa'. In the 10th century appeared the tradition that the trees and blosom on christmas night. Candles on a Christmas tree are 1 st mentioned in 13 th century epic. Our christmas tree seems to have of been German origin, and is symbolic both of the tree of life in the garden of Eden and of the tree of the Cross. It is earliest reference is 1605, but it did not attain popularity in Germany and England until about 1840.
C. Today's readings:
Vigil Mass:
Mt(1:18-25) " ...... The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son and they will call Him Emmanuel, a name which means' God-is-with-us'......."
Act of apostles(Ac 13:16-17.22-25) says
"............I am not the one you imagine me to be: that one is coming after me and I am not fit to undue His sandal"
Prophet isaiah(Is 62:1-5) says:"
"About Zion I will not be silent....."
All readings summerises how the propercy of birth of Jesus is fulfilled!
Mass during night:
Lk 2:1-14 says"........and suddenly with the angel there was a great thrown of the heavenly host praising God and singing
'Glory to God and highest heaven, and peace to men who enjoy His favor"
Paul(Tt 2:11-14) says "God's grace has been revealed, and it has made salvation possible for the whole human race......"
Prophet isaiah says(Is 9:1-7)"the people that walked in darkness has seen a great light...."
All readings Reminds; about the good news of great Joy.
Mass at dawn:
Lk 2:15-20:
"Now when the angels had gone from them into heaven, the shepard said to one another 'let us go to Bethlehem..........and the Shepard went back glorifying and praising God for all......."
Paul says(Tt 3:4-7)" ...........it was for no reason except His own compassion that He saved us......."
Prophet Isaiah says" say to the daughter of Zion, 'look your savior comes......."
All readings reminds that we have to give birth to christ in our lives!
Mass at day time:
Jn 1:1-18: " .... But to all who did accept Him
He gave power to become children of God......"
Letter to Hebrew(Heb1:1-6)" at various times in the past and in various different ways God spoke to our ancestors, through the prophets ; but in our own time, the last days, He has spoken to us through His son........"
Prophet Isaiah(is 52:7-10) says" how beautiful on the mountains,are the feet of one who brings good news........"
All readings reminds that when you follow the new message of jesus you will be relieved from fear and sorrow, in the present life!
Conclusion:
In advent we were requested to understand the basic actions needed to plant birth of christ. In christmas season we were invited to know further the historical background of how God has send His own son for our salvation. Special attention to be made about how Jesus came through Holy Mary
and St Joseph in to this world. The role of Mary and joseph in facilitation Jesus to come to this world.
Christmas day we will be mainly reminded
(1)Historical birth of jesus Christ
(2)Singing of angels at the birth of Jesus- carols
(3)Reminding the salvation for humans by christmas tree- introduction of original tree of life at the garden of Eden!.
Christianity is the new message of LOVE to all humans in this world. Until one feels the spirit of Christmas,there is no Christmas!.
Wish you a Happy Christmas!
GBU
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