23 December 2024

Christmas Day. 'And is it true . . . That God was man in Palestine and lives today in Bread and Wine?'

 

Adoration of the Shepherds

The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it (John 1:4).

Christmas Day

Gospel of Mass During the Day, John 1:1-18.

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God; all things were made through him, and without him was not anything made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came for testimony, to bear witness to the light, that all might believe through him. He was not the light, but came to bear witness to the light.

The true light that enlightens every man was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world knew him not. He came to his own home, and his own people received him not. But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God; who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth; we have beheld his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father. (John bore witness to him, and cried, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me ranks before me, for he was before me.’”) And from his fulness have we all received, grace upon grace. For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God; the only Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, he has made him known.

Christmas
by Sir John Betjeman, read by Ben W. Smith

No love that in a family dwells, / No carolling in frosty air, / Nor all the steeple-shaking bells / Can with this single Truth compare – / That God was man in Palestine / And lives today in Bread and Wine.

Don Oíche Úd i mBeithil (That Night in Bethlehem)
Recited in English by Burgess Meredith, sung in the original Irish by Kevin Conneff, accompaniment by The Chieftains.

Happy Christmas!

Nollaig Shona!

Malipayong Pasko!


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