Joy in the Flesh

Nativity of the Lord, Mass during the Day

Liturgical Apostolate Center

December 25, 2024]

Palpable joy

Here is palpable joy at the arrival of redemption;

in the palpable presence of God @ work.

Watch, shout for joy, break into song together;

God bares his holy arm (ie, he “flexes” to show his power to the nations).*

All this & beautiful feet, too!

Responsory

Oh sing to the Lord a new song,1

His right hand and his holy arm

have worked salvation for him1*

Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth;1🗡️

sound lyre & harp, trumpets and horn;

Let the sea, roar; rivers, clap hands.

1 English Standard Version Catholic Edition (n.p.: Augustine Institute, 2019), Ps 98:1.

🗡️ ie, ululation

It is in the advent of Jesus that the love of God is first revealed; that the new, the eternal life, is first given; that we become children of the Father, and brothers of one another.

Andrew Murray

Epistle

  “Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world.” (Hebrews 1:1–2, ESV-CE)  

Not all of the mystery of the Godhead can be known by man, but just as certainly, all that man can know of God in this life is revealed in Jesus Christ.7

A. W. Tozer

Gospel

  “In him was life, and the life was the light of men.” (John 1:4, ESV-CE)  

  “For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father’s side, HE has made him known.” (John 1:17–18, ESV-CE)  

We talk about the infant savior; we should be careful.

The fact that he came as an infant,

the most vulnerable of the vulnerable,

is vastly important,

but equally important is that

he redeems us as a man

fully free and conscious of the consequences of his choice;

for himself & for all humanity.

6515 When we try to understand Jesus Christ’s teaching with our heads, we get into a fog. What Jesus Christ taught is only explainable to the personality of the mind in relation to the personality of Jesus Christ. It is a relationship of life, not of intellect.

Oswald Chambers (Lecturer and Missionary)

Other Readings:

Vigil:

Isaiah 62:1–5 , Acts 13:16–25, Matthew 1:1–25

Midnight:

Isaiah 9:2–7, Titus 2:11–14, Luke 2:1–14

Dawn:

Isaiah 62:11–12, Titus 3:4–7, Luke 2:15–20