Christmas, Solemnity of the Nativity of the Lord (ABC) Midnight

December 25, 2020

 

Readings:

First Reading: Isaiah 9: 1-6

Psalm 69 “Today is born our Savior, Christ the Lord.”

Second Reading: Titus 2: 11-14

Gospel reading according to Luke 2: 1-14

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Homily:

“In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that the whole world should be enrolled.  This was the first enrollment, when Quirinius was governor of Syria.  So all went to be enrolled, each to his own” (Luke 2: 1-3).  “A census is the numbering or registration of people.  It is generally done for the purpose of taxation or military recruitment. Censuses are reported in the Bible in both the Old Testament and the New Testament” (https://www.learnreligions.com/meaning-of-census). “The Census of Quirinius was a census of Judea taken by Publius Sulpicius Quirinius, Roman governor of Syria, upon the imposition of direct Roman rule of Caesar Augustus.  The Gospel of Luke uses it as the narrative means to establish the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem” (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Census_of_Quirinius). 

Luke has Joseph and Mary making a three-day journey away from their home in Nazareth to register in their ancestral home in Bethlehem.  “And 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, to be enrolled with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child” (Luke 2: 4-5).  When Joseph went up to Bethlehem to register according to the decree of Emperor Augustus for he belonged to the tribe of King David, his ancestor, he took with him his wife Mary, who was nine months pregnant.

At that moment, the time came for Mary to deliver and give birth to her child.  “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” (Luke 2: 6-7).  And Mary has her child.  She gave birth to her firstborn son in a cave where animals, i.e., sheep, cows and asses, and goats, etc. were kept safe.  She wrapped him with swaddling clothes (Swaddling clothes described in the Bible consisted of a cloth tied together by bandage-like strips. After an infant was born, the umbilical cord was cut and tied, and then the baby was washed, rubbed with salt and oil, and wrapped with strips of cloth. These strips kept the newborn child warm and also ensured that the child's limbs would grow straight.) (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swaddling) and laid in a manger where animals were fed, for they did not find any vacant inn for many came over to be registered in the worldwide census.

Not far from that place there were shepherds tending and keeping the night watch their flock in the fields.  Most of them were still awoken and warming themselves in a bonfire.  Some of them were telling stories and their adventures while tending their flock in the fields to let the time pass.  When suddenly a bright light shone to them.  “Now there were shepherds in the region living in the fields and keeping the night watch over their flock.  The angel of the Lord appeared to them and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were struck with great fear.  The 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.  For today in the city of David a savior has been born for you who is Christ and Lord.  And this will be a sign for you: you will find an infant wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger” (Luke 2: 8-12). The glory of God brightened the place and the angel of the Lord appeared to them. Then the shepherds were surprised, dead-pounded with great fear.  Then the angel of the Lord announced to them the greatest news ever proclaimed.  The angel said, “I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.  For today in the city of David a savior has been born for you who is Christ and Lord.”  The angel also gave a sign to find the child and what he said was true, “You will find an infant wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger.”  After saying this, “And suddenly there was a multitude of the heavenly host with the angel, praising God and saying: Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests” (Luke 2: 13-14). As the whole company of the heavenly angels rejoiced and celebrated the great news from acceptance of Mary to become the mother of the Lord up to giving birth to Jesus, the multitude of heavenly host rejoices and giving praises to God the Almighty; while in Hell, the demons and Satan’s cohorts were continuously angry, grinding and gnashing their teeth, the heat of Hell became more intense and the sadness was felt because of Mary’s giving birth to the Savior of the world.

“Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”