Word to the Wise
Friday, December 25, 2015 - Christmas: Mass during the Day - ABC
[Isa 52:7-10; Heb 1:1-6; John 1:1-18 or 1:1-5, 9-14,3]And the Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us, and we saw his glory, the glory as of the Father's only Son, full of grace and truth. [John]
No matter which service you attend this Christmas, (and I admit I am no longer able to handle Midnight Mass, no matter what time it starts) I recommend spending a few moments reading the gospel scriptures for each of the separate Masses: Midnight, Dawn, and During the Day. Most of the story is laid out before us. (The Magi are on the way!) It begins with the birth of Jesus, proceeds to the shepherds as representatives of us all and then jumps to the tremendous statement of meaning from the Gospel of John: "And the Word became flesh." It is the reality of "grace and truth" which springs out at me!
When I stop by the nativity scene here in our Dominican house in Lubbock, it is the line from the Gospel of John that comes to mind. Grace and truth are revealed in the child in the manger. Grace and truth are revealed by the angels to the shepherds. Grace and truth are revealed to the Magi. This is what the shepherds proclaim to anyone they meet. This is what Mary ponders in her heart. This is what the Magi discover when they arrive.
The nativity scene will probably disappear in the next day or so. (Is there any chance of leaving it up till the Magi have come and gone and the Holy Family has fled to Egypt?) But grace and truth remain to be proclaimed and lived throughout the year. We are the shepherds, the recipients of this joyful news! Let this be our Christmas "mantra," GRACE AND TRUTH! AMEN!
[To all the members of the Beloved Congregation, I wish you a blessed and holy Christmas/Epiphany season, filled with grace and truth. I will remember you all at Mass, but not at Midnight! I also pray you will have a Happy and Healthy New Year 2016.]