CCC 456-460, 566: “Why did the Word become flesh?”
CCC 461-463, 470-478: The Incarnation
CCC 437, 525-526: the Christmas mystery
CCC 439, 496, 559, 2616: Jesus is the Son of David
CCC 65, 102: God has said everything in his Word
CCC 333: The incarnate Christ worshipped by the angels
CCC 1159-1162, 2131, 2502: The Incarnation and images of Christ
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| “Nativity” by Giuseppe Sammartino, 1780s |
Commentary:
Reading 1: Isaiah 9:1-6
Commentary on Is 9:1-6
It is presumed by some scholars that this oracle of Isaiah was developed as a liturgical piece, used to celebrate the ascension of a king to the throne of Israel. The Prophet, however, speaks here of the “ideal or ultimate” king, Emmanuel [Immanuel] (see Isaiah 7:14), not a historical person, but a predicted future king (we of course see the Messiah in hindsight). The symbolism describes freedom from enslavement (the image of a yoked beast of burden is commonly used in this context) as the taskmaster (enslaver) is cast off. There will be no more war ("For every boot that tramped in battle, every cloak rolled in blood, will be burned as fuel for flames").
The oracle celebrates this future King and Messiah as one who brings wisdom from God and peace for all times. The passage concludes identifying the source or lineage of this Christ as from David’s line and references his promised succession.
CCC: Is 9:5 2305
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Responsorial Psalm:
R. (Lk 2:11) Today is born our Savior, Christ the Lord.
Commentary on Ps 96: 1-2, 2-3, 11-12, 13
“Announce his salvation, day after day.” This song of praise to the Lord invites all humanity to participate in God’s salvation. “This psalm has numerous verbal and thematic contacts with Isaiah Chapters 40-55, as does Psalm 98. Another version of the psalm is 1 Chronicles 16:23-33.” [5]
CCC: Ps 96:2 2143
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Reading II: Titus 2:11-14
Commentary on Ti 2:11-14
St. Paul gives a summary of Christian behavioral norms under the instruction and influence of the Holy Spirit (“For the grace of God has appeared…”). His language clearly implies that he expects the imminent return of Christ in the Parousia, the final judgment.
In the final verse: “to cleanse for himself a people as his own,” “The expression is taken from the Greek OT. Both Exodus 19:5 and Deuteronomy 7:6 use these words to describe Israel as Yahweh’s special possession by covenant. The nation was set apart as a holy and priestly people called to draw other nations closer to God (Deuteronomy 4:6-8; Isaiah 49:6). But since the persistence of sin and weakness prevented Israel from fulfilling this vocation under the Old Covenant, Christ came to reconstitute his covenant people in the Church (1 Peter 2:9) and to empower them to fulfill the mission once given to Israel (Matthew 5:14-16). Paul’s words are also reminiscent of the New Covenant oracles of Ezekiel, especially Ezekiel 37:23.” [6]
CCC: Ti 2:12 1809; Ti 2:13 449, 1041, 1130, 1404, 2760, 2818; Ti 2:14 802
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Gospel: Luke 2:1-14
Commentary on Lk 2:1-14
The nativity narrative from St. Luke’s Gospel begins by relating the birth of Jesus to civil rulers in place at the time. Attempts to develop an exact date for the Lord’s birth based upon these references has been problematic since there are inconsistencies (see NAB footnote on Luke 2:1-2). Of importance is the understanding at the time that Caesar Augustus was known in secular chronicles as “savior and god.” St. Luke contrasts this civil figure with the true Savior and God, Jesus.
What follows in the story provides a number of prophetic fulfillments. The Lord’s birth in Bethlehem was predicted by Isaiah (Isaiah 44:28-45:1). His humble birth and the virtuous attributes he demonstrated confirmed that his coming was the one predicted by prophets, angels, and heavenly heralds. As the angels proclaim emphatically, the coming of the babe in swaddling clothes brings the offer of God’s peace to the world.
CCC: Lk 2:6-7 525; Lk 2:7 515; Lk 2:8-20 486, 525; Lk 2:8-14 333; Lk 2:10 333; Lk 2:11 437, 448, 695; Lk 2:14 333, 559, 725
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Reflection:
As we listen to the oh-so-familiar verses of St. Luke’s Gospel describing the birth of Jesus in the manger of Bethlehem, many of us are catapulted back in time to our childhood. That story, supported by our favorite Christmas hymns, recalls a time of happiness and joy. We remember our innocent excitement, almost like a racial memory that linked the angels, shepherds, and holy family to the joy of giving and receiving gifts, of being together with family and friends.
The story of the nativity from St. Luke is, for most of us, synonymous with the joy of Christmas. Because of that relationship with childhood joy, it is also a time of difficult emotions as those of us who are older remember Christmases past and feel the loss of those who are not physically with us to share this wondrous feast. In these challenging years, it can also be a time of intense stress as parents struggle with difficult financial choices and the customary crowd of presents under the tree that may seem too thin this year.
To those whose emotions want to move toward depression, because of the lack of loved ones gone on before us, or finances depleted, remember the joy of the present that is always given, the story that is always told. The present God gave us was not under a Christmas tree with presents spilling out into the room. The present that brings us peace and joy was delivered in the poorest of settings. No matter how “quaint” the manger may seem set up with miniature statues of shepherds and angels, in reality it was a stable – a humble barn. How do you think Joseph felt having his wife deliver her firstborn in such a setting? And look at the gift that came to us without family and friends looking on to give support and comfort.
It is a new Christmas we celebrate this year, one that comes to us in a life full of possibilities. The Christ Child came to bring joy and peace as savior of the world, and we all should draw comfort from God’s great love that gave so great a gift. So this holy night, we remember the humble and lonely beginning of Christmas. We rejoice with the Virgin Mother and her husband at the new life they brought into the world who, through God’s loving spirit, brings life to us all.
Merry Christmas
[1] Catechism links are taken from the Homiletic Directory, published by the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, 29 June 2014.
[2] The picture is “Nativity” by Giuseppe Sammartino, 1780s.
[5] See NAB footnote on Psalm 96.
[6] Ignatius Catholic Study Bible, © 2010, Ignatius Press, San Francisco
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