BIBLE STUDY #69
Solemnity of the Nativity of the Lord (Christmas)
Mass at Midnight

READING 1
Isaiah 9:1-6

The people who walked in darkness
have seen a great light;
upon those who dwelt in the land of gloom
a light has shone.
You have brought them abundant joy
and great rejoicing,
as they rejoice before you as at the harvest,
as people make merry when dividing spoils.
For the yoke that burdened them,
the pole on their shoulder,
and the rod of their taskmaster
you have smashed, as on the day of Midian.
For every boot that tramped in battle,
every cloak rolled in blood,
will be burned as fuel for flames.
For a child is born to us, a son is given us;
upon his shoulder dominion rests.
They name him Wonder-Counselor, God-Hero,
Father-Forever, Prince of Peace.
His dominion is vast
and forever peaceful,
from David's throne, and over his kingdom,
which he confirms and sustains
by judgment and justice,
both now and forever.
The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this!

The Word of the Lord

READING 2
Titus 2:11-14

Beloved:
The grace of God has appeared, saving all
and training us to reject godless ways and worldly desires
and to live temperately, justly, and devoutly in this age,
as we await the blessed hope,
the appearance of the glory of our great God
and savior Jesus Christ,
who gave himself for us to deliver us from all lawlessness
and to cleanse for himself a people as his own,
eager to do what is good.

The Word of the Lord

GOSPEL
Luke 2:1-14

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 town.
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.
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.

Now there were shepherds in that 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."
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."

The Gospel of the Lord

Reflection

There are 4 different Masses for Christmas, each with its’ own set of readings: the Vigil Mass, the Mass at Midnight, the Mass at Dawn, and the Mass during the day. I am using the Mass at Midnight, whose Gospel is the birth of Jesus according to Luke, the one we are all familiar with and want to hear at a Christmas Mass.

Today’s gospel is broken into two sections: 2:1-7, the setting and birth of Jesus, and 2:8-14, the angels giving us the meaning of Jesus.

Caesar Augustus reigned over the Roman Empire from 27 B.C. to 14 A.D. He is regarded in his time as a savior and a god. He established peace in the Empire, a Pax Augustus. It is no accident the Like has Jesus born in this time period. Ironically, it is Jesus who really is God and Savior. Augustus brought peace through conquering people. Jesus brings peace by conquering sin and death. Augustus brings peace by killing other people. Jesus brings peace by offering his life on the cross. Augustus is God’s agent in his plan of salvation (see Isaiah 44:28-45:1 and the story of King Cyrus).

There are some historical problems. Quirinius was Governor of Syria from 6-7 AD which puts him beyond the reign of King Herod (37 B.C. to 4 A.D.) and therefore beyond the story of the Nativity. There is no other evidence that Caesar Augustus ordered a world wide census or that people had to go to their ancestral towns to register. These things are not meant to be historical, but belong to the order of promise and fulfillment. The census gives Mary and Joseph a reason to be in Bethlehem for Jesus birth. The Messiah is to come from Bethlehem, the city of David, who is his long awaited heir and Messiah. Joseph is “of the house and family of David” highlighting Jesus connection to David (one of Jesus titles is Son of David – see Mark 10:46).

Mary is described as “betrothed to Joseph.” You have probably heard many a Christmas homily in which the preacher described Mary as an unwed, teenager giving birth to a Son, or something to that effect. This is not true. Mary is not single, she is married. When we think of a betrothal, we think of a modern engagement, when two people publicly state their intention to get married, solemnized by the man giving the woman a ring, at which time they are engaged to be married, but are not married until they exchange vows with each other. This was not true in Jesus day. According to the footnote to Matthew 1:18 in the Revised New American Bible, “betrothal was the first part of the marriage, constituting a man and a woman as husband and wife. Subsequent infidelity was considered adultery. The betrothal was followed some months later by the husband’s taking his wife into his home, at which time married life began.” Joseph wanted to divorce Mary quietly after he found out she was pregnant. You have to be married first before you can be divorced. Therefore, Mary was a married woman when she gave birth to Jesus.

The birth of Jesus seems almost anticlimactic, doesn’t it? After this big buildup, the birth is plainly stated: “the time came for her to have her child, and she gave birth to her firstborn son.” No embellishments, no descriptions, no fanfare, just the simple facts (sounds like Sgt. Joe Friday on Dragnet: “Just the facts, Ma’am”).

Jesus is described as the first born son. This does not mean that there were others and he was the first. It is a legal description saying that Jesus has all the rights and privileges of the first born son.

Mary dressed Jesus in “swaddling clothes.” In Wisdom 7:4, the great King Solomon was dressed in the swaddling clothes, just like any other infant. Jesus is like us in all things but sin. From his humble beginnings, he will go on to do great things, much greater than the great King Solomon.

A manger was a feeding trough for animals. One of the great themes in Luke’s gospel is food and feeding. For example, in the temptation of Jesus in chapter 4:3, Jesus is tempted by Satan to turn stones into bread; the question of fasting in 5:33; the Sermon on the Plain in 8:1 (Blessed are you who are hungry, you will be satisfied); and the feeding of the 5,000 in 9:10. The manger makes us think of Jesus as sustenance for the world, the Bread of Life. The last night of his life, Jesus hosts a meal at an inn (now there is room at the inn) in which he institutes the Eucharist.

Shepherds are a reminder of the humble origin of King David as a shepherd. Shepherds are keeping in line with Luke’s theme of poverty: they are the lowliest of the lowly and ritually unclean. They are the first to hear of Jesus’ birth, a sign of the inclusiveness of salvation.

The shepherds hear the message of Jesus birth from an angel. The job of angels is to be messengers from God. They have a message of great joy: a savior has been born who is Christ and Lord. Joy is also a recurrent theme in Luke’s Gospel, here it is joy in the Son of God’s salvific inbreaking into the human race. God became human so we can become divine.

Luke’s Gospel is the only one that describes Jesus as Savior. As Savior, Jesus is the one who offers his life for our sins, conquers death, and delivers humanity from alienation with God. The term “Christ” is a Greek word that means Messiah or Anointed One. This title was applied to the person, a royal leader, who would restore Israel to its greatness. The political overtones are toned down in Like’s Gospel, and instead the term “Messiah” is the one who brings salvation to all, Jew and Gentile alike. Lord is a title used very frequently in Luke and Acts for Jesus. In both the old and New Testament it refers to Yahweh. When applied to Jesus, it refers to his divinity and authority over humanity. Here, then, is the meaning of this passage.

Peace – we hear a lot about that this time of year. Our gospel states, “Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests." This says that when God’s favor rests on us, we will feel his peace. How do we receive God’s favor? By doing the will of the Son. That’s what much of the rest of the Gospel is about. Saying yes to God like Mary and letting the Lord be our guide and inspiration. He will then bless us abundantly, and we, in turn, can share God’s love with others so they can also feel His peace.

As we approach the great celebration of the birth of our Savior, we remember all the ways that God has blessed us. For some, 2011 may have been a good year; for many here in Lincoln Park, there have been many struggles and problems but also happiness and good times mixed in all together. In any event, we are always people of hope and gratitude because of what God has done for us by sending his Son as our Savior. Christmas is always a sign of hope because this holiday shows us the impossible becoming possible. As the angel Gabriel said to Mary in the Annunciation: “Nothing is impossible for God.” We know that no matter how many struggles we have, God’s grace and strength will see us through. We can be peaceful at all times because of God’s presence in our lives. I invite everybody to take a minute and invite the Lord into your heart. Let his presence surround you, inspire you, and guide you to a joyful life. May you always feel his peace and love. May you and all your family have a blessed and joyful Christmas.



Fr. Phil