Year of Saint Joseph
Year of the Family “Amoris Laetitia The Joy of Love”
In other years: Saint Stephen, the first martyr
Readings of the Day
RB: Ch 68 The Assignment of Impossible Tasks
Mass: Sirach 3:2-7, 12-14 or 1 Sam 1:20-22, 24-28; Resp Ps 128 or Resp Ps 84; Col 3:12-21 or 1 Jn 3:1-2, 21-24; Lk 2:41-52
Blessed are they who dwell in your house, O Lord.
OPEN OUR HEARTS, O LORD, TO LISTEN TO THE WORDS OF YOUR SON.
(Gospel versicle, Mass)
The following text from a Christmas sermon* by Dietrich Bonhoeffer (1906-1945) was read after Communion at our Mass on Christmas Day. I thought it fitting for today as we reflect upon the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, they who took their place among the lowly and let God alone be high. Jesus went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was obedient to them; and His mother kept all these things in her heart. And Jesus advanced in wisdom and age and favor before God and man (Lk 2:52).
When God chooses Mary as an instrument, when God wants to enter this world in the manger in Bethlehem, this is not an idyllic family occasion, but rather the beginning of a complete reversal, a new ordering of all things on.
We cannot come to this manger in the same way we would approach the cradle of any other child. Something will happen to each of us who decides to come to Christ’s manger. Each of us will be judged or redeemed before we go away. Each of us will either break down or come to know that God’s mercy is turned towards us. All who at the manger finally lay down all power and honor, all prestige, all vanity, all arrogance and self-will; all who take their place among the lowly and let God alone be high; all who see the glory of God in the lowliness of the child in the manger; these are the ones who will truly celebrate Christmas.
MARY, HOUSE OF GOLD,
JOSEPH, HEAD OF THE HOLY FAMILY,
SAINT STEPHEN,
PRAY FOR US.
*It is possible to find the complete sermon on www.sermoncentral.com.
Today’s photo: Our made by hand creche, detail.
© Gertrude Feick 2021
