Calendar-: CHRISTMAS DAY THE NATIVITY OF THE LORD
At the Vigil Mass of December 25
Theme of the Feast: A Child Is Born to Us. On this particular night we experience the darkness that covered the world before the coming of the child promised by the prophet Isaiah. The Gospel continues this theme of the light brought into the world by the child of Bethlehem and shows us how the light shone brightest for the poor. The second reading reminds us that if we want this light to be manifested in us we must change our lives.
FIRST READING
Theme of reading-: “The Lord takes delight in you.”
A reading from the Book of Isaiah (Isaiah 62:1-5)
For Zion’s sake I will not keep silent, and for Jerusalem’s sake I will not rest, until her vindication goes forth as brightness, and her salvation as a burning torch. The nations shall see your vindication, and all the kings your glory; and you shall be called by a new name which the mouth of the Lord will give. You shall be a crown of beauty in the hand of the Lord, and a royal diadem in the hand of your God. You shall no more be termed Forsaken, and your land shall no more be termed Desolate; but you shall be called My delight is in her, and your land Married; for the Lord delights in you, and your land shall be married. For as a young man marries a virgin, so shall your sons marry you, and as the bridegroom rejoices over the bride, so shall your God rejoice over you.
The word of the Lord.
RESPONSORIAL PSALM
Gotten from-: Psalm 89:4-5. 16-17.27 and 29 (R. cf. 2a)
R. I will sing forever of your mercies, O Lord.
“With my chosen one I have made a covenant;
I have sworn to David my servant:
I will establish your descendants forever,
and set up your throne through all ages.” R.
“How blessed the people who know your praise,
who walk, O Lord, in the light of your face,
who find their joy every day in your name,
who make your justice their joyful acclaim.” R.
R. I will sing forever of your mercies, O Lord.
“He will call out to me, ‘You are my father,
my God, the rock of my salvation. ’
I will keep my faithful love for him always;
With him my covenant shall last.” R.
SECOND READING
Theme of reading-: "Paul gives witness to Christ, the son of David".
A reading from the Acts of the Apostles (Acts13:16-17.22-25)
When Paul came to Antioch of Pisidia, he stood up in the synagogue, and motioning with his hand said: “Men of Israel, and you that fear God, listen. The God of this people Israel chose our fathers and made the people great during their stay in the land of Egypt, and with uplifted arm he led them out of it. Then he raised up David to be their king; of whom he testified and said, ‘I have found in David, the son of Jesse, a man after my heart, who will do all my will.’ Of this man’s posterity God has brought to Israel a Saviour, Jesus, as he promised. Before his coming John had preached a baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel. And as John was finishing his course, he said, ‘What do you suppose that I am? I am not he. No, but after me one is coming, the sandals of whose feet I am not worthy to untie.”’
The word of the Lord.
ALLELUIA
Alleluia! Tomorrow the wickedness of the earth will be destroyed: the Saviour of the world will rule over us.
Alleluia.
GOSPEL
Theme of reading-: "The genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David".
The beginning of the holy Gospel according to Matthew (Matthew1:1-25)
The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham. Abraham was the father of Isaac, and Isaac the father of Jacob, and Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers, and Judah the father of Perez and Zerah by Tamar, and Perez the father of Hezron, and Hezron the father of Ram, and Ram the father of Amminadab, and Amminadab the father of Nahshon, and Nahshon the father of Salmon, and Salmon the father of Boaz by Rahab, and Boaz the father of Obed by Ruth, and Obed the father of Jesse, and Jesse the father of David the king. And David was the father of Solomon by the wife of Uriah, and Solomon the father of Rehoboam, and Rehoboam the father of Abijah, and Abijah the father of Asa, and Asa the father of Jehoshaphat, and Jehoshaphat the father of Joram, and Joram the father of Uzziah, and Uzziah the father of Jotham, and Jotham the father of Ahaz, and Ahaz the father of Hezekiah, and Hezekiah the father of Manasseh, and Manasseh the father of Amos, and Amos the father of Josiah, and Josiah the father of Jechoniah and his brothers, at the time of the deportation to Babylon. And after the deportation to Babylon: Jechoniah was the father of Shealtiel, and Shealtiel the father of Zerubbabel, and Zerubbabel the father of Abiud, and Abiud the father of Eliakim, and Eliakim the father of Azor, and Azor the father of Zadok, and Zadok the father of Achim, and Achim the father of Eliud, and Eliud the father of Eleazar, and Eleazar the father of Matthan, and Matthan the father of Jacob, and Jacob the father of Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom Jesus was born, who is called Christ. So all the generations from Abraham to David were fourteen generations, and from David to the deportation to Babylon fourteen generations, and from the deportation to Babylon to the Christ fourteen generations.
* Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child of the Holy Spirit; and her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to send her away quietly. But as he considered this, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit; she will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” All this took place to fulfil what the Lord had spoken by the prophet: “Behold, a virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and his name shall be called Emmanuel” (which means, God with us). When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him; he took his wife, but knew her not until she had borne a son; and he called his name Jesus.
The Gospel of the Lord.*
Or
FIRST READING
Theme of reading-: "A son is given to us".
A reading from the Book of Isaiah (Isaiah 9:2-7)
The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shined. You have multiplied the nation, you have increased its joy; they rejoice before you as with joy at the harvest, as men rejoice when they divide the spoil. For the yoke of his burden, and the staff for his shoulder, the rod of his oppressor, you have broken as on the day of Midian. For every boot of the tramping warrior in battle tumult and every garment rolled in blood will be burned as fuel for the fire. For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government will be upon his shoulder, and his name will be called “Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, upon the throne of David, and over his kingdom, to establish it, and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and for evermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.
The word of the Lord.
RESPONSORIAL PSALM
Gotten from-: Psalm 96:1-2a.2b-3.11-12.13 (R. cf. Luke 2: 11)
R. To us is born this day a Saviour,
who is Christ the Lord.
O sing a new song to the Lord;
sing to the Lord, all the earth.
O sing to the Lord; bless his name. R.
Proclaim his salvation day by day.
Tell among the nations his glory,
And his wonders among all the peoples. R.
R. To us is born this day a Saviour,
who is Christ the Lord.
Let the heavens rejoice and earth be glad;
let the sea and all within it thunder praise.
Let the land and all it bears rejoice. R.
Then will all the trees of the wood shout for joy,
at the presence of the Lord, for he comes,
he comes to judge the earth.
He will judge the world with justice;
He will govern the peoples with his truth. R.
SECOND READING
Theme of reading-: “The grace of God has appeared for all men.”
A reading from the Letter of Saint Paul to Titus (Titus 2: l 1-14)
Beloved! The grace of God has appeared for the salvation of all men, training us to renounce irreligion and worldly passions, and to live sober, upright, and godly lives in this world, awaiting our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Saviour Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all iniquity and to purify for himself a people of his own who are zealous for good deeds.
The word of the Lord.
ALLELUIA
Gotten from the Gospel of Luke 2:10-11
Alleluia. I bring you good news of a great joy: to us is born this day a Saviour, Christ the Lord.
Alleluia
GOSPEL
Theme of reading-: “To us is born this day a Saviour.”
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke ( Luke 2 : 1-14)
In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be enrolled. This was the first enrollment, when Quirinius was governor of Syria. And all went to be enrolled, each to his own city. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be enrolled with Mary his betrothed, who was with child. And while they were there, the time came for her to be delivered. And she gave birth to her first-born son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn. And in that region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with fear. And the angel said to them“Be not afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy which will come to all the people; for to you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among men with whom he is pleased!”
The Gospel of the Lord.
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