On Christmas Eve and Christmas Day
The newborn Christ shows us the way
To leave our former life of sin
And be born again to new life in Him

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The following are links to the three Advent readings, Proper I, II & III, for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

Nativity of the Lord – Proper I
December 24 & 25, 2019
Christmas Eve, Morn, or Mid-Day
Isaiah 9:2-7
Psalm 96
Titus 2:11-14
Luke 2:1-14, (15-20)

Nativity of the Lord – Proper II
December 24 & 25, 2019
Christmas Eve, Morn, or Mid-Day
Isaiah 62:6-12
Psalm 97
Titus 3:4-7
Luke 2:(1-7), 8-20

Nativity of the Lord – Proper III
December 24 & 25, 2019
Christmas Eve, Morn, or Mid-Day
Isaiah 52:7-10
Psalm 98
Hebrews 1:1-4, (5-12)
John 1:1-14

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The following homily is prepared by Reverend Monsignor Russell G. Terra, Pastor Emeritus of Saint Joseph Roman Catholic Church in Redding, CA.
http://www.stjosephredding.org/parish-homilies.html

The Nativity of the Lord
December 25, 2019
“The Way Through Hardship and Struggle”

Is 9:1-6
Tit 2:11-14
Lk 2:1-14

My Brothers and Sisters in the Lord –

No matter what we do or how we plan, life always seems to be a struggle. Even if things seem easy for the moment – often, that moment is very short-lived.

There are many different areas in which we can struggle. We can have difficulty physically, emotionally, interpersonally, financially, and spiritually – because human beings are complex creatures. And because life, itself, is also complex, what others do around us or in the world always has an impact upon us! Consequently, it is easy to get angry, discouraged, and depressed – because the struggle is on-going.

Unfortunately, it is a very human tendency to make our problem someone else’s problem or responsibility. Hence, we often try to blame others for our difficulty. Moreover, it’s all too easy to resort to selfish measures to make things better for ourselves!

However, God did not make us this way. God created us for joy, bliss, and love. The world and human life become such a struggle because, originally, we wanted to be supreme ourselves. We wanted things our own selfish way and the result was a broken world!

No one escapes the hardships and the struggles of life. But the solution is not violence toward others or nihilism in ourselves. The solution is always to look to God – and to the one God sent.

Jesus came to teach us how we must live amid all that life throws at us. Moreover, those close to Jesus, or to God Himself, witness for us how we must become in our own soul and spirit.

Mary and Joseph certainly had it rough – a grueling journey of 90 miles on foot, from Nazareth to Bethlehem – no available accommodations – or even a suitable place to give birth. Temporarily homeless, they found a stable for the night, and Mary had to use a feeding trough with straw as a crib for her newborn son. Nevertheless, they made the best of things and rejoiced in the birth of their son and in each other’s mutual love.

The shepherds were, basically, homeless people who had a worse than minimum wage kind of job. Dirty, unkempt, unwashed, bedraggled, ostracized, and unwanted everywhere – they were the ones to whom the angel came and who heard the heavenly choir. Having nothing, they were given the priceless gift of meeting the Savior who would prepare a place for them beyond the hardships and struggles of this world.

In all likelihood, life did not change for the shepherds after their divine encounter. But they were changed. They were empowered to survive their hard life with a new grace, a new purpose, and a new hope!

Brothers and Sisters, God did not send His Son into the world to change the status quo of its brokenness or to eliminate our struggle for existence. God sent His Son to show us how to bear with the hardships of life. Jesus came to enable us to change the kind of person we are. The peace of which Isaiah speaks and the elimination of violence will be in the world to come. Yet it can exist in our hearts and spirits, even now – today and every day – Because Jesus truly is the Wonder-Counselor, the God-Hero, the Father-Forever, and the Prince of Peace!

However, as St. Paul urges, we must reject all that is godless in our lives and hearts – all that is worldly and unworthy of us. We must try to live as true disciples of Jesus – Jesus who is everything and who gives us more than we can ever imagine! Since, as someone once said: “Life is a struggle toward greater being”, we must truly become people who are eager to do all that is good for others and for the world. This is incumbent upon us, even though so many others and the world are resistant and even hostile to God and to the gift that God sent in Jesus.

So, let us pray on this wonderful day that we can allow the grace and the mystery of Christmas to touch us and change us – May we see and hear and understand what we did not before – May we have a newfound hope – And may we face the hardships and struggles of life as did Jesus and countless others who have gone before us!

Amen.

December 25, 2019                                      Msgr. Russell G. Terra

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From FG&C:

Twas the night before Christmas,
he lived all alone,
In a one-bedroom house
made of plaster and stone.

I had come down the chimney,
with presents to give,
and to see just who might
in this home did live.

As I looked all about,
a strange sight I did see,
no tinsel, no presents,
not even a tree.

No stocking by the fire,
just boots filled with sand.
On the wall hung pictures
of a far distant land.

With medals and badges,
awards of all kind,
a sobering thought
soon came to my mind.

For this house was different,
unlike any I’d seen.
This was the home
of a U.S. Marine.

I’d heard stories about them,
I had to see more,
so I walked down the hall
and pushed open the door.

And there he lay sleeping,
silent, alone,
Curled up on the floor
in his one-bedroom home.

He seemed so gentle,
his face so serene,
Not how I pictured
a U.S. Marine.

Was this the hero,
of whom I’d just read?
Curled up in his poncho,
a floor for his bed?

His head was clean-shaven,
his weathered face tan.
I soon understood,
this was more than a man.

For I realized the families
that I saw that night,
owed their lives to these men,
who were willing to fight.

Soon around the Nation,
the children would play,
And grown-ups would celebrate
on a bright Christmas day.

They all enjoyed freedom,
each month and all year,
because of Marines
like this one lying here.

I couldn’t help wonder
how many lay alone,
on a cold Christmas Eve,
in a land far from home.

Just the very thought
brought a tear to my eye.
I dropped to my knees
and I started to cry.

He must have awoken,
for I heard a rough voice,
“Santa, don’t cry, this life is my choice.”

“I fight for freedom,
And I don’t ask for more.
My life is my God,
my country, and my Corps.”

With that he rolled over,
And drifted off into sleep,
I couldn’t control it,
I continued to weep.

I watched him for hours,
so silent and still.
I noticed he shivered
from the cold night’s chill.

So I took off my jacket,
the one made of red,
and covered this Marine
from his toes to his head.

Then I put on his T-shirt
of scarlet and gold,
with an eagle, globe and anchor
emblazoned so bold.

And although it barely fit me,
I began to swell with pride,
and for one shining moment,
I was Marine Corps deep inside.

I didn’t want to leave him
so quiet in the night,
this guardian of honor
so willing to fight.

But half asleep he rolled over,
and in a voice clean and pure,
said “Carry on, Santa,
it’s Christmas Day, all secure.”

One look at my watch
and I knew he was right,
Merry Christmas my friend,
Semper Fi and goodnight!