The Birth of Jesus

Today's Reflections  

    

The Birth of Jesus

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Solemnity of the

Lord’s Birth (ABC)

—Christmas Midnight

Lk 2:1-14

¹In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that the whole world should be enrolled. ²This was the first enrollment, when Quirinius was governor of Syria. ³So all went to be enrolled, each to his own town. ⁴And 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, ⁵to be enrolled with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. ⁶While they were there, the time came for her to have her child, ⁷and 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.

⁸Now there were shepherds in that region living in the fields and keeping the night watch over their flock. ⁹The angel of the Lord appeared to them and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were struck with great fear. ¹⁰The 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. ¹¹For today in the city of David a savior has been born for you who is Messiah and Lord. ¹²And this will be a sign for you: you will find an infant wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger.” ¹³And suddenly there was a multitude of the heavenly host with the angel, praising God and saying:

¹⁴“Glory to God in the highest/ and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

Reflection:

I proclaim to you good news of great joy. When the symbolic 7 billionth child was born on October 31, 2011, she was met with great rejoicing but also fear and concern because of the world’s situation. Tonight, we greet the news of the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem with great joy, according to the bidding of the angel: “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 Messiah and Lord.”

There is no reason to be afraid. There is only reason to rejoice. While we have many problems and many longings, Jesus has been born who is the solution to all our problems and the answer to all our longings. For the one who is born is our Savior, and he is God. He has been born for us, to take up our cause and struggles, to fight our battles with us. God has taken our side! How can we lose? How can we not rejoice?

Jesus has come to make the BIG DIFFERENCE in our lives and in our world. Without him we would all be lost. With him we can all be victorious.

Let us welcome Jesus, and let him spell the BIG DIFFERENCE in our lives. Let us let him live in us so that we shall make a big difference in the lives of people and in our world.

Let our lives proclaim to others,

“Merry Christmas!”