A Humble Place to Welcome Him
Dec. 25: The Nativity of the Lord
We often refer to the Roman “census” that required Joseph and Mary to return to Bethlehem while she was nine months pregnant. But that’s not actually what Luke wrote. The word he uses is “enrolled.”
We don’t have a record of the specific enrollment Luke is referring to, but that’s not surprising, considering we don’t have an exhaustive record of the empire’s archives. There are a couple of possibilities, but it’s not really that important. The fact is, Luke is writing within Mary’s lifetime, and it wouldn’t make sense for him to just make up an entire census/enrollment.
He wrote, “This was the first enrollment, when Quirinius was governor of Syria,” which was obviously a memorable point in time to his readers. Today, we consider the Birth of Christ to be the more significant event, so this reference has gotten a bit lost.
If you’re really interested, here’s a nearly 20 minute podcast episode on the topic.
Reading I
Is 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!
It’s interesting how much of this prophesy overlaps with descriptions of Jesus. He’s a son of David (as recent readings have been reminding us), but also the Light of the World. Jesus speaks of His yoke being easier than those of the Pharisees.
Of course, those in Jesus’ time would’ve been well aware of Isaiah’s writings, so they may have been pulling from the cultural zeitgeist. Still, it shows that it was important to them to connect Jesus to their history and legacy.
Responsorial Psalm
Ps 96: 1-2, 2-3, 11-12, 13.
R. (Lk 2:11) Today is born our Savior, Christ the Lord.
Sing to the LORD a new song;
sing to the LORD, all you lands.
Sing to the LORD; bless his name.
R. Today is born our Savior, Christ the Lord.
Announce his salvation, day after day.
Tell his glory among the nations;
among all peoples, his wondrous deeds.
R. Today is born our Savior, Christ the Lord.
Let the heavens be glad and the earth rejoice;
let the sea and what fills it resound;
let the plains be joyful and all that is in them!
Then shall all the trees of the forest exult.
R. Today is born our Savior, Christ the Lord.
They shall exult before the LORD, for he comes;
for he comes to rule the earth.
He shall rule the world with justice
and the peoples with his constancy.
R. Today is born our Savior, Christ the Lord.
The refrain for today’s psalm is inserted from Luke. The Old and New Testaments fit together especially well at Christmas time, when the two meet.
Reading II
Ti 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.
This follows a long section of Paul giving advice on Christian behavior. Here, he reminds us that behind all of our efforts to improve ourselves are supported by Jesus and the salvation He offers us by entering into the world.
Alleluia
Lk 2:10-11
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
I proclaim to you good news of great joy:
today a Savior is born for us,
Christ the Lord.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
That’s what Christmas mass is for!
Gospel
Lk 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.”
God didn’t choose for His only Son to be born in a palace, or even a hospital. He was born in a humble, dirty, smelly place, fit only for animals. Why?
Because that’s us, that’s our hearts. Jesus wants to enter into our hearts, whether we’re truly ready for Him or not. We can’t build ourselves up to be a royal palace on our own, but that’s okay. He’s willing to come down and meet us where we are.