Voices of the Christmas Liturgies - I

At the Mass during the Night

Entrance Antiphon Ps 2: 7

Let us all rejoice in the Lord, for our Savior has been born in the world. Today true peace has come down to us from heaven.

• "Let us all rejoice in the Lord" ... it reminds us that this gift of salvation from the Father is meant for all people. As I hear this proclamation, I hear it in a personal way as well - and all the more should my heart be burdened.

• "True Peace" ... so much effort and expense goes into making ourselves and other happy at Christmas. Happiness is a fruit of peace, that is right order. True peace is a fruit of lives in right order with God. What ever condition has prevailed, today is offered to us a new beginning.

Prayer 

O God, who have made this most sacred night

radiant with the splendor of the true light,

grant, we pray, that we, who have known the mysteries of his

light on earth, may also delight in his gladness in heaven.

Who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,

one God, for ever and ever.

• "Splendor of true light" ... Even though our eyes have the capacity to see, without light we see nothing. So too, our minds and hearts have been given the capacity to see the hidden things of God, but without revealing grace casing true light upon us, we remain in the dark about the truth of God and our place within God's divine plan.

• Lord, open my eyes that I may see you taking me up in your embrace of love, as Mary takes the child Jesus into her loving arms this night.

Prayer over the Gifts

May the oblation of this day’s feast

be pleasing to you, O Lord, we pray,

that through this most holy exchange

we may be found in the likeness of Christ,

in whom our nature is united to you.

Who lives and reigns for ever and ever.

• The simple and common elements of bread and wine make up our offering to place on the Christmas altar - all we have with which to prepare a banquet fit for a king. They are symbolic of our own lives, struggling to acquire and hold on to our daily bread, to make it through another day, fending off despair.

• But this is the banquet the Father has prepared for his Prodical sons and daughters. He has sent his Son to guide us home, to a glorious celebration, to clothe our shabbiness in robes of holiness, with gold rings on our fingers to tell everyone we are his true sons and daughters, healed and forgiven. O, is this not our cause for celebration of Christmas?

Preface I - Christ the Light

It is truly right and just, our duty and our salvation,

always and everywhere to give you thanks,

Lord, holy Father, almighty and eternal God.

For in the mystery of the Word made flesh

a new light of your glory has shone upon the eyes of our mind,

so that, as we recognize in him God made visible,

we may be caught up through him in love of things invisible.

And so, with Angels and Archangels,

with Thrones and Dominions,

and with all the hosts and Powers of heaven,

we sing the hymn of your glory,

as without end we acclaim:

• Truly "... a new light of your glory has shone upon the eyes of our mind". But there is much healing that must take place for these eyes to see. Do not hesitate, do not give up longing to see. Come to this liturgy, with this as your prayer, repeated over and over, "... may I be caught up through him in love of things invisible."

Prayer After Communion

Grant us, we pray, O Lord our God,

that we, who are gladdened by participation

in the feast of our Redeemer’s Nativity,

may through an honorable way of life become worthy of union

with him.

• Now we rise from this banquet table of Christmas celebration, clothed in new robes, carrying in our arms many gifts, that we were made able to see, gathered up by each one, with their very name inscribe upon them - gather as the light of His grace shone around us.
• Now we go into our world, laden with gifts to bring to a world shrouded in darkness, to fill this night with the true Spirit of Christmas.