Born for You
Nativity of the Lord – Christmas Mass During the Night
Read this Gospel passage aloud to the family
Luke 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."
(Parent) Reread this part a few times aloud. It is simply too glorious. In addition to, or in place of the meditation below, it may be best to choose your own piece (or pieces) of this “good news of great joy” to meditate on or just to bask in. Take some extra time today to savor this Gospel passage.)
(Parent) Read this meditation aloud to the family
It’s almost not right just to choose one piece of this Gospel story to focus on for prayer. We should spend some quiet time with the whole story. This night and the following day must be times of heightened prayer, praise, thanksgiving, and celebration. While many people in this story notice nothing different about this night (and while so many in our world notice nothing different about this night), we must not be like them. Tonight everything changes for us.
You see, according to the angel in the Gospel, God is not just “born”…God is “born for you.” God does not take on flesh and enter the world to perform an act all by Himself. God takes on our flesh and enters our world to perform an act for us, and with us. This is your flesh and my flesh, your world and my world, your darkness and my darkness, your sin’s misery and my sin’s misery, your utter need and my utter need…that Christ enters into. So this is your good news and my good news, your peace and my peace, your great joy and my great joy. For unto us (unto us!) is born a Savior who is Christ the Lord!
Do not be like the world tonight, which is too busy or too sleepy to welcome God in the Flesh. He has not come for nothing…He has come for you! Welcome Him tonight into your heart!
As a family, pray a portion of the Rosary together (very short if children are young) reflecting on the Scripture passage above. (Optional: allow a brief time for discussion or questions from children concerning their thoughts and prayer.)
Reminder for Parents: Pier is just meant to be a jumping off point. The real goal is that you pray & eventually use the fruits of your personal prayer as the content of your family’s prayer. Duc in altum.
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