We’re here, we made it! We’ve prepared, we’ve worked hard and now we have arrived, and He has too! The Savior who was prophesized and yearned for over the centuries is here. He is here because we are loved so much by our God that he sent His only Son.

So, for just a few minutes this morning, lets exhale… no, really everyone, take in a deep breath and slowly exhale. Good! Let’s sit back and walk together through the story of Jesus’s birth. 

The Masses of Christmas present for us the Christmas story at different points leading up to Jesus’s birth: starting with the Vigil Mass, the Midnight Mass, Mass at Dawn and the Christmas Day Mass. The stories of Mary and Joseph, the shepherds, the angels and our Savior told in the readings. The stories prophesized by Isaiah, and told by Matthew, Luke and John. Live the story with Mary and Joseph through the night and into the glorious light of Christmas day! Picture yourself among the shepherds, with the animals in the stable, with Mary and Joseph… recognizing not just a beautiful infant, but the One long expected, sent to save a world. 

Let’s walk the journey together through the night and into the day…

Starting with the Vigil Mass yesterday: Joseph’s doubt. Mary, his betrothed, was with a child not from him, so he decided to divorce her quietly. That is until the angel Gabriel appears to him in a dream saying, 

“Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary your wife into your home. 

For it is through the Holy Spirit that this child has been conceived in her. 

She will bear a son and you are to name him Jesus, 

because he will save his people from their sins.” 

This fulfills what has been prophesized centuries earlier by Isaiah who said,

“Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel, which means “God is with us.”” (Matthew 1:20-23)

Joseph chooses to trust in God.

Next, midnight Mass: Midnight Mass, filled with awe and wonder, first we hear from Isaiah and then from Luke. Isaiah describes just who this Savior is going to be in beautiful prophesy. 

“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. (Isaiah 9:5) 

We all need His peace! Then from Luke, the announcement of the Birth to the shepherds in the fields.

“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.”” (Luke 2: 8-12)

The Mass at Dawn: The shepherds, heeding the angels call, go to worship the newborn Savior. 

“When the angels went away from them to heaven,
the shepherds said to one another, 
“Let us go, then, to Bethlehem
to see this thing that has taken place, 
which the Lord has made known to us.”
So they went in haste and found Mary and Joseph, 
and the infant lying in the manger….

Then the shepherds returned,
glorifying and praising God 
for all they had heard and seen, 
just as it had been told to them.” (Luke 2: 15-16, 20)

They praise God for sending our Savior.

Mass this morning: Isaiah describes the pure joy of the arrival of our King! A King to comfort us in the sometimes difficult life.

“Break out together in song,

O ruins of Jerusalem!

For the Lord comforts his people,

He redeems Jerusalem.” (Isaiah 52:9)

And finally, we hear from John pointing emphatically to what Jesus gives us as our Savior… a life Jesus longs for us to live.

“What came to be through him was life,

and this life was the light of the human race.” (John 1: 3-4)

We are all on a journey to the Father, and now we journey with Jesus Christ by our side. Our Savior sent, sent to each of us. He will teach, he will guide, he will tell us parables… but today we simply adore. Adore and thank our God for sending us his Son!

Merry Christmas!