December 25, 2019
Nativity of the Lord—Solemnity
Readings:
At the Vigil Mass – Mass During the Night – Mass at Dawn – Mass During the Day
The angel said to [the shepherds], “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.” Luke 2:10-14
¡Gloria a Dios en las alturas! La celebración del glorioso nacimiento de Cristo el Señor ha comenzado… ¡Feliz Navidad!
Trata de ponerte en el lugar de estos pastores. Pocas cosas emocionantes solían ocurrirles. Eran pastores pobres y sencillos que pasaban sus días y sus noches cuidando las ovejas en el campo. Aquella noche, un grupo de ellos se había reunido para convivir. Es fácil imaginar aquella escena cotidiana de conversaciones, risas y compañía. Poco se imaginaban lo que estaba a punto de suceder.
As they were gathered, an angel of God appeared to them announcing “good news of great joy!” They must have been stunned. But that’s only the beginning. The angel announced that the Savior of the World had been born and then, much to their surprise, they witnessed the whole host of heavenly angels singing praises: “Gloria in excelsis Deo!” “Glory to God in the highest!”
Estos humildes pastores fueron los primeros a quienes Dios llamó para ir a saludar al Rey recién nacido. Lo asombroso es que Dios no llamó primero a los «importantes» de aquella época para que vinieran a adorarlo. Llamó a estos pobres pastores.
Esto nos enseña, entre otras cosas, que, a los ojos de Dios, todos somos iguales. Dios no elige a sus favoritos entre quienes son considerados importantes a los ojos del mundo. No; Él ve el gran valor y la dignidad de cada persona y desea que todos, ricos o pobres, poderosos o débiles, nos acerquemos a Él con adoración y amor.
La Navidad es un tiempo lleno de muchas cosas que nos ilusionan. Suele haber regalos y reuniones, comida y buenos momentos. Pero, por encima de todo, debemos ver la Navidad como un tiempo para hacer una pausa y contemplar el significado profundo y lleno de riqueza de este acontecimiento sagrado. Debemos reconocer, en primer lugar, que Dios asumió nuestra condición humana y, al hacerlo, puede identificarse con todo lo que experimentamos en la vida. ¡Dios comprende la vida humana! Él la vivió.
Second, we must understand that the birth of the Savior of the world and His appearance to shepherds reveals that each and every one of us is invited to come and meet Him. God humbled Himself in the most profound way so that we could come to know Him and His perfect love for us. “Do not be afraid,” as the angel said, to come and behold the Christ who came as your Savior. Do not be afraid to come to meet Him, love Him, adore Him and get to know Him. God is given to us, today, as an infant. Small, weak, fragile and innocent. Do not be afraid to gaze upon His humble presence and to give glory to God for His blessed coming.
Lord, I love You and adore You. I thank You for the unfathomable gift of Your divine presence among us. I thank You, especially, for the invitation You offer me to join the poor shepherds as they come to adore You. May this Christmas celebration be one in which I understand, more deeply, the incredible love You have for all Your children. May I know that You came for me, to save me and to invite me to worship. May I, this day, enter into that worship and adoration with all the Heavenly Host. Jesus, I trust in You.
Reflexiones sobre la Divina Misericordia
Más sobre la Natividad del Señor
