Born the king of angels o come let us adore him o come let us adore him o come let us adore him sing choirs of angels sing in exultation sing all ye citizens of heaven above glory to god glory in the highest o come let us adore him o come let us adore him christ the lord in the name of the father and of the son and of the holy spirit amen. Peace be with you. And with your spirit. Brothers and sisters, let us acknowledge our sins and so prepare ourselves to celebrate the sacred mysteries. Lord jesus you were sent to heal the contrite of heart. Lord have mercy. You came to call sinners. Christ have mercy. Christ have mercy. You were seated at the right hand of the father tointercede for us. Lord have mercy. May almighty lord have mercy on us, forgive us our sins and amen. Glory to god glory to god glory to god in the highest glory to god glory to god glory to god glory to god glory to god in the highest glory to god glory to god glory to god in the highest glory to god Amen Amen Amen let us pray. Grant, we pray almighty god, that as we are bathed in the new radiance of your incarnate word, the light of faith which illumens our minds may also shine through in our deeds through our lord jesus christ, your son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the holy spirit, one god forever and ever. Amen. A reading from the book of the prophet isaiah. Darkness have seen a great upon those who dwelt in the land of gloom, a light has shon. 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 pull on their shoulder and the rod of their task master, you have smashed, as on the day of midian. For every boot that tramped in batter, every cloak rolled in blood will be burned as fuel for 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 davids throne and over his kingdom which he confirms and sustains by judgment and justice the zeal of the lord of hosts will do this. The word of the lord. Thanks be to god. Song land name today, today, today upon our savior christ our lord announce his salvation nations among our people today today today christ the lord rejoice reach out and shall all the trees of the forest exalt today today today upon our savior christ the lord we shall exalt before the lord for he comes for he comes to rule the earth he shall rule the world retrust and the people a reading from the letter of st. Paul to titus. 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 of his own. Eager to do what is good. The word of the lord. Alleluia alleluia alleluia alleluia i proclaim to you good news of great joy today a savior is born for us christ the lord alleluia alleluia alleluia alleluia alleluia the lord be with you. And with your spirit. A reading from the holy gospel according to luke. Glory to you o lord. In those days, a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that the whole world should be enrolled. This was the first enrollment when corinius 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, the city of david. It 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 and she gave birth to her first born son. She wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger, for theres no room for them in the inn. Now there were shepherds in the region living in the fields and 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 a child, 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 highest and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests. The gospel of the lord. Praise you lord jesus christ. Merry christmas to everyone, all of you here present and those who are watching us on television. Its a joy to be able to celebrate this eucharist and our year of mercy and to join with you on this very porno cation. United states, country western music is the most popular music of all. Most people know about dolly parton and johnny cash and but americans dont know much about opera. Not many people go and the people who go sometimes go simply to be seen going to the opera. In italy, its very different. Very poor farmers with very little education will probably have a great love and appreciation for opera. They will know the tunes, as well as the lyrics and the stories. Many americans who enjoy listening to the beautiful music have no idea what the lyrics mean. Today, the gospel speaks to us about shepherds who, in the silence of the night, are treated to a spectacular Christmas Carol. It was companied by a spectacular light show in the heavens. We can only imagine how beautiful the music was as the heavenly choir sang glory to god in the highest and on earth peace. Im sure that the shepherds were enthused by the beautiful singing and doubtless they were sorry when the concert was over and the performers disappeared behind heavens curtains. In some ways, im sure, the shepherds may have been a little relieved. They may have felt a little shabby like someone who is suddenly invited to the white house and discovered that you are surrounded by gliterodi and their magnificent holiday attire. The wonderful thing about the they enjoyed the spectacle of the anglic rendition of that first Christmas Carol, they were not distracted from the message. The epiphany of heavenly glory was only the initial spark. A stimulus leading to what was really intended. The tiny seed of the word had been planted in their hearts. And instead of seeking the light in the heavens and demanding an encore, they are prepared to embrace the message and they declare let us go to bethlehem and see this thing that has happened which the lord has made known to us. They want to see the word that has taken place. They want to see the context of the lyrics of the angels words. Swaddling clothes and lying in a manger. They want to see the word that has happened. The word that is not only something uttered, but something done. Something that cannot only be heard, but also seen. The word made flesh. Our beautiful Christmas Carols contain a message. A word. The good news for each and every one of us. Not talking about rudolph the snowman. Im talking about silent night, holy night. Im talking about joy to the world. That world that was in sin and air opining til he worth. That weary world that rejoices glorious morn. To be able to hear, we must be able to listen. And to listen, there must be silence. The shepherds were people who lived in isolation. Far from the towns. Theirs was a life, an existence filled with silence. I often share with people that a few years ago when Mother Teresa visited us here in massachusetts, a huge crowd gathered to see her and i noticed people were lining up because she was giving out these little white cards. I thought to myself hmm, i wonder if thats her Business Card . Maybe it has her cell phone number or email address. Or her twitter account. So, i got in line to get one of those white cards. I still have that white card with a photograph that a police woman took of me when i received on that card is written the fruit of silence is prayer. The fruit of prayer is faith. The fruit of faith is love. The fruit of love is service. And the fruit of service is peace. What a wise program for a life of discipleship is contained in those words and it all begins with silence. It all begins with the silence of the night. The silence of bethlehem. In the silence, the shepherds hear the lyrics, not just the tune. The shepherds believe the word. And the words sent them from heaven to earth and they proceed along this path from light to darkness. From the extrordinary to the above to the poverty below. And they are given the confirmation they need. Because the lord the most high has taken the very same path they have. Hes left behind the glory and gone into the dark world. Into a childs apparent insignificant of any cannes. Insignificance. Into the poverty of the stable. This is the word and action and yet the shepherds do not know no one knows how far down into the darkness the word will lead. For the wood of the manger is already a harbinger of the wood of the cross. In the same way, the christian is placed on the streets of this world to find god amid the poor, the suffering, the hungry and the thirsty. Pope francis has given us this reminder that our vocation is to make gods mercy present and visible in the darkness of human suffering. We, ourselves, may be poor and in need of liberation. Yet, at the same time, all of us have been given a share in the joy of deliverance and we are sent to be companions to those who are poor and in bondage. We are here with a purpose. Gods purpose. And the mission that he has entrusted to us to make his our world. To be his hands and feet and his messengers. Like the shepherds, we must make known the message that has been told us about this child. The gospel today says all who heard it were amazed by what they had been told by the shepherds. The joy of christmas comes from receiving the good news. That our god loves us so much, he wants to be near us. He wants to share our lives, our sufferings, and our joys. He manifests himself in the face of a little child, because gods love never tires of loving us, never tires of forgiving us, never tires of giving us another chance. Hearing that word is the source of our christmas joy. Part of the message of christmas is that god comes to us in littleness. In simplicity. And in hiddenness. It is as in the Old Testament when the prophet elijah was told that the lord was going to pass by. The scriptures say a strong and heavy wind was rending the rocks, but the lord was not in the wind. Earthquake. But the lord was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake, there was a fire, but the lord was not in the fire. And after the fire, there was a tiny whispering sound. When he heard this, elijah covered his face in his cloak and went and stood at the entrance of the cave. We are invited with the shepherds to the cave of bethlehem, to listen to the tiny whisper and to glimpse gods love in the face of a child. Christmas is about joy. So, often people do not know the difference between being happy and having fun. For some people, their whole life is one long pursuit of having fun. And yet, often, they are the most miserable selfabsorbed individuals you would ever want to meet. The joy of christmas is not the product of successful shopping tales, or addictions to entertainment drugs or alcohol that are often frustrating attempts to self medication, to rescue ones self from depression, loneliness or a lack of purpose or meaning. The first christmas instructions given to the shepherds were dont be afraid. Go to bethlehem. Go into the darkness seeking gods loving presence. Revealed in a child in poverty and in humility. Christmas joy is about discovering that life must be lived in solidarity. The extreme individualism of our culture is poison whose antidote is community and solidarity. Christmas joy is about discovering and building solidarity with our families, with our community, with the human beings on the planet. And with our creator. The first step toward solidarity the message of the angels in that first Christmas Carol is that god must be glorified and there must be peace among peoples. In deed, we glorify god by being peace makers, by being people of reconciliation and mercy. This is the very important part of our mission as jesus disciples. We all have opportunities to be peace makers in a world where there are so many divisions. So many many tensions. So many many conflicting interests. Jesus tells us that when we draw near the altar to offer our gifts we must first go and be sisters. This command certainly applies to christmas as we draw near the manger to place our gifts. This is a time to ask for other. A time to build a peace that is real, because it reflects gods love and mercy. And if we spend the whole year in the noise that keeps us from listening to the lyrics, christmas is an invitation to become a seeker. So journey into the night. To go to bethlehem and discover our hidden god whos in plain sight. The church is a community of seekers. Some are saints and some are sinners. No family is perfect. But we gather around the manger, we gather around the altar that is christs table, to become his family with all the inlaws and the outlaws, discipleship is always a call to community and solidarity. Some people say oh, im not religious, but im spiritual. Spirituality. Sadly enough, thats an exercise in selfdeception. We become disciples the way we learn a language. By living in a community that speaks the language. To enjoy the beauty of the ceremonies, the music, and the lights. The real joy of christmas, however, is when those beautiful things allow us to discover in our selfs a nostalgia for an unseen beauty which resides in god. We are always so happy when brothers and sisters have been away for a long time come home. At christmas time, there are many who come back to church. Sometimes because of nostalgia for the past, sometimes because of a tinge of guilt. Sometimes because of a hunger for meaning. Christmas can be a new beginning in our spiritual journey. At christmas, too, like the seekers. Traveling into the night into the darkness and there to find god hidden in plain sight. God is present in his words and the lyrics as well as in the god is present in his church, the community of faith, where two or three are gathered in his name and he promises to be in our midst. Hes present in the sacraments that touch our lives at such significant moments. Christ has given us himself as a gift. Christmas can be a new beginning and a quest for meaning for solidarity. For community. Thus isaiah the prophet urges us seek the lord while he may be found. Call upon him while he is near. Jesus tells us that if we seek, we shall find. And if we knock, it will be opened to us. This year the door of gods mercy is open before us. Let us go through together as gods people so that we might discover how much the lord loves us and that experiencing his what is good as st. Paul says. Christ founded his church to build a civilization of love and pope francis has declared this to be a jubilee year of mercy. In this year of mercy, when the world is experiencing the largest number of homeless refugees since the time of world war ii, and when in our own American Cities so many many of our fellow citizens can say with jesus the foxes have dens and the birds of the air have their nests but i have nowhere to lay my head. So many christian customs and traditions recognize the fact that as todays gospel reminds us, there was no room in the inn. But now, we can change history. We can make room. We can make space for christ in our lives. The irish people used to put a candle in the window as a sign that their doors would be open for the holy family. Of persecution was an indication that a priest could come and celebrate a clandestine mass. The mexicans prepare for christmas by the posavas, the custom of carrying the statues of mary and joseph from house to house, asking for lodging, singing carols that reenact the dialogue between joseph and the inn maker. It always ends with the inn maker opening the door and inviting mary and joseph to come in so that the christ child can be born in his home. So as to change history and make the home available to jesus. To share in the joy of his loving presence. For all of us, Chris Christmas a very special time christmas is a very special time. A time when we, too, can become seekers. When like the shepherds, we can seek god, even in the darkness and in suffering. And there we will discover our Merry Christmas. We have listened to gods word an we reflected upon it. Let us make our profession of faith in response. I believe in one god, the father almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all things visible and invisible. I believe in one lord jesus christ. The only begotten son of god. Born of the father before all ages. God from god, life from life, true god from true god. Begotten not made, substantial with the father, through him all things were made. For us men and for our salvation, he came down from heaven. And by the holy spirit, was became man. For our sake he was crucified under pontius pirate. He suffered death and was buried and rose again on the third day in accordance with the scriptures. He ascended into heaven and is seated at the righthand of the father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead and his kingdom will have no end. I believe in the holy spirit, the lord the giver of life, who proceeds from the father and the son, who with the father and the son is adored and glorified, who has spoken through the prophets. I believe in one holy catholic and apastolic church. I confess one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. And i look forward to the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come. Amen. The lord be with you. And with your spirit. My dear friends let us confidently make known our needs on this Christmas Day, we pray for francis our pope, for sean our archbishop, and for all who proclaim jesus the face of the fathers mercy, we pray to the lord. Lord hear our prayer. For the persecuted, the struggling immigrants, and for those who are grieving and all those whose lives seem dark and without hope, we pray to the lord. Lord hear our prayer. As we prepare to begin a new year, that god will truly bless our families with great peace and deep love, we pray to the lord. Lord hear our prayer. That the name and the message of jesus, the word of god born in bethlehem, may be faithfully proclaimed in our parishes and in every corner of the world, we pray to the lord. Lord hear our prayer. For a true and lasting peace in our world, and the safety of all servicemen and women, we pray to the lord. Lord hear our prayer. Grant peaceful rest to all our deceased brothers and sisters, especially the many and generous benefactors of the catholic tv network, we pray to the lord. Lord hear our prayer. And we offer all of these prayers confidently to the intersession of mary, the mother in bethlehem, as together we pray hail mary ful