Sunday, December 25, 2022
Nativity of Our Lord: Christmas Day, Year A
Introduction
As on the first day of creation, on this Christmas Day the Word illumines the world, shining forth to bring all things into being. Today we celebrate the incarnate Word, God becoming flesh to live among us in the person of Jesus Christ then and now. Emboldened by the good news of Christ’s birth, along with the shepherds, Mary and Joseph, and all witnesses to the light of Christ, we declare to the world that we have indeed seen and been transformed by the arrival of “the salvation of our God.” O come, let us adore!
Prayer of the Day
All-powerful and unseen God, the coming of your light into our world has brightened weary hearts with peace. Call us out of darkness, and empower us to proclaim the birth of your Son, Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
First Reading: Isaiah 62:6-12
6Upon your walls, O Jerusalem,
I have posted sentinels;
all day and all night
they shall never be silent.
You who remind the Lord,
take no rest,
7and give him no rest
until he establishes Jerusalem
and makes it renowned throughout the earth.
8The Lord has sworn by his right hand
and by his mighty arm:
I will not again give your grain
to be food for your enemies,
and foreigners shall not drink the wine
for which you have labored;
9but those who garner it shall eat it
and praise the Lord,
and those who gather it shall drink it
in my holy courts.
10Go through, go through the gates,
prepare the way for the people;
build up, build up the highway,
clear it of stones,
lift up an ensign over the peoples.
11The Lord has proclaimed
to the end of the earth:
Say to daughter Zion,
“See, your salvation comes;
his reward is with him,
and his recompense before him.”
12They shall be called, “The Holy People,
The Redeemed of the Lord“;
and you shall be called, “Sought Out,
A City Not Forsaken.”
Psalm: Psalm 97
1The Lord reigns; let the | earth rejoice;
let the multitude of the | isles be glad.
2Clouds and darkness sur- | round the Lord,
righteousness and justice are the foundations | of God’s throne.
3Fire goes be- | fore the Lord,
burning up enemies on | every side.
4Lightnings light | up the world;
the earth | sees and trembles.
5The mountains | melt like wax
before the Lord of | all the earth.
6The heavens declare your righteous- | ness, O Lord,
and all the peoples | see your glory. R
7Confounded be all who worship carved images and delight | in false gods!
Bow down before the Lord, | all you gods.
8Zion hears and is glad, and the cities of Ju- | dah rejoice,
because of your judg- | ments, O Lord.
9For you are the Lord, most high over | all the earth;
you are exalted far a- | bove all gods.
10You who love the | Lord, hate evil!
God guards the lives of the saints and rescues them from the hand | of the wicked. R
11Light dawns | for the righteous,
and joy for the hon- | est of heart.
12Rejoice in the | Lord, you righteous,
and give thanks to God’s | holy name. R
Second Reading: Titus 3:4-7
4When the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, 5he saved us, not because of any works of righteousness that we had done, but according to his mercy, through the water of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit. 6This Spirit he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
Gospel: Luke 2:[1-7] 8-20
[1In those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2This was the first registration and was taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3All went to their own towns to be registered. 4Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because he was descended from the house and family of David. 5He went to be registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged and who was expecting a child. 6While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child. 7And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.]
8In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for see—I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: 11to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord. 12This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger.” 13And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying,
14“Glory to God in the highest heaven,
and on earth peace among those whom he favors!”
15When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us.” 16So they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the child lying in the manger. 17When they saw this, they made known what had been told them about this child; 18and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them. 19But Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart. 20The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.