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Vigil of the Solemnity of the Nativity of the Lord
Isaiah 62:1-5
Psalm 89:4-5, 16-17, 27, 29
Acts 13:16-17, 22-25
Matthew 1:1-25
Summary
In our first reading, the coming of Jesus is beautifully foretold by God who
reassures King David through the prophet Nathan, that “when your time
comes and you rest with your ancestors, I will raise up your heir after you,
sprung from your loins, and I will make his kingdom firm.” In the Gospel,
the earlier prophesy comes to fruition, as Zechariah exhorts: “Blessed be the
Lord, the God of Israel; for he has come to his people and set them free.”
Reflection
December 24 is one of the most solemn days on our church calendar. As
the readings suggest, a great event is pending, and we sense it; it’s the birth
of our lord, which is accompanied by the feelings that come with new life.
Jesus’ coming is a symbol of hope, longing, new beginnings, and infinite pos-
sibilities, which are essential to the human condition and keep us moving for-
ward. The symbol of the manger can be juxtaposed with the equally power-
ful symbol of the cross, which represents to many sacrifice, service, and pen-
ance. These are complementary, and both help us to be people fully human,
and fully alive.
As an educator in a Catholic school, I see hopeful signs daily in my col-
leagues, and the young people to whom we minister. In part, our role is to
give young people hope in a world that often seems chaotic and without pur-
pose; we must help them to recognize life as a call to be people who truly
follow Christ, so that we can fulfill God’s longing for all of us. It’s certainly a
difficult task in the face of self-
aggrandizement and the excess that marks our
society, especially at this time of year.
I am hopeful, though, because I can see in
our youth—and in fact our entire communi-
ty—the positive signs that can transform com-
munities. As a small example, this year our