Lessons 7 from the Divine Office of the Nativity of Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ: Luke 2:1-14 (Midnight Mass Gospel); Homily 8 on the Gospels by St. Gregory the Pope.
Lessons 7 from the Divine Office of the Nativity of Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ: Luke 2:1-14 (Midnight Mass Gospel); Homily 8 on the Gospels by St. Gregory the Pope.
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At that time, there went forth a decree from Caesar Augustus that a census of the whole world should be taken. This first census took place while Cyrinus was governor of Syria. And all were going, each to his own town, to register. And Joseph also went from Galilee out of the town of Nazareth into Judea to the town of David, which is called Bethlehem - because he was of the house and family of David - to register, together with Mary his espoused wife, who was with child. And it came to pass while they were there, that the days for her to be delivered were fulfilled. And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling clothes, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. And there were shepherds in the same district living in the fields and keeping watch over their flock by night. And behold, an angel of the Lord stood by them and the glory of God shone round about them, and they feared exceedingly. And the angel said to them, Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which shall be to all the people; for today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you, Who is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign to you: you will find an Infant wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among men of good will.
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By God's mercy we are to say three Masses today. Hence there is not much time left for preaching on this passage of the Gospel. Nonetheless the Feast of the Lord's Birthday constraineth me to speak a few words. I will begin at once by asking why this numbering for taxation took place at the Lord's Birth, and why all the world was enrolled? Was it not to make us mindful that One had now appeared in the flesh Who would enroll His elect in the book of life? And note, on the other hand, how the Prophet saith of the reprobate: Let them be wiped out of the book of the living, and not be written among the righteous. Note also that the Lord was born in Bethlehem, which same signifieth the House of Bread, and thus was meetly the birthplace of Him Who hath said: I am the Living Bread which came down from heaven. The place, then, where our Lord was born was already called the House of Bread because therein was He to appear Who would feed the souls of the the faithful unto life eternal. Not in His Mother's house was He born, but away from home. And this should make us mindful that our mortality, in which He was born, was not the home of Him who is begotten of the Father before all worlds.