DECEMBER 24 - MORNING MASS - Gospel (Lk 1:67-79) - THE WORD OF GOD FOR EVERYONE

“Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, for he has visited and brought redemption to his people.” (Lk 1:68)

FIRST READING - 2 Sm 7:1-5, 8b-12, 14a, 16

A reading from the Book of Samuel

When King David was settled in his palace,

and the LORD had given him rest from his enemies on every side,

he said to Nathan the prophet,

“Here I am living in a house of cedar,

while the ark of God dwells in a tent!”

Nathan answered the king,

“Go, do whatever you have in mind,

for the LORD is with you.”

But that night the LORD spoke to Nathan and said:

“Go, tell my servant David, ‘Thus says the LORD:

Should you build me a house to dwell in?

“‘It was I who took you from the pasture

and from the care of the flock

to be commander of my people Israel.

I have been with you wherever you went,

and I have destroyed all your enemies before you.

And I will make you famous like the great ones of the earth.

I will fix a place for my people Israel;

I will plant them so that they may dwell in their place

without further disturbance.

Neither shall the wicked continue to afflict them as they did of old,

since the time I first appointed judges over my people Israel.

I will give you rest from all your enemies.

The LORD also reveals to you

that he will establish a house for you.

And 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.

I will be a father to him,

and he shall be a son to me.

Your house and your Kingdom shall endure forever before me;

your throne shall stand firm forever.’”

GOSPEL OF THE DAY - Lk 1:67-79

From the Gospel according to Luke

Zechariah his father, filled with the Holy Spirit, prophesied, saying:

“Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel;

for he has come to his people and set them free.

He has raised up for us a mighty Savior,

born of the house of his servant David.

Through his prophets he promised of old

that he would save us from our enemies,

from the hands of all who hate us.

He promised to show mercy to our fathers

and to remember his holy covenant.

This was the oath he swore to our father Abraham:

to set us free from the hand of our enemies,

free to worship him without fear,

holy and righteous in his sight

all the days of our life.

You, my child, shall be called the prophet of the Most High,

for you will go before the Lord to prepare his way,

to give his people knowledge of salvation

by the forgiveness of their sins.

In the tender compassion of our God

the dawn from on high shall break upon us,

to shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death,

and to guide our feet into the way of peace.”

DECEMBER 24 - MORNING MASS - Gospel (Lk 1:67-79)

THE WORD OF GOD FOR EVERYONE

Dear People of God,

Today's Word of God speaks of the prophecy of Zechariah about the Son of the Most High God. The Son of the Most High God came to earth to become a human being because of the love that He bestowed upon humanity. This promise was fulfilled when God gave up everything to come to earth to become a human being so that humankind could see the face of God.

The image of the Son of God coming to earth and becoming a human being is revealed. It is the image of God who is invisible. God is the Most High God who gave up everything to take on a human form so that humanity can be happy in His love.

God let humanity know that The Son of God came to earth and became a human being to help humanity escape from the captivity of Satan, escape from the suffering and darkness that weigh on our souls and bodies.

Because of this great love, He did not care about glory and honor, so that He could accompany mankind at all times and in all places, especially sinful, weak, and lowly people. He always calls on these people to run to Him to be guided by his light and love.

God let humanity know that the words that Zechariah prophesied about a supreme God incarnate to become a human, have now been fulfilled, that is, the Son of God has come to earth, to sacrifice and die, to save human souls.

God is among us, but many people do not recognize the Son of God as the God of love; many people have abandoned God and do not believe in Him.

Today, God wants to call all humanity to run to the God of love. The prophecies of Zechariah are the truth, and the Holy Spirit enlightened and guided him, so that he could offer praise, glorify, and honor to God, and also let humanity see the power and strength of God manifested in Zechariah when the angel brought the word of God to him.

In his moment of joy, gladness, and jubilation because God's word had been fulfilled that his family had a child; it was this joy that made him raise his voice in praise, glory, and honor to God.

In today's world, many people are also filled with God's grace. He calls on everyone to also offer praises, thanksgiving, glorification, and honor to God like the words of Zechariah. The words of praise and glory to God will bring joy and happiness to oneself and please God more.

God wants humanity to be awake and enter the path of God's saving light. This path of salvation has been carried out for more than two thousand years since the Son of God came to earth to become a human being.

God calls all mankind to be prepared and open up our hearts to welcome the Son of God coming to earth to become a human being. Also, be prepared to bring our whole hearts to sing praises to God and to wait for the day of His coming.

As humanity awaits the coming of the Son of God as a human in the coming moments, God desires for us to be joyful, to sing joyfully. We should wash our souls to make them truly clean and pure in order to welcome the Son of God into our souls and bodies through the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist.

Thanks be to God. Amen.

00:00 December 24th, 2024 Prayer of Divine Mercy - The Way to Heaven