Christmas Overview of the season

Transcription

1 Christmas Overview of the season The first observable evidence of a feast celebrating Christmas, occurs in the fourth century. Some scholars suggest that it was adopted as a feast in response to a pagan feast in celebration of the sun. Other scholars suggest that the date of December 25, has more to do with God s timing. John the Baptist was conceived in the autumn and born in the summer. Jesus was to have been born six months later, thus placing his birth on December 25. As a result of the Incarnation Christ, sanctified all creation. We are made holy because of God taking human form. Your eternal Word has taken upon himself our human weakness, giving our mortal nature immortal value. 1 Christmas looks forward to Easter. Christ was born in order to suffer, die and rise again for the salvation of the world. 1 Mass During the Day. Preface for Christmas II.

2 Celebrate Christmas Gather Light the Christ candle. All make the Sign of the Cross. Let us praise God, who fills our hearts, homes and classrooms with peace. All respond: Blessed be God forever. Sing together: Christ Be Our Light Let us pray. Bow your heads and listen as the leader prays. Reading of the Word of God Baptism of the Lord: Matthew 3:13-17 Reader: All: The Gospel of the Lord. Thanks be to God.

3 Reflection on the Word of God In today s reading, God spoke and his voice proclaimed that Jesus is God s beloved Son. This beloved Son is revealed to us in the great gift of God s Incarnation in the person of Jesus Christ. This coming of God in Jesus is what is celebrated during the entire Christmas season. A theologian once said that human beings would never have believed in God s love for us if he did not send a portion of himself to walk in our shoes -to experience our pain, frustrations, betrayal and sufferings. One name we give to Jesus is Emmanuel, God with us. Because God is with us, through the life of Jesus, God can say, I am with you in your pain and we will not think, You are God, you have no idea of our pain. Only one who walked in our shoes could understand our pain. God understands our human hearts because God s human heart beat in Jesus, his Son. In the coming of Jesus, we see how much God loves us enough to become one with us. God sent us Light to overcome any darkness, forever. Questions for Reflection: Describe an experience in your life when God brought light to an area of darkness. Tell about an experience you ve had of the presence or action of God in your life, in another person or in an event. What would you say is the Christmas gift that continues being a gift when the Christmas season is over? God called Jesus his beloved Son. We are created in God s image, we, and all creation, are made holy as a result of the incarnation of Jesus, and we are brothers and sisters of Jesus. So, we too, are beloved of God. Name evidence in your life that you are a beloved son or daughter of God. Response to God s Word Today is born our Savior, Christ the Lord. Group 1: Sing a new song to the Lord! Everyone on earth, sing praises to the Lord, sing and praise his name. Lord every nation on earth will adore you. Today is born our Savior, Christ the Lord. Group 2: Day after day announce, The Lord has saved us! Tell every nation on earth, The Lord is wonderful and does marvelous things! Today is born our Savior, Christ the Lord.

4 Group 3: Tell the heavens and the earth to be glad and celebrate! Command the ocean to roar with all of its creatures and the fields to rejoice with all of their crops. Today is born our Savior, Christ the Lord. (Psalms 96 LMC, 21 Intercessions All: All: All: Lord Jesus, with Mary and Joseph, you formed the Holy Family. Remain in our homes, be with us in our classroom, that we may know you as our guest, honor you as our leader, and love you as our brother. We pray: Stay with us Lord. Lord Jesus, in and through you every dwelling is a temple of holiness. Build those who live in our homes, and who are formed within the walls of this classroom, into the dwelling place of God through the Holy Spirit. We pray. Lord Jesus, your Father in heaven called you his beloved Son. You showed your Light to the world, and continue to shine brightly in our lives. Enlighten our hearts so that we will see in ourselves what you see in us-that we too are beloved of God. We pray: Stay with us Lord. Lord Jesus, you became flesh in the Virgin Mary. Grant that your presence will take flesh always in our homes and within the walls of this classroom. We pray: Stay with us Lord.

5 Prayer of Blessing for the classroom Lord God of heaven and earth, you revealed your only begotten Son to every nation by the guidance of a star. Bless our classroom and all who seek to know you within its walls. Fill us with the light of Christ that our concern for others may reflect your love. We ask this through Christ our Lord. All sing refrain: O Come let us adore him, Christ, the Lord. Use a sprig of evergreen to sprinkle the four corners of the classroom with holy water as the leader says: Let this water keep us from all harm (sprinkle corner), bless us with knowledge of Jesus, our Lord, (sprinkle corner), increases our love for each other (sprinkle corner), and motivate us to serve others (sprinkle corner). Now stand before the group and sprinkle the group as the leader says: And may Christ dwell with us all the days of our lives. Amen. (Liturgy adapted from Blessing of Homes in the Chrstmas season: Book of Blessings 686, 687) All sing: Go make a difference. We can make a difference. Go make a difference in the world. Go Make A Difference by Steve Agrisano

6 Breaking Open the Ritual Making a difference Name one thing you are willing to do this week to bring light to an area of darkness in the world around you. One junior high student decided that she would go and visit the elderly in a nearby nursing home. She thought that she was bringing light to them. Much to her surprise, they brought great light to her.

7 Going Deeper Feasts of the Christmas season Octave of Christmas The week after Christmas, the Church celebrates an entire week of important feasts called an octave. During this week we remember the martyrs. It is a reminder that we are to carry our cross in service of the gospel. Holy Family The feast of the Holy Family lifts up the family of Nazareth, as a model for struggling Christian families. Epiphany Epiphany means showing forth or manifestation. Epiphany was the original feast of Christ s birth. 2 Both feasts celebrate the Incarnation of God s Son, but on the Epiphany we direct our attention to this Child s divine dignity which already is beginning to manifest itself in the world. 3 Epiphany is also a day we remember the three magi. The point of the story rests with Christ who comes to save the whole world, pagans and all. Baptism of the Lord The Feast of the baptism of the Lord is celebrated on the Sunday following Epiphany. If the Sunday of Epiphany falls after January 6, then the feast of the Lord s baptism is on Monday that year. There are three important themes in this feast. The Holy Spirit descends upon Jesus and thus anoints him and strengthens him for the destiny he is to fulfill. Since it is John who baptizes, Jesus shows his partnership with sinful humanity. This feast brings the Christmas season to an end. Symbol of Christmas LIGHT is the primary symbol. Christmas without abundant light is like Easter without the paschal candle. One must look to Easter if one is to authentically celebrate the Christmas season. Jesus was born so he could die and rise again for the salvation of the world. 2. Adolf Adam, LY J. A. Jungman, PW, 208.

8 Journal Question: Describe your experience of the Christmas liturgies. In what way, if any, was it a feast of God s manifestation for you? Is there one element, symbol, reading, homily, ritual prayer, or song, etc. that touched you in a special way? Why did it touch you? What are the implications of the Christmas season? Is there a challenge? What one action might you engage in, as a result of your experience of Christ in the Christmas liturgies? Is there a behavior, action or attitude in need of conversion?