Christmas Mass 2021

The Word became flesh and lived among us.

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by Rev Deacon Michael Kennedy

Homily for Christmas Day – 25th December 2021

The Word became flesh and lived among us.

We have just listened to the Opening lines of the Gospel of John.

And you may ask yourselves: Where is the story of Christmas? Where are the Shepherds? Where are the angels? Where are Mary and Joseph?

Where is Bethlehem?

John instead speaks of A Light; A light that gives light to all men. A light that shines in the dark. A light that darkness could not overcome.

The other Gopsel writers, Luke and Matthew has already described the events of Christmas night. For John, writing his gospel account at the end of his life - he wants to tell us What the story and the events of Christmas really mean. And who they are really about.

For John, Jesus is the Light coming into our darkened world, Jesus is the light that enlightens all peoples.

John reminds us of God’s promise - he would never ever abandon of forget his people, even in the darkest moments of their lives. God never abandons us.

It’s true to say that no one has ever seen God.

But that is not the end

No God has taken steps to reveal himself to us, to make himself known to us in a way that us at once humbling and magnificent, God sent his Son.

He took flesh and became one of us - to lives in a troubling world, this is what God has done.

So John in his Gospel is telling us to look at this Man, Jesus of Nazareth - Jesus who we remember today as a tiny child, born in a stable in Bethlehem, born of Mary and laid in the manager.

He is the perfect image of God’s nature - he is the radiant light of God’s glory in a human being.

You and I are called today to continue to get to know him, to listen to him, to speak with him, and to follow him.

Speak to the Lord and see what the Lord will say to us Ask the Lord, and see what he will do for us.

He will give us power to become Children of God ourselves. Christmas is about giving and receiving.

Today, we are called to give ourselves as gifts to the Lord.

And we in return will receive gifts in abundance from him.

That is the amazing gift of Christmas. Not only that God became a child for us - but by God’s grace we can become Children of God today - here in our world in 2021 and the cusp of 2022 - where that light of God’s grace can shine through the darkness.

In our family celebrations of Christmas we make a lot of our Children, and rightly so.

Today we can think of the child in each one of us - and in the child whose birth we celebrate today - that simple loving person who first came into our world - that light that shines in the darkness.,

So as we gather this Christmas Morning - as we wish each other a Happy Christmas, we come to celebrate, to celebrate the birth of Jesus- the light of the world.

Our World needs Jesus, you and I need Jesus, Our world needs that light during these days, during this pandemic, during this time of uncertainity.

We are a people of Hope and that Hope and that joy comes to us in the wonderful gift of Jesus Christ, God made Man.

Before you go from here today, Go to the Crib, see the image of that Child whose birth we celebrate, whose birth changes us, and continues to change us today.

May the Lord Jesus, born of Mary, who came to scatter the darkness and bring light into our lives, continue to bless all of us and all those we love.

So Come, to the Manager, Come, and Adore him, Christ the Lord.

Happy Christmas

Bidding Prayers

Intercessions Christmas 2021

Celebrant

On this feast celebration of wonder and joy, let us remember all those who are in need and lift up our prayers for them to the loving God who became human so that all people could be saved.

For our Holy Father, Pope Francis, and for all the shepherds of the Church: may they lead God’s people in being a sign of the Prince of Peace throughout the world, let us pray to the Lord. Lord, in your mercy. . . hear our prayer

For our families, loved ones, and friends: may our bonds of love be strengthened by our joy at the birth of Christ here and at home, let us pray to the Lord. Lord, in your mercy. . . hear our prayer

For those who this day have no home and no food, that through the efforts of this Christian community of faith they will be given help, let us pray to the Lord. Lord, in your mercy. . . hear our prayer

For those who are far from home today: may they know the presence of Christ and the power of prayer rising from the heart of each one gathered here, let us pray to the Lord. Lord, in your mercy. . . hear our prayer

For newborn children everywhere, that they may have love, shelter, and food,. Let us pray to the Lord: Lord, in your mercy. . . hear our prayer

For those who are searching for meaning and purpose in life: that they may )and in this holy place the fulfillment of their deepest longings. Lord, in your mercy. . . hear our prayer

For an end to this pandemic, for those unable to be with family and friends because of the need to self isolate, for a fairer and more just provision of the Vacccines in our world, and for the gift of hope and faith as we live through these uncertain days. Lord in your mercy, Hear our prayer

For our loved ones and those from this community who have died in the past year, may they be held in love in our thoughts and prayers as we celebrate the birth of our Saviour. Lord in your mercy…hear our prayer.

That our prayers will be united in the Holy Spirit with those of Mary the Mother of God, Hail Mary…

For the prayers we hold in our hearts, that they will be heard and answered by the Lord.

Celebrant: God of endless ages, your eternal Word leaped down from heaven in the silent watches of the night; may your Church now be filled with wonder at the nearness of our God, who hears all our prayers through Jesus Christ, our Emmanuel, now and forever.