Christmas - Liturgy
Greeting (See Second Reading) In our own time, God has spoken to us through his own Son, the radiant light of God’s glory through whom he made everything. May this Son, Jesus the Lord, be with you. R/ And also with you.
1. The Word Became Flesh
Today God tells us something very important about the meaning of our Christian faith. Our faith is not just a doctrine in which we believe. God’s Word is not just a doctrine but a person: Jesus. In him God’s Word and promises become alive. God’s Son becomes our brother and the center of our lives. In Jesus God shows us who he is: a saving, loving God, near to people. Through Jesus God binds us to himself and himself to us: he shares our life. Through and with Jesus we can respond to God’s love in faithful commitment to God and each other. Let us celebrate all this with Jesus.
Penitential Act
Let us seek pardon from God and one another for the times we did not accept the word and the person of Jesus Christ. (pause) Lord, you are the Word which your Father spoke to create us and all things. Lord, have mercy. R/ Lord, have mercy. Jesus Christ, you have spoken to us the liberating words of the Good News about forgiveness and life. Christ, have mercy. R/ Christ, have mercy. Lord Jesus, you are God’s living Word who made the love of the Father visible by your life and your death. Lord, have mercy. R/ Lord, have mercy. Lord, you are here among us. Speak to us your Word that sets us free from sin. Lead us to everlasting life. R/ Amen.
2. God's Definitive Word
Many times in the course of history God spoke and his Word was effective and liberating. He spoke, and the world was made. He spoke, and man and woman were created. He spoke, and he created the free nation of Israel, his Chosen People. But Israel refused to listen to God in the prophets and the gloom of sin over the world settled also over his people. God did not give up on humanity. He spoke his definitive Word, Jesus, and Jesus came and was born a child of people. He came to save us. Do we listen to his Word? Do we give him our word of acceptance and love?
Penitential Act
We hear God’s Word in the Good News and in the life of Jesus. Do we respond to Jesus’ message? Let us examine ourselves. (pause)
Lord Jesus, you have brought to all nations God’s justice and truth and love: Lord, have mercy. R/ Lord, have mercy.
Jesus Christ, we sing a new song to you, we sing out our joy at your coming: Christ, have mercy. R/ Christ, have mercy.
Lord Jesus, we acclaim you as our Lord for you have worked wonders among us: Lord, have mercy. R/ Lord, have mercy.
Be merciful to us, Lord, and speak your Word that sets us free from sin. Lead us to the joy of everlasting life. R/ Amen.
3. God Speaks His Word To Us
In days of suffering and confusion people often cry out: God, where are you? God, why don’t you speak? Today’s celebration reminds us: The Lord has spoken. He still keeps speaking to us in his Son Jesus Christ, in his Gospel, in the Church. We must get attuned to hear his voice, and when we hear it, let us not stifle it when it becomes inconvenient. And let the Lord’s voice resound in our words and actions. Let his words light up our darkness.
Penitential Act
We complain that the Lord does not hear us. But there are times when we do not listen to him. Let us ask the Lord to forgive us. (pause)
Lord Jesus, Word of pardon, forgive us our sins and restore us: Lord, have mercy. R/ Lord, have mercy.
Jesus Christ, Word of life, speak to our hearts and stay with us: Christ, have mercy. R/ Christ, have mercy.
Lord Jesus, Word of joy, speak and we shall be new: Lord, have mercy. R/ Lord, have mercy.
Lord, let us hear your word of forgiveness and make us look forward in hope as you lead us to everlasting life. R/ Amen.
Opening Prayer
Let us pray that God’s Word may be alive in us today(pause)
Our faithful God, you make yourself known and speak to us through Jesus Christ, your image and your living Word. Open our ears and hearts, that we may receive your Word and keep it. Let your Word become flesh among us also in our words of peace and truth and in our deeds of justice and love, of friendship and self-effacing service. May this be the way by which people recognize that your Son is alive among us today, and may they praise you for ever. R/ Amen.
First Reading • Isaiah 52:7-10:
The Good News Of Liberation
God announces liberation to his people in captivity. This liberation is brought to us today by Jesus.
Second Reading • Hebrews 1:1-6:
Now God Speaks To Us Through His Son
God has often spoken to people, but since the coming of his Son on earth, he speaks to us his definitive Word, Jesus. In him we see what God means and who God is.
Gospel • John 1:1-18 or Jn 1:1-5,9-14:
And The Word Became Flesh
The evangelist John speaks to us of the mystery of Jesus: he is the image of the Father, his Word became a man, his light in our darkness, God living among us. Do we accept him as he is?
Intercessions
God speaks to us his living Word, Jesus. Let us now speak our fumbling words to Jesus, our Lord and brother, as we say: R/ Speak your word to us, Lord.
-Jesus, for all who speak to the People of God the liberating words of your Good News, that they themselves may be filled with it and out of this fullness proclaim it with conviction and warmth, we pray: R/ Speak your word to us, Lord.
-Jesus, for all who hear your living Word, that they may receive it, treasure it in their hearts, and let it bear fruits of justice and love, we pray: R/ Speak your word to us, Lord.
-Jesus, for all who do not yet know you, that the lives of many convinced Christians may open their eyes to you, the true light of the world, we pray: R/ Speak your word to us, Lord.
-Jesus for those who speak words of bitterness and cry out their loneliness and misery, that we may speak to them comforting words of hope, we pray: R/ Speak your word to us, Lord.
-Jesus for your body on earth, our communities, that we may live in peace with God and each other, and that we may be of one heart and soul, we pray: R/ Speak your word to us, Lord.
Lord Jesus, you entered our world and know our needs and desires. Do not always give what we ask but what we really need and stay with us, now and forever. R/ Amen.
Prayer Over the Gifts
Our loving God and Father, you let Jesus speak his mighty Word and these gifts of bread and wine become his flesh and blood for the life of the world. Let your Son also speak to us from heart to heart, that he may fill our empty words with the power of integrity and truth and that he may change us, timid as we are, into people of peace and courage, who live without compromise the Gospel of Jesus Christ our Lord. R/ Amen.
Introduction to the Eucharistic Prayer Break into shouts of joy together, for the Lord has come to save his people. We thank and praise the Father in heaven for the gift of his Son to us and to the world.
Introduction to the Lord’s Prayer
God will hear our stammering words if we pray to him with Jesus. R/ Our Father...
Prayer for Peace
Lord Jesus Christ, you entered our world as the Father’s Word of peace. Give your people and every nation a peace based on justice and truth. Dispose us to offer to one another signs of reconciliation and to speak words of welcome and peace. Unite us in the peace of your kingdom where you live for ever and ever. R/ Amen.
Invitation to Communion
This is Jesus, God’s living Word, the true light that shines on all people. Happy are those who receive him, for he makes them children of God. R/ Lord, I am not worthy...
Prayer after Communion
Lord God, Almighty Father, you have filled us with the Word and the body of Jesus your Son. You have entrusted your Son to us; may his Good News be on our lips to tell it to one another and may we give shape and life to it by building up his community of justice and love. Let us become with him your word and your gift, and your sign of hope to the world. We ask this in the name of Jesus the Lord. R/ Amen.
Blessing
God has spoken to us here today not in mere promises but in the living person of his own Son. He came as the light brightening our darkness. How could we still be in the dark? He has made us children of God. Do we live as sons and daughters of God? He came to bring light and life to all the world. Have we spread his light? In the joy of Christmas, let us not forget our task to give him to the world.
And may God bless and keep you all: the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. R/ Amen.
Go in the peace of Christ and bear witness to his love.
R/ Thanks be to God
Reflection: 25 December 2025
Gospel: John 1:1-18 Renew us in your love.
O spoken Word of God before time began, you are God, and with God in the beginning. You are God’s pattern for all that he has made; in you is life, life that is light for humankind, light that triumphs over the darkness, the true light that gives light to everyone. O life-giving Word, let your light shine in our hearts to renew us in your love. You came into the world, that was made through you, yet the world did not recognize you. You came to your own, but they did not receive you. And to us who receive you and believe in your name, you give us the right to become children of God. born not of natural descent, nor of human decision but born of God. Send us your Spirit that the Word may become flesh through us, that you may dwell once again among us, that people may see your glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. Out of your fullness we have all received grace upon grace For through you grace and truth came. No one has ever seen God, but on this day when you were born, you have made God known to us. Amen.
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25 December 2024 John 1: 1-18 The Word Made Flesh – the Light that guides us The Prologue of John’s Gospel unveils the profound mystery of the Word becoming flesh, the light of God entering the world. From the creation narrative to the Incarnation, light symbolizes God's revelation, grace, and love. The Old Testament witnesses this divine illumination through figures like Abraham and Moses, preparing humanity for its fulfilment in Jesus Christ. John the Baptist stands as the final herald of this light, pointing toward the one who embodies grace and truth. The Word, existing with the Father from the beginning, reveals God’s love in i
