By Msgr. William Carr
Midnight: Isaiah 9:1-6; Titus 2:11-14; and Luke 2:1-14.
Dawn: Isaiah 62:11-12; Titus 3:4-7; and Luke 2:15-20.
During the Day: Isaiah 52:7-10; Hebrews 1:1-6; and John 1:1-18.
Following ancient custom, there are three different Mass formularies for Christmas (or four, if we count the Vigil.) In the Fourth Century, pilgrims to the Holy Land walked the five or so miles from Jerusalem to Bethlehem where they celebrated Midnight Mass at the Grotto of the Nativity. After Mass, they returned to Jerusalem, arriving just about dawn, where they celebrated another Mass at the Church of the Resurrection (also called the Church of the Holy Sepulcher.) After a bit of sleep, during the day, they gathered for still another Mass.
The Midnight Mass tells of the fulfillment of the expectation of the coming of the Messiah. The Mass has many “light” themes: “The people in darkness have seen a great light….” “Lord, you make this holy night radiant with the splendor of Jesus Christ our light….” “The grace of God has appeared….” The gospel tells of the humble birth of Jesus at Bethlehem; there is no room for the Holy Family, so he is laid in a manger. The only ones invited to share the joy of birth are outcast shepherds.
The Mass at Dawn is sometimes called the “Shepherds’ Mass” for it tells of the shepherds coming to Bethlehem to pay homage to the Messiah. God saves us not because of any goodness in ourselves, but solely from his loving-kindness. We are undeserving of God’s blessings, just as the shepherds were. But God calls us to his mercy.
The Mass during the Day proclaims the “cosmic dimensions” of Jesus’ birth. All the ends of the earth will see the salvation of God. In former times, God spoke in varied and partial ways through the prophets; now he has spoken to us clearly by his Son. The gospel is the prologue to John’s Gospel: From all eternity, the Word exists with the Father. All things were made through him, for him, and unto him. Everything that comes to life, lives because of him. The eternal Word of God becomes flesh! He empties himself to become one of us in order to save us!
It is a fine old custom to attend each of the three Masses on Christmas. But if we cannot, we should capture the message in our lives. God humbles himself to be born a baby in the obscurity of Bethlehem. Yet this child who is so alone and humble at birth is the Lord of all things. He left his external glory to become one of us to save us. In gratitude, let us pledge him our lives.