First reading
Isaiah 52:7–10
Rejoice, for the Lord is consoling his people.
Responsorial psalm
Psalm 97(98):1–6
R. All the ends of the earth have seen the saving power of God.
Second reading
Hebrews 1:1–6
God has spoken to us through his Son.
Gospel acclamation
A hallowed day has dawned upon us. Come, you nations, worship the Lord, for today a great light has shone down upon the earth.
Gospel
John 1:1–18
The Word was made flesh, and lived among us.
Images from the Word
- Word was God
- True light
- Full of grace and truth
- His holy arm
- God spoke
Liturgical notes
Since, however, the celebration of the Eucharist, like the entire Liturgy, is carried out by means of perceptible signs by which the faith is nourished, strengthened, and expressed, the greatest care is to be taken that those forms and elements proposed by the Church are chosen and arranged, which given the circumstances of persons and places, more effectively foster active and full participation and more aptly respond to the spiritual needs of the faithful.
—General Instruction of the Roman Missal, §20
The celebration of Christmas reminds us that our liturgy is caught up in the human elements of life—we use symbols taken from our daily living to encounter the very mystery of Christ. Notably, we do this in the celebration of Mass, where we use bread and wine to encounter the very presence of Christ. To these elements are added the active and full participation of the Christian community.
‘A child is born for us, and a son is given to us; his sceptre of power rests upon his shoulder, and his name will be called Messenger of great counsel’
—entrance antiphon