{"id":3815,"date":"2016-12-20T12:57:41","date_gmt":"2016-12-20T12:57:41","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.stmarys-tallaght.ie\/site\/?p=3815"},"modified":"2016-12-20T12:57:41","modified_gmt":"2016-12-20T12:57:41","slug":"commentary-on-christmas-mass-at-dawn-25-12-2016","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.stmarys-tallaght.ie\/site\/commentary-on-christmas-mass-at-dawn-25-12-2016\/","title":{"rendered":"Commentary on Christmas Mass at Dawn 25.12.2016"},"content":{"rendered":"

TEXT: <\/strong>LUKE 02: 15\u201320<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Shepherds went to Bethlehem<\/strong><\/p>\n

15 When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, \u201cLet us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing <\/em>[word] that has happened<\/em>, which the Lord has made known to us.\u201d And they went with haste, and found Mary and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.<\/em><\/p>\n

Message proclaimed<\/strong><\/p>\n

17 And when they saw it they made known the saying <\/em>[word] which had been told them concerning this child; and all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them.<\/em><\/p>\n

Mary pondered events<\/strong><\/p>\n

19 But Mary kept all these things <\/em>[words], pondering them in her heart.<\/em><\/p>\n

Shepherds glorify God<\/strong><\/p>\n

20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them. <\/span> <\/em><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

EXPLANATION<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Introduction<\/strong><\/p>\n

In Luke\u2019s Gospel we note a significant difference between the birth of Jesus and that of John the Baptist. John is born at home, in his own land, in the midst of parents and neighbours and is welcomed by all (Lk 1: 57\u201358). Jesus is born unknown, away from his surroundings of family and neighbours and far from his land. \u201cThere was no room in the inn<\/em>.\u201d He had to be left in a manger (Lk 2:7).<\/p>\n

This reading completes the narrative begun in the gospel for the (mid)night Mass \u2014 the pilgrimage of the shepherds to Bethlehem and their visit to Mary, Joseph, and the babe in the manger.<\/p>\n

It is very interesting to see one characteristic that unites all the characters that appear, particularly in the Nativity scenes, namely poverty. Mary was poor, as also Joseph. Jesus was born into a poor family that could not afford, when they presented the Babe in the Temple, a lamb for sacrifice but only two turtledoves, of little value, the offering of the poorest of the poor.<\/p>\n

The first to greet and welcome him were poor shepherds. When brought to the Temple he met poor Simeon and poor Anna. To these may be added the vulnerable, very definitely poor in a different manner, the Holy Innocents. Those who were not poor included the comfortable who had no room for the Holy Family in the inn and those who opposed and tried to kill Jesus. Jesus obviously had an \u2018option for the poor\u2019. It is significant that this is one of the main themes of Pope Francis\u2019 pontificate.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

15 When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, \u201cLet us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing <\/em>[word] that has happened<\/em>, which the Lord has made known to us.\u201d 16 And they went with haste, and found Mary and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cWhen the angels went away from them into heaven<\/em>\u201d \u2014 These were the angels who had given to the shepherds on the hills the good news of the birth of Jesus.<\/p>\n

\u201cthe shepherds said to one another, \u201cLet us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened<\/em>\u201d \u2014 The original words for \u201cthing<\/em>\u201d can also be translated as \u201cword<\/em>\u201d. This latter is a better choice as it brings out the meaning that God\u2019s word has been accomplished, it has now become a \u201cthing\u201d, a reality, an event. God\u2019s word achieves what it says and means. An example: \u201cGod said, \u2018Let there be light\u2019 and there was light<\/em>\u201d. Jesus\u2019 words accomplish what they say in all his miracles. His word has two essential qualities \u2013 it is light, that reveals a meaning, and power, that brings about what it says.<\/p>\n

\u201cwhich the Lord has made known to us.<\/em>\u201d \u2014 They accept that their information has come by divine revelation which they call \u201cthing<\/em>\u201d or \u201cword<\/em>\u201d \u201cmade known to us<\/em>\u201d.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd they went with haste, and found Mary and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger<\/em>\u201d \u2014 Like Mary when she heard of Elizabeth\u2019s pregnancy, the shepherds do not delay but \u201cwent with haste<\/em>\u201d to the stable. When salvation was offered to them, there was no delay in seeking and accepting.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

17 And when they saw it they made known the saying <\/em><\/strong>[word] which had been told them concerning this child; 18 and all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cAnd when they saw it<\/em>\u201d \u2014 When the shepherds saw \u201cit<\/em>\u201d, that is the birth of the child whom the angels said was \u201ca Saviour, who is Christ the Lord<\/em>\u201d. Three titles describe the Child \u2014 a Saviour, the Messiah and God (Lk. 2: 11). The shepherds would not have recognised the babe as any of these three titles; they required the revelation of the angels to inform them.<\/p>\n

\u201cthey made known the saying <\/em>[word] which had been told them concerning this child;<\/em>\u201d \u2014 Immediately they became \u201cangels\u201d or \u201cmessengers\u201d, re-telling the revelation they had received from the heavenly persons.<\/p>\n

\u201cand all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them<\/em>.\u201d \u2014 The shepherds\u2019 words opened the minds and hearts of those present to the reality and identity of the Babe. Nevertheless they did not believe, but \u201cwondered\u201d. They realised that the shepherds\u2019 message was extraordinary and had to be reflected on and examined. They did not yet believe but were on the threshold of faith.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

19 But Mary kept all these things <\/em><\/strong>[words], pondering them in her heart.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

But Mary kept all these things <\/em>[words], pondering them in her heart<\/em>\u201d \u2014 Mary, the perfect disciple, is a model for all generations of the first two stages in discipleship, namely listening attentively and reflecting on the word of God in her heart, that is, with love.<\/p>\n

CCC<\/em>, 94 Thanks to the assistance of the Holy Spirit, the understanding of both the realities and the words of the heritage of faith is able to grow in the life of the Church: \u2014 \u201cthrough the contemplation and study of believers who ponder these things in their hearts\u201d; it is in particular \u201ctheological research [which] deepens knowledge of revealed truth\u201d \u2014 <\/sup>\u201cfrom the intimate sense of spiritual realities which [believers] experience\u201d, the sacred Scriptures \u201cgrow with the one who reads them.\u201d \u2014 \u201cfrom the preaching of those who have received, along with their right of succession in the episcopate, the sure charism of truth\u201d.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them. <\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them. \u2014 <\/em>The shepherds were eyewitnesses of the message revealed to them by the angels and they confirmed the message and believed. Immediately they shared the revelation with those who were present. They \u201creturned<\/em>\u201d to their occupation, shepherding sheep, but as changed persons. The angels had sung with joy when they revealed their message. Now the shepherds also sing the praises of God, glorifying him from the fulness of their new faith in his incarnate Son, which they had verified.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

APPLICATION<\/strong><\/h3>\n

There are only six verses, divided into four sections, in this passage. What is common to each of these is the mention of \u201cword<\/em>\u201d in three and it equivalent in the forth. \u201cWord<\/em>\u201d dominates the passage. \u201cWord<\/em>\u201d is the word of God, revealed by the heavenly messengers, repeated by the shepherds, \u201cpondered<\/em>\u201d over by Mary and rejoiced on by the shepherds.<\/p>\n

This \u201cword<\/em>\u201d is shared with what the Old Testament calls \u201cthe anawim<\/em>\u201d, the poor, here the Holy Family and the shepherds. The compassion and mercy of God is revealed in the use of \u201cword<\/em>\u201d. This is how history differs in our era from the time of Jesus\u2019 entry into our world. Our age records and verifies facts; the New Testament confirms the fulfilment of Old Testament prophecies.<\/p>\n

The shepherds had listened, received and acted on the \u201cword<\/em>\u201d from the angels; they believed in it \u2014 \u201cWhen the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, \u2018Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing <\/em>[word] that has happened<\/em>, which the Lord has made known to us.\u2019 And they went with haste<\/em>.\u201d The \u201cword<\/em>\u201d dominated their thinking. They forgot their role as guardians and shepherds of the sheep. They abandoned these to the dangers of the night, to animals of prey and to human predators. They were completely overcome by the \u201cword of God<\/em>\u201d. They made their decision, \u2018God is priority in my life.\u2019 Everything else, including livelihood, became secondary.<\/p>\n

Luke immediately adds that, \u201cMary kept all these things <\/em>(word\u2013events) pondering them in her heart<\/em>\u201d. The shepherds had come to verify the \u201cword<\/em>\u201d of the angels. Mary \u201cpondered<\/em>\u201d. She had heard the \u201cword<\/em>\u201d from Archangel Gabriel and believed. Now she \u201ckept<\/em> all these<\/em> (new) words<\/em>\u201d and compared the \u201cword<\/em>\u201d of the angel and the \u201cword<\/em>\u201d of the shepherds.<\/p>\n

This passage teaches us that Mary is our model in our attitude towards the \u201cword of God<\/em>\u201d. Many consider being the Mother of God as Mary\u2019s greatest attribute. Jesus had corrected that thinking. Her greatest attribute was being a woman of faith \u2014 \u201cA woman in the crowd raised her voice and said to him, \u2018Blessed is the womb that bore you, and the breasts that you sucked!\u2019 But he said, \u2018Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and keep it!<\/em>\u2019\u201d (Lk. 11: 27\u201328) Mary related to the \u201cword of God<\/em>\u201d by welcoming it, living it, incarnating it, giving it flesh, deepening it by reflecting on it, giving it birth, allowing it to grow, loving it even when it brought suffering and sorrow, listening to it whether it came from angels of heaven or from the poor, unlearned, not trusted (as the shepherds were not trusted contemporaries) of the earth.<\/p>\n

The Church provides many opportunities for its members to hear the \u201cword of God<\/em>\u201d. They must be open to and listen attentively to it. Mary and the shepherds were perfect in their listening and reflecting. Others who heard the shepherds \u201cwondered<\/em>\u201d. They were slow to accept and even doubted, perhaps. Mary has taught that it is not sufficient to merely listen; one must treasure and keep in one\u2019s heart. Luke mentions this twice (Lk. 2: 19 and 51) to emphasise the importance of this point. Jesus also stressed this \u2014 \u201c\u2018For there is nothing hid, except to be made manifest; nor is anything secret, except to come to light. If any man has ears to hear, let him hear.\u2019 And he said to them, \u2018Take heed what you hear; the measure you give will be the measure you get, and still more will be given you. For to him who has will more be given; and from him who has not, even what he has will be taken away<\/em>.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDisciples\u201d are those who sit at the feet of the Master and listen to his word, the \u201cword of God<\/em>\u201d. One who does not listen attentively is not worthy to be a disciple of Jesus.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

TEXT: LUKE 02: 15\u201320 Shepherds went to Bethlehem 15 When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, \u201cLet us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing [word] that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.\u201d And they went with haste, and found Mary and<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":3816,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[45],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3815","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-commentary"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.stmarys-tallaght.ie\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3815","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.stmarys-tallaght.ie\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.stmarys-tallaght.ie\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.stmarys-tallaght.ie\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.stmarys-tallaght.ie\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3815"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.stmarys-tallaght.ie\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3815\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3817,"href":"https:\/\/www.stmarys-tallaght.ie\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3815\/revisions\/3817"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.stmarys-tallaght.ie\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3816"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.stmarys-tallaght.ie\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3815"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.stmarys-tallaght.ie\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3815"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.stmarys-tallaght.ie\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3815"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}