Christmas is the center of human history.
- Octave of the Nativity of the Lord
- Mystery is too big for just one day
- Birth of Jesus
- Foretold
- Anticipated
- How many times?
- Before – B.C. without hope
- Israelites told to hope over and over
- God would bless them
- After – A.D. Hope for believers
- Hope for justice and peace – Salvation
Say to them:
The LORD bless you and keep you!
The LORD let his face shine upon
you, and be gracious to you!
The LORD look upon you kindly and
give you peace!
So shall they invoke my name upon the Israelites,
and I will bless them.” Numbers
Psalm
May God have pity on us and bless us;
may he let his face shine upon us.
So may your way be known upon earth;
among all nations, your salvation.
Fulfillment of Blessings: Center of Human History
- Paul to the Galations
Brothers and sisters: When the fullness of time had come, God sent his Son,
born of a woman, born under the law,
to ransom those under the law,
so that we might receive adoption as sons.
Shepherds and Kings witnessed the birth of Jesus.
- Three Kings at Epiphany
- Shepherds with flocks near Jerusalem
The shepherds went in haste to Bethlehem and found Mary and Joseph,
and the infant lying in the manger.
When they saw this,
they made known the message
that had been told them about this child.
All who heard it were amazed
by what had been told them by the shepherds.
And Mary kept all these things, reflecting on them in her heart.
From the beginning of this new hope, Mary was revered among the Apostles.
- How do we know all these stories?
- Mary was always present to the early Church. She shared her heart.
- Cana, at the foot of the Cross, in the upper room at Pentecost.
- Luke said, “Mary kept all these things, reflecting on them in her heart.”
- Mary nurtured the early Church. By loving and serving the Church, she honored her son.