«Today the Savior, the Messiah and Lord was born to them»
BIBLICAL TEXT: Luke 2, 1-14
1.- READING : What does the text say?
At that time a decree of the emperor Augustus was promulgated, "the evangelist begins the story of the birth of Jesus with these words, providing us with a historical and geographical context of the birth of the Lord. Jesus was not born and appeared in public at an indeterminate time, but belongs to a precise time and a geographical environment indicated with accuracy: the universal and concrete are touched in Jesus.
The decree of Augustus to register all citizens fiscally, leads Joseph, along with his wife Mary, to the city of David. According to the promise of the Prophet Micah, the messiah was to be born in this city.
The purpose of the census was to determine and collect taxes, which is why Joseph, with Maria, his pregnant wife, goes from Nazareth to Bethlehem. The birth of Jesus in the city of David is placed within the framework of the great universal history, although the emperor knows nothing of these simple people who, because of him, are traveling at a difficult time; and thus, apparently by chance, the Child Jesus will be born in the place of promise.
"While they were there, the time of childbirth came and she gave birth to her firstborn son. He wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger, because they had not found a place in the inn. " For the Savior of the world, for that in view of which everything was created, there is no place. He who was crucified outside the gates of the city was also born outside its walls.
Mary put her newborn child in a manger. Then Mary wrapped the child in diapers; we can imagine how much love she expected her hour and prepared the birth of her son.
He was born in a stable, in an atmosphere that was not very welcoming, but which in any case offered the necessary discretion for the holy event. The manger is the place where animals find their food. However, now lies in the manger who has indicated himself as the true bread lowered from heaven, as the true food that man needs and that gives eternal life. In the poverty of the birth of Jesus the great reality is outlined in which the redemption of men is mysteriously fulfilled.
The first witnesses of the great event are shepherds who watch. Jesus was born outside the city, in an environment where there were pastures everywhere around where the shepherds took their flocks. It was normal, therefore, that they, being closer to the event, were the first called to the grotto. Perhaps they lived the event closer, not only externally, but also internally. They were part of the poor, of the simple souls, whom Jesus will bless.
The angel of the Lord presents himself to the shepherds, and the glory of the Lord envelops them with his clarity. The angel dispels the fear they feel and announces to them a "great joy for all the people: Today they were born in the City of David the Savior, the Messiah and Lord." They are told to find as a sign a child wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger.
To the angel, at that moment, he was joined by a large number of angels, who praised God saying:
Glory to God on high and on earth peace to men loved by him!
The angels before the birth of the Savior sing, and relate the glory of God in heaven with the peace of men on earth.
Questions to remember the biblical text:
How does the story begin? What ordered the decree of the emperor at that time? Who was that emperor? When did the first census take place? What should citizens do with this procedure? In what city were José and María? Where were they going? In what city did Maria arrive when she gave birth?
What happens to the birth of the Lord? Where should Mary put him to the child, and why? To whom did the angel appear that night? What did they feel before the luminous presence of the angel? With what words does the angel announce the birth of Jesus? What is the signal you should find? With what words did the choir of angels praise God?
2.- MEDITATION : What does God tell me in the text?
Let's ask ourselves some questions to go deeper into this Word of Salvation:
Do I live fully these days for which I prepared myself during the whole time of Advent? I understand that there can be no place for sadness, when life has just been born? In what way was Jesus born this time for me? Do I live this moment as a spectator who watches from afar, or do I live it participating in this joy that is common to all of humanity? ¿ On this Christmas day, what would I have to say about Jesus? How have I felt this throughout this year? Now, do I feel closer?
Even today Jesus does not find a place in the same way when he was born ... What are the attitudes or gestures in which Jesus remains without place in the hearts of men? Does my heart have a place prepared for this Jesus who is born?
What does it tell me, that they are simple and humble pastors to whom the birth of Jesus is announced? Do I understand that the Savior from his birth looks for those who have a simple and humble heart? When I give birth to Jesus, do I thank God and praise him in the same way that angels do?
3.- PRAYER : What do I say or tell God?
To pray is to respond to the Lord who speaks to us first. We are wanting to hear his saving Word. This Word is very different from what the world offers us and it is time to say something to the Lord. Thank you, Father, that you loved us so much that you gave us your Son. Lord, we thank you. Thank you Jesus for making you a child to save us. Lord, we thank you. Thank you, Jesus, for bringing the love of God to the world. Lord, we thank you. Lord Jesus, You came to tell us that God loves us and that we should love others. Lord, we thank you. Lord Jesus, You came to tell us that it gives more joy to give than to receive, Lord, we thank you. Lord Jesus, You came to tell us that what we do to others we do to You. Lord, we thank you. Thank you, Mary, for having accepted to be the Mother of Jesus. Maria, we thank you. Thank you, Saint Joseph, for taking care of Jesus and Mary. San José, we thank you.
Amen
We make a moment of silence and reflection to respond to the Lord. Today we give thanks for his resurrection and because it fills us with joy. We add our prayer intentions.
4.- CONTEMPLATION : How do I internalize or internalize the Word of God?
For the moment of contemplation we can repeat this verse of the Gospel several times so that it may enter our life, our heart. «Today the Savior, the Messiah and Lord was born to them» (Verses 11) And so, we are asking the Lord to be witnesses of the resurrection for others to believe.
5.- ACTION : To what do I commit myself or with God?
There must be a remarkable change in my life. If I do not change, then, I'm not a true Christian. Personally, I am determined to be a Christmas light. With the birth of the Lord, I seek to share my joy and my feelings, so I will speak to others about the person of Jesus who came for each one of us to save us.
With your group, we will reread the text again. Everyone as a group will bring the joy of Christ that came to us to awaken the hope that it is possible to truly live.
