Christmas Weekday/ Holy Name of Jesus, St. Genevieve
St. Genevieve was born about the year 422, at Nanterre near Paris. The life of St. Genevieve was one of great austerity, constant prayer, and works of charity. She died in the year 512.
White
Entrance Antiphon: Cf. Jn 1: 1
In the beginning and before all ages, the Word was God and he humbled himself to be born the Saviour of the world.
Collect
O God, who by the Nativity of your Only Begotten Son wondrously began for your people the work of redemption, grant, we pray, to your servants such firmness of faith, that by his guidance they may attain the glorious prize you have promised. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.
First reading : 1 John 2:29-3:6
You know that God is righteous –then you must recognise that everyone whose life is righteous has been begotten by him. Think of the love that the Father has lavished on us, by letting us be called God’s children; and that is what we are. Because the world refused to acknowledge him, therefore it does not acknowledge us. My dear people, we are already the children of God but what we are to be in the future has not yet been revealed; all we know is, that when it is revealed we shall be like him because we shall see him as he really is. Surely everyone who entertains this hope must purify himself, must try to be as pure as Christ. Anyone who sins at all breaks the law, because to sin is to break the law. Now you know that he appeared in order to abolish sin, and that in him there is no sin; anyone who lives in God does not sin, and anyone who sins has never seen him or known him.
Psalm 97 (98) :1, 3-6
R/ All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.
1. Sing a new song to the Lord, for he has worked wonders. His right hand and his holy arm, have brought salvation.
2. All the ends of the earth have seen, the salvation of our God. Shout to the Lord, all the earth, ring out your joy.
3. Sing psalms to the Lord with the harp, with the sound of music. With trumpets and the sound of the horn, acclaim the King, the Lord.
Gospel Acclamation : Jn 1:14, 12
Alleluia, alleluia!A hallowed day has dawned upon us. Come, you nations, worship the Lord, for today a great light has shone down upon the earth. Alleluia!
Gospel: John 1:29-34
Seeing Jesus coming towards him, John said, ‘Look, there is the lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world. This is the one I spoke of when I said: A man is coming after me who ranks before me because he existed before me. I did not know him myself, and yet it was to reveal him to Israel that I came baptising with water.’ John also declared, ‘I saw the Spirit coming down on him from heaven like a dove and resting on him. I did not know him myself, but he who sent me to baptise with water had said to me, “The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and rest is the one who is going to baptise with the Holy Spirit.” Yes, I have seen and I am the witness that he is the Chosen One of God.’
Prayer over the Offerings
Receive our oblation, O Lord, by which is brought about a glorious exchange, that, by offering what you have given, we may merit to receive your very self. Through Christ our Lord.
Communion Antiphon Jn 3: 16
God so loved the world that he gave his Only Begotten Son, so that all who believe in him may not perish, but may have eternal life.
Prayer after Communion
Grant, we pray, almighty God, that, by the power of these holy mysteries, our life may be constantly sustained. Through Christ our Lord
Meditation
As we celebrate the birth of Jesus, we are invited to meditate on his identity. Who is this Jesus, on whose account we indulge in so much celebration? John the Baptist gives us three elements of the identity of Jesus. First, Jesus is the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. He is the one who is sacrificed in order for our sins to be washed away. Second, Jesus has always existed, which means that he is more than just a human being; he is God. Third, Jesus is the one on whom the Holy Spirit dwells, and who baptises with the Holy Spirit. He is filled with the Spirit of God, and he gives us this Spirit, who makes us children of God like him. The Lamb of God, who has always existed, and who brings the Spirit of divine sonship – that is the person whose birth we celebrate. What should be our attitude towards him? Nothing short of total surrender.