20251225 FULFILLING THE HOPE OF CHRISTMAS
25 December 2025, Thursday, The Nativity of the Lord
First reading | Isaiah 9:1-7 |
A Son is given to us
The people that walked in darkness
has seen a great light;
on those who live in a land of deep shadow
a light has shone.
You have made their gladness greater,
you have made their joy increase;
they rejoice in your presence
as men rejoice at harvest time,
as men are happy when they are dividing the spoils.
For the yoke that was weighing on him,
the bar across his shoulders,
the rod of his oppressor,
these you break as on the day of Midian.
For all the footgear of battle,
every cloak rolled in blood,
is burnt,
and consumed by fire.
For there is a child born for us,
a son given to us
and dominion is laid on his shoulders;
and this is the name they give him:
Wonder-Counsellor, Mighty-God,
Eternal-Father, Prince-of-Peace.
Wide is his dominion
in a peace that has no end,
for the throne of David
and for his royal power,
which he establishes and makes secure
in justice and integrity.
From this time onwards and for ever,
the jealous love of the Lord of Hosts will do this.
Responsorial Psalm |
Psalm 95(96):1-3,11-13 |
Today a saviour has been born to us: he is Christ the Lord.
O sing a new song to the Lord,
sing to the Lord all the earth.
O sing to the Lord, bless his name.
Today a saviour has been born to us: he is Christ the Lord.
Proclaim his help day by day,
tell among the nations his glory
and his wonders among all the peoples.
Today a saviour has been born to us: he is Christ the Lord.
Let the heavens rejoice and earth be glad,
let the sea and all within it thunder praise,
let the land and all it bears rejoice,
all the trees of the wood shout for joy
at the presence of the Lord for he comes,
he comes to rule the earth.
Today a saviour has been born to us: he is Christ the Lord.
With justice he will rule the world,
he will judge the peoples with his truth.
Today a saviour has been born to us: he is Christ the Lord.
Second reading | Titus 2:11-14 |
God's grace has been revealed to the whole human race
God’s grace has been revealed, and it has made salvation possible for the whole human race and taught us that what we have to do is to give up everything that does not lead to God, and all our worldly ambitions; we must be self-restrained and live good and religious lives here in this present world, while we are waiting in hope for the blessing which will come with the Appearing of the glory of our great God and saviour Christ Jesus. He sacrificed himself for us in order to set us free from all wickedness and to purify a people so that it could be his very own and would have no ambition except to do good.
Gospel Acclamation | Lk2:10-11 |
Alleluia, alleluia!
I bring you news of great joy:
today a saviour has been born to us, Christ the Lord.
Alleluia!
Gospel | Luke 2:1-14 |
'In the town of David a saviour has been born to you'
Caesar Augustus issued a decree for a census of the whole world to be taken. This census – the first – took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria, and everyone went to his own town to be registered. So Joseph set out from the town of Nazareth in Galilee and travelled up to Judaea, to the town of David called Bethlehem, since he was of David’s House and line, in order to be registered together with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. While they were there the time came for her to have her child, and she gave birth to a son, her first born. She wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger because there was no room for them at the inn.
In the countryside close by there were shepherds who lived in the fields and took it in turns to watch their flocks during the night. The angel of the Lord appeared to them and the glory of the Lord shone round them. They were terrified, but the angel said, ‘Do not be afraid. Listen, I bring you news of great joy, a joy to be shared by the whole people. Today in the town of David a saviour has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. And here is a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger.’ And suddenly with the angel there was a great throng of the heavenly host, praising God and singing:
‘Glory to God in the highest heaven,
and peace to men who enjoy his favour.’
FULFILLING THE HOPE OF CHRISTMAS
SCRIPTURE READINGS: [IS 9:1-7; PS 96:1-3,11-13; TIT 2:11-14; LK 2:1-14]
Christmas is a feast celebrated by many people, even by those who are not Christians and who do not believe that Christ is the Saviour of the world or the Son of God. Why is this so? It is because Christmas is a non-threatening event: after all, we are celebrating the birth of an innocent child. The birth of any baby gives hope to humanity. When John the Baptist was born, the people asked, “What then will this child become?” Indeed, whenever a baby is born, we celebrate life and love, for a child is the fruit of love between a man and a woman. Even more so, we celebrate Christmas because the baby who is born is the Son of God, conceived by the love of God through the power of the Holy Spirit in Mary. And if this baby is God’s Son, we should dare to hope even more in what His coming into the world can do for humanity. This is why, as we come to the close of the Jubilee Year in a few days’ time, we are invited to contemplate the birth of Christ as the hope of the world–the hope for joy, peace, and love.
Indeed, there is nothing the world lacks more than joy. With so much sad news–trade wars, military conflicts, innocent civilians suffering, with women and children suffering the most casualty–humanity lacks joy because there is no peace and no love. Yet with Christ’s coming, we hope that He will bring peace to humanity through His life, His message, and His death. This is what Isaiah prophesied: “For there is a child born for us, a son given to us and dominion is laid on his shoulders; and this is the name they give him: Wonder-Counsellor, Mighty-God, Eternal-Father, Prince-of-Peace. Wide is his dominion in a peace that has no end, for the throne of David and for his royal power, which he establishes and makes secure in justice and integrity.”
This peace is first and foremost an inner peace, not merely the absence of wars or violence. Rather, it is a peace that comes from being reconciled with God and with one another through forgiveness and justice. Christ came to conquer the hatred of the world not by power or might, but as a lowly servant born in a manger. He brings peace by being the presence of God among us, revealing the face of the Father–His mercy, love, and forgiveness. By becoming one with us, He shows us how to live in humility and self-emptying love, forgiving even our enemies. In conquering the sins of selfishness, pride, and the lust for power, we are saved. Through His death and resurrection, Christ reveals the power of forgiving love that conquers hatred and death and grants us eternal life. As St Paul says, “He sacrificed himself for us in order to set us free from all wickedness and to purify a people so that it could be his very own, and have no ambition except to do good.”
At His birth, the angels sang, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and peace to men who enjoy his favour.” Who are those who enjoy His favour? They are those who are reconciled with Him. When we are reconciled with God in Christ and with our brothers and sisters, and when our hearts are at peace with a clear conscience, we will experience peace even in a world torn by conflict. Peace must begin within us before it can spread to others. Rather than merely lamenting the fighting in the world, the divisions in society, or the conflicts in our families and communities, we are called to bring the light of peace by being people of peace. There can be no peace without justice and without ensuring that our brothers and sisters have their basic needs met–the right to life, shelter, food, worship, and work. In doing so, we share in the mission of Jesus to bring light to a troubled and divided world. As Isaiah proclaims, “The people that walked in darkness has seen a great light; on those who live in a land of deep shadow, a light has shone.”
Christmas not only brings peace but also reveals pure love. Sharing one’s life freely is an act of love and care. A child is not born for himself or even solely for the family; a child is given to be of service to humanity and the world. The child, too, is called to give life to others. God gives us life so that we may share it. Those who fail to use their lives to bless others live in vain and die not only physically, but also emotionally, affectively, and spiritually. Thus, God came as a baby in Jesus to invite us to share in His life and His selfless love. True joy is found when we give our lives in service to our brothers and sisters.
Love, therefore, is the antidote to the darkness of hatred and selfishness in the world. Isaiah declares, “The people that walked in darkness has seen a great light; on those who live in a land of deep shadow a light has shone.” Light brings warmth, and warmth signifies love. St Paul exhorts us: “God’s grace has been revealed, and it has made salvation possible for the whole human race and taught us that what we have to do is to give up everything that does not lead to God, and all our worldly ambitions; we must be self-restrained and live good and religious lives here in this present world, while we are waiting in hope for the blessing which will come with the Appearing of the glory of our great God and saviour Christ Jesus.” At Christmas, we imitate God’s self-giving by offering gifts–not only material ones, but gifts of peace, love, concern, time, and encouragement. Love multiplies when it is shared, for those who are loved learn to love in return.
When peace and love are present, joy is found. Joy is not the same as happiness. Happiness depends on external circumstances–success, achievements, or material gain–and fades as soon as the event is over. Joy, however, is deeper and more enduring. It flows from gratitude for who we are and for what God has given us. Joy springs from the heart when we reflect on God’s goodness, the kindness of others, cherished memories of friendship, and especially God’s faithfulness during difficult times. Joy is born from wonder and gratitude toward a God who is gracious, generous, kind, forgiving, and loving.
Christmas is the celebration of this pure joy that comes from encountering the greatness of God in the birth of Christ. Isaiah writes, “You have made their gladness greater, you have made their joy increase; they rejoice in your presence as men rejoice at harvest time.” Had God come to us in divine majesty, we might have been overwhelmed by fear and unworthiness. This is true when we meet prominent people and leaders in our lives because of their status. Yet, like great leaders who humble themselves to be among their people, God comes as one of us. The Son of God is born as an innocent and vulnerable baby, not in a palace but in a stable, filling us with joy simply by His presence. Thus the angels proclaimed to the shepherds, “Do not be afraid. Listen, I bring you news of great joy, a joy to be shared by the whole people. Today in the town of David a saviour has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. And here is a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger.”
Knowing that God is in our midst as a human being, we can approach Him without fear or apprehension. He is Emmanuel, God-with-us. Gazing upon the infant Jesus in His innocence and vulnerability we are filled with deep joy. In His presence, we too can strip ourselves of our defences. There is nothing to fear before a baby. We do not have to put up a show but simply love. Let us pray for the humility to welcome the child Jesus into our hearts by being one with our brothers and sisters–without airs of superiority–sharing their joys and sufferings, comforting and caring for one another. In this way, we will truly share in the peace, love, and joy of Christ.
Best Practices for Using the Daily Scripture Reflections
- Encounter God through the spirit of prayer and the scripture by reflecting and praying the Word of God daily. The purpose is to bring you to prayer and to a deeper union with the Lord on the level of the heart.
- Daily reflections when archived will lead many to accumulate all the reflections of the week and pray in one sitting. This will compromise your capacity to enter deeply into the Word of God, as the tendency is to read for knowledge rather than a prayerful reading of the Word for the purpose of developing a personal and affective relationship with the Lord.
- It is more important to pray deeply, not read widely. The current reflections of the day would be more than sufficient for anyone who wants to pray deeply and be led into an intimacy with the Lord.
Note: You may share this reflection with someone. However, please note that reflections are not archived online nor will they be available via email request.
Written by His Eminence, Cardinal William SC Goh, Roman Catholic Archbishop of Singapore © All Rights Reserved.
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