(Audio)
Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel;
for he has come to his people and set them free.
Tonight this promise to set us free will be fulfilled.
He has raised up for us a mighty Savior,
born of the house of his servant David.
The mighty Savior is the very infant in the manger whom we celebrate. He does not yet appear mighty as the world regards might. God's strength does not exclude weakness, vulnerability, and dependence on others. Even so, he is still mighty enough to free us from our greatest enemies, sin and death.
that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery (see Hebews 2:14-15).
Only once Jesus conquers death can we be free from the fear of death, from the need to put ourselves first, from desperation to protect ourselves and prolong our lives as much as we can.
In the tender compassion of our God
the dawn from on high shall break upon us,
to shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death,
and to guide our feet into the way of peace.
Christmas is the beginning of this dawn because the light of the world is about to be born for us. This is why we keep vigil at midnight masses. This is why we assemble at masses at the break of dawn. We long for this light to shine.
The baby in the manger might not seem like a solid foundation for a Kingdom. The crucifixion seems like utter failure from a purely human point of view. But God's ways our not our ways. He comes in weakness and humility. But in him we recognize the light which the darkness cannot ever overcome.
Your house and your Kingdom shall endure forever before me;
your throne shall stand firm forever.'"
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