Today's Gospel December 24, 2020 with the words of Pope Francis

READING OF THE DAY
From the second book of Samuèle
2Sam 7,1-5.8b-12.14a.16

King David, when he had settled in his house, and the Lord had given him rest from all his enemies around, said to the prophet Nathan: "See, I live in a cedar house, while the ark of God it is under the cloths of a tent ». Nathan answered the king, "Go, do what you have in your heart, for the Lord is with you."

But that same night the word of the Lord was addressed to Nathan: “Go, and tell my servant David:“ Thus says the Lord: Will you build me a house, so that I may live there? I took you from the pasture while you were following the flock, so that you might be the ruler of my people Israel. I have been with you wherever you went, I have destroyed all your enemies before you and I will make your name as great as that of the great ones who are on earth. I will set a place for Israel, my people, and I will plant it there so that you will live there and will no longer tremble and the evildoers will not oppress it as in the past and as since the day I established judges over my people Israel. I will give you rest from all your enemies. The Lord announces that he will make a home for you.
When your days are over and you sleep with your fathers, I will raise up one of your descendants after you, who has come out of your womb, and will establish his kingdom. I will be a father to him and he will be a son to me.

Your house and your kingdom will be firm for ever before you, your throne will be made stable forever. "

GOSPEL OF THE DAY
From the Gospel according to Luke
Lc 1,67-79

At that time, Zaccharia, father of John, was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied saying:

"Blessed be the Lord, God of Israel,
because he has visited and redeemed his people,
and raised up a mighty Savior for us
in the house of David, his servant,
as he said
through the mouth of his holy prophets of yore:
salvation from our enemies,
and from the hands of those who hate us.

Thus he granted mercy to our fathers
and remembered his holy covenant,
of the oath made to Abraham our father,
to grant us, free from the hands of enemies,
to serve him without fear, in holiness and justice
in his presence, for all our days.

And you, child, will be called a prophet of the Most High
for you will go before the Lord to prepare his way,
to give his people the knowledge of salvation
in the remission of his sins.

Thanks to the tenderness and mercy of our God,
a sun rising from above will visit us,
to shine on those who stand in darkness
and in the shadow of death,
and direct our steps
on the way to peace ".

WORDS OF THE HOLY FATHER
Tonight, we too go up to Bethlehem to discover the mystery of Christmas. Bethlehem: the name means house of bread. In this "house" the Lord today makes an appointment with humanity. Bethlehem is the turning point to change the course of history. There God, in the house of bread, is born in a manger. As if to tell us: here I am to you, as your food. He does not take, he offers to eat; he does not give something, but himself. In Bethlehem we discover that God is not someone who takes life, but the One who gives life. (Holy Mass of the night on the Solemnity of the Birth of the Lord, 24 December 2018