Christmas: Homilies, Images, Slides and Videos

The following are homilies, photos, multimedia slides and videos you might find useful for your celebration of Christmas (Year C). The word Christmas originated from the Middle English Christemasse and Old English Cristes mæsse, which means “Christ’s Mass”. For more info about the origin and meaning of Christmas please click here.

HOMILIES

• The Contrary God [www.bible.claret.org]
  John traces the origins of Jesus back to His Being with God. God speaks and the Word becomes flesh. The Son pitches his tent amongst us, he becomes flesh, takes human form. The emphasis, in John’s account, is not so much on the contrariness of God as on his dependability. God had promised and now God keeps his word, or rather speaks his Word and that speaking makes Him present amongst us. One of the greatest compliments that we can give to another human being is to say that they are people of their word. Today, we celebrate that God, “Filled with enduring love,” has kept his word. Read more…
• The Shepherds Praised and Glorified God for All They Had Heard and Seen [dailyscripture.net]
  Why was it necessary for the Word of God to become flesh? We needed a savior who could reconcile us with God. Throughout the ages Christians have professed the ancient Nicene Creed: “He became man for our sake and for the sake of our salvation.” The eternal Word became flesh for us so he could offer his life as an atoning sacrifice for the sins of the world through the shedding of his blood on the cross. The Word became flesh to show us the infinite love and tender mercy of God for us sinners. Read more…
• Christmas: He Enters Our World To Draw Us Into His Presence [www.st.ignatius.net]
  And shepherds and Kings, and pagans and Jews are drawn into the Presence, the Presence in Bethlehem. And, we, whether we be rich or poor by the world’s standards, whether we be weak or powerful by the world’s standards, we are drawn into His Presence. We are drawn into His Presence, and are drawn away from all that rejects His Presence. We are separated from the emptiness of a world that rejects God. We are called away. We are called to holiness; for to be holy is to be separate for the Lord. Read more…
• Christmas: Midnight Mass [www.catholicmatters.com]
  All we can do is to say from our heart a humble, thank you God, and to resolve to have the sense to avail ourselves of this almost incredible offer. We are “God’s friends.” He has called us so, then let us do our best to retain this friendship than which there is nothing greater for us on earth or in heaven. If we do, and if we do the little he asks of us, he will do his part; he will give us our share in the eternal happiness the Incarnation has won for us. Read more…

IMAGES

To view and download their full size versions, please click on the images or the names of the artists.

SLIDE PRESENTATIONS

The following presentation can be downloaded here.

VIDEOS

The first video shows that Jesus is the real focus of the Christmas celebrations. It can be downloaded here. The second video shows the story of Jesus’ birth and it can be downloaded from this link.