Sunday Gospel – December 25, 2016

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John 1:1-18 The Word

the-nativity-of-christ-jpglargeWorld English Bible (WEB)

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him. Without him was not anything made that has been made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness hasn’t overcome [a] it. There came a man, sent from God, whose name was John. The same came as a witness, that he might testify about the light, that all might believe through him. He was not the light, but was sent that he might testify about the light. The true light that enlightens everyone was coming into the world.

10 He was in the world, and the world was made through him, and the world didn’t recognize him. 11 He came to his own, and those who were his own didn’t receive him. 12 But as many as received him, to them he gave the right to become God’s children, to those who believe in his name: 13 who were born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. 14 The Word became flesh, and lived among us. We saw his glory, such glory as of the one and only Son of the Father, full of grace and truth. 15 John testified about him. He cried out, saying, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me has surpassed me, for he was before me.’” 16 From his fullness we all received grace upon grace. 17 For the law was given through Moses. Grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has seen God at any time. The one and only Son,[b] who is in the bosom of the Father, he has declared him.

Readings

First Reading: Isaiah 52:7-10

World English Bible (WEB)

How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news,
    who publishes peace,
    who brings good news,
    who proclaims salvation,
    who says to Zion, “Your God reigns!”
Your watchmen lift up their voice,
    together they sing;
    for they shall see eye to eye, when Yahweh returns to Zion.
Break out into joy,
    sing together, you waste places of Jerusalem;
    for Yahweh has comforted his people.
    He has redeemed Jerusalem.
10 Yahweh has made bare his holy arm in the eyes of all the nations;
    and all the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.

Second Reading: Hebrews 1:1-6

World English Bible (WEB)

God, having in the past spoken to the fathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, has at the end of these days spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, through whom also he made the worlds. His Son is the radiance of his glory, the very image of his substance, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purified us of our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high; having become so much better than the angels, as he has inherited a more excellent name than they have. For to which of the angels did he say at any time,

“You are my Son.
    Today have I become your father?”[a]

and again,

“I will be to him a Father,
    and he will be to me a Son?”[b]

When he again brings in the firstborn into the world he says, “Let all the angels of God worship him.”[c]