Christmas Weekday on January 5

• First Reading – 1 John 3:11-21: We must love each other, contrasting Cain’s hatred. Love signifies our passage from death to life. True love acts selflessly, unlike the unloving who remain in death’s state.
• Responsorial Psalm – Psalm 100: All lands sing joyfully to the LORD, acknowledging Him as our Creator and Shepherd. Enter His presence with gratitude and praise, celebrating His enduring kindness and faithfulness.
• Gospel – John 1:43-51: Philip, having met Jesus, informed Nathanael about finding the one foretold by Moses and the prophets: Jesus from Nazareth. Nathanael’s initial doubt was met with Jesus’ insightful greeting, recognizing his character. Astonished by Jesus’ knowledge of him, Nathanael acknowledged Jesus as the Son of God and King of Israel. Jesus promised Nathanael that he would witness even greater signs, including a vision of angels connecting heaven and earth through the Son of Man.

And Jesus said to Nathanael, “Amen, amen, I say to you, you will see the sky opened and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.”

John 1:51

For the Christmas weekday on January 5, the liturgical themes revolve around the nature of love, divine revelation, and the recognition of Jesus as the Messiah. These themes are deeply intertwined with the Christmas season’s emphasis on the Incarnation of Christ. Here’s a breakdown of the themes:

• The Nature and Imperative of Christian Love: The First Reading from 1 John emphasizes the fundamental Christian commandment to love one another. This love is not just an emotion but an active principle that leads to selfless actions, contrasting with acts of hatred exemplified by Cain. This theme is particularly poignant during the Christmas season, as it echoes the selfless love of God in sending His Son into the world.
• Joy and Thanksgiving in God’s Presence: The Responsorial Psalm invites all to joyful praise and thanksgiving, recognizing God as our Creator and Shepherd. This theme resonates with the joy of Christmas, celebrating God’s closeness and care for humanity through the birth of Jesus.
• Divine Revelation and Recognition of Christ: In the Gospel, Philip’s encounter with Jesus and his subsequent witness to Nathanael highlights the theme of divine revelation and the recognition of Jesus as the Messiah. Nathanael’s journey from skepticism to faith mirrors our own journey of discovering Jesus. This theme aligns with the Christmas revelation of Jesus as the light of the world and the fulfillment of prophetic promises.
• The Continuity of Salvation History: The Gospel also touches on the continuity of salvation history, as Jesus is identified as the one foretold by Moses and the prophets. This links the Old Testament prophecies with their fulfillment in the New Testament, a key aspect of the Christmas narrative.
• Promise of Divine Manifestations: Jesus’ promise to Nathanael of greater things, including the vision of angels ascending and descending upon the Son of Man, points to the ongoing revelation of God’s glory through Christ. This is reflective of the epiphany theme, where Christ’s divinity is progressively revealed to the world, a theme that is very much a part of the broader Christmas season.

These themes offer rich material for reflection, homilies, or discussions, particularly in the context of understanding how the Christmas event continues to unfold and impact Christian life, even in ordinary time following the major feast days. The readings encourage a deeper appreciation of God’s love made manifest in Christ, the joy of encountering God in our lives, and the journey from doubt to faith.

As we celebrate a Christmas weekday on January 5, our hearts are still warmed by the light of Christ’s birth. The Gospel reading from John 1:43-51 offers a profound reflection on discovery and recognition, themes that are deeply relevant in the ongoing Christmas season.

In the Gospel, we encounter Philip, who, after meeting Jesus, rushes to Nathanael with a life-changing revelation: they have found the one written about by Moses and the prophets. This announcement is met with skepticism by Nathanael, whose initial doubt is emblematic of our own hesitations and preconceptions. How often do we, like Nathanael, doubt the workings of God in our lives because they do not fit our expectations?

Jesus, in His gentle yet insightful approach, reaches out to Nathanael, acknowledging his sincerity. This simple, knowing greeting transforms Nathanael’s doubt into faith. In this moment, we witness the unfolding of a personal epiphany. Nathanael’s recognition of Jesus as the Son of God and the King of Israel is a testament to the power of personal encounter with Christ. As we journey through the Christmas season, we are invited to experience similar moments of recognition, where our understanding of who Jesus is deepens and transforms us.

This moment of recognition ties beautifully with the First Reading from 1 John, where we are reminded that true love acts selflessly and signifies our passage from death to life. The love embodied by Jesus, who reaches out to Nathanael in understanding and acceptance, is the same love we are called to embody. This Christmas season, we are reminded that our faith is not just a set of beliefs but a call to love actively and selflessly, just as God loved us by sending His Son.

The Responsorial Psalm, Psalm 100, invites us to enter into God’s presence with gratitude and praise. It resonates with the theme of joy in discovery and recognition found in the Gospel. We, too, are called to sing joyfully to the Lord, acknowledging Him as our Creator and Shepherd, especially in the revelation of His Son. The Psalm echoes the joy and thanksgiving that should characterize our response to the continuing Christmas miracle.

Lastly, Jesus promises Nathanael that he will witness even greater signs, including a vision of angels connecting heaven and earth. This promise invites us to anticipate the ongoing revelation of God’s glory through Christ. Just as Christmas marks the beginning of this revelation, our faith journey invites us to continually witness the unfolding of God’s plan in our lives and in the world.

In sum, the readings of this Christmas weekday on January 5 invite us to a deeper faith, a faith that recognizes Jesus in our daily lives, loves selflessly as He did, and rejoices in the continual revelation of His divine presence. Let us, like Nathanael, move from doubt to a faith that sees and believes in the wonders God performs in our lives, guided by the light of Christ revealed to us this Christmas season.

Prayer for a Christmas Weekday on January 5

Heavenly Father, as You called Nathanael and Philip, call us too with Your loving invitation. Open our hearts to recognize Jesus in our lives and follow Him with faith and sincerity. Amen.

USCCB Reflection: Incarnation and New Beginnings

Saint John Neumann, celebrated today, was a Redemptorist missionary and the fourth Bishop of Philadelphia, as well as the first American bishop to be canonized. He founded the first Catholic diocesan school system in the U.S., exemplifying the value of Catholic education. This USCCB video reflection for a Christmas weekday on January 5 ties this to the Gospel’s question, “Can anything good come from Nazareth?”, suggesting that, like Philip’s invitation to “come and see” Jesus, the Catholic school system invites exploration of faith’s beauty and depth. It shares a poignant story of two brothers supported by their school, underscoring the system’s impact on developing faith and dedication in young people.

What are the Mass readings for a Christmas Weekday on January 5?

• First Reading – 1 John 3:11-21: Love Transcends Death to Life
• Responsorial Psalm – Psalm 100: Joyful Worship of the Lord
• Gospel – John 1:43-51: Nathanael’s Call and Revelation

What is the significance of the readings for a Christmas Weekday on January 5?

The readings for a Christmas Weekday on January 5 emphasize themes of Christian love, divine revelation, joy in God’s presence, and recognition of Jesus as the Messiah. They reflect the Christmas season’s focus on the Incarnation of Christ and our ongoing journey of faith.

How does the First Reading from 1 John relate to the Christmas season?

The First Reading for a Christmas Weekday on January 5 discusses the imperative of selfless love, echoing the love shown by God through Christ’s birth. It reminds us that true Christian love is an active principle, leading from death to life.

What is the message of the Responsorial Psalm for a Christmas Weekday on January 5, Psalm 100, in this context?

Psalm 100 invites us to joyful praise and gratitude, acknowledging God as our Creator and Shepherd. This resonates with the joy of Christmas, celebrating God’s closeness and care for humanity.

Can you explain the encounter between Philip, Nathanael, and Jesus in the Gospel reading for a Christmas Weekday on January 5?

Philip, having met Jesus, tells Nathanael about finding the Messiah. Nathanael’s skepticism turns to faith upon meeting Jesus, reflecting our own journey of discovering and recognizing Jesus in our lives.

What does Nathanael’s recognition of Jesus signify?

Nathanael’s acknowledgment of Jesus as the Son of God and King of Israel represents a personal epiphany and the transformative power of encountering Christ, a theme central to the Christmas season.

How does Jesus’ promise to Nathanael about seeing angels relate to the Christmas message?

Jesus’ promise of divine manifestations to Nathanael symbolizes the ongoing revelation of God’s glory through Christ, aligning with the Christmas and Epiphany themes of discovering Jesus’ divine nature.

What are we reminded of through the readings for a Christmas Weekday on January 5?

These readings remind us of the depth of God’s love, the joy of encountering Him, and the journey from doubt to faith, encouraging us to recognize Jesus in our daily lives and to love as He loved.

How do these themes for a Christmas Weekday on January 5 apply to our daily life?

The themes encourage us to embrace selfless love, experience joy in our relationship with God, and deepen our understanding of Jesus as the Messiah, influencing how we live our faith in practical ways during this season.