Introduction
This year Christmas Day, 24 December, is on a Sunday.
I’m not very good at getting up early in the morning, so I often miss the morning church service.
So I try to go to the Saturday evening service.
As you know, Christmas is celebrated as the birthday of Christ.
In Japan, the number of Christians of all denominations is 1 per cent of the total population. Catholics are only 0.3 per cent.
However, the town is very lively as an opportunity for business.
For many Japanese, Christmas is nothing more than a man dressed as Santa, Christmas ornaments and cake.
Today, many people in Japan have no idea about the Virgin Birth or the Christmas story.
The truth is that they are not interested in it.
Are the virgin birth and the worship of the three Eastern Doctors in Bethlehem true?
According to Professor Raymond Brown, a well-known biblical scholar (he was a Catholic priest and a member of the Pontifical Biblical Commission), according to the biblical account, the Virgin Birth story and Jesus being born in Bethlehem are clearly not historical facts.
However, he states that since it was the Holy Spirit who recorded this story in the Bible, it is precisely what the Holy Spirit is saying to us through this story that we should listen carefully.
So those who say that it is a fairy tale are right, but it may mean that the world seen through the story is a very different world for those who have faith and those who do not have faith.
The Mass
Fourth Sunday of Advent
- First Reading: Second Samuel 7: 1-5, 8b-12, 14a, 16.
- Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 89: 2-3, 4-5, 27, 29.
- Second Reading: Romans 16: 25-27.
- Alleluia: Luke 1: 38.
- Gospel: Luke 1: 26-38.
In his sermon today, Father said, “Tomorrow we will have a Christmas service. But that is because the normal morning service is the service of the 4th Lord’s Day of Waiting and the evening service is the Christmas service from the evening service”, he emphasised again and again.
In the ancient Jewish calendar, the day begins at sunset, so the evening service on the 24th means the service on the 25th.
In the ancient Jewish calendar, the day begins at sunset, so the evening service on the 24th means the service on the 25th.
The Nativity
Photography is not allowed inside the church. the nativity is displayed outside the church.
What is interesting is that normally there would be a baby Jesus in a manger, but it is a bible.
It’s a very symbolic decoration.
Conclusion my prayer
This Christmas is full of sadness.
Conflicts in Ukraine and the Holy Land weigh heavily on our hearts.
God, what are you doing?
We are praying.
We have even fasted, following the call of His Holiness.
The church prays for peace in weekly communal prayer.
God, who loves each and every one of us, do not be silent.
If You really love us so painfully, why do You ignore the cries of those who keep asking for Your help?
People have their feet blown off by landmines, they are held hostage in dark rooms, children have their limbs blown off. Why don’t You save them before such a disgusting thing happens?
It is not enough to be peaceful.
Please restore the lost limbs.
Bring back to life those who have been lost.
You are able to do everything, are you not?
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