×

HOW TO DONATE

1 Click on DONATE button.
2 Choose your PROGRAM
3 Choose your amount.

If you still have problems, please let us know, by sending an email to support@sjbny.org . Thank you!

CHURCH HOURS

Mon-Fri 9:00AM - 6:00PM
Sat - 9:00AM-5:00PM
CALL US: (212) 288-5082
  • SUPPORT

Eglise St. Jean Baptiste

Eglise St. Jean Baptiste

The Church is the People of God sharing in Jesus’ ministry of preaching, teaching and healing.

T (212) 288-5082
Email: info@sjbny.org

Eglise St. Jean Baptist
Rectory Address: 184 E 76th St, New York, NY 10021

Open in Google Maps
  • ABOUT
    • Our History
    • Congregation of The Blessed Sacrament Fathers
    • Sisters of Congregation of Notre Dame
    • National Shrine of St. Anne
    • St Jean Baptiste High School
    • Parish Staff
    • Photo Gallery
    • Volunteering
    • Contact US
  • LITURGY
    • Baptism
    • First Communion
    • Confirmation
    • Marriage
    • Anointing
    • Funerals
    • Mass intentions
    • Prayer Group
  • EDUCATION
    • Info & Registration
    • Preparation for Sacraments
    • Adults Education
    • Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults
    • Calendar
  • MUSIC
    • The organ
  • COMMUNITY
    • Community Center
    • The Theatre at St. Jeans
    • What’s next at the Theatre?
    • Community Theatre Group
    • Applause
  • TODDLER PROGRAM
  • WATCH MASS
DONATE
  • Home
  • BLOG & STORIES
  • Church Reflections
  • CHRISTMAS, December 25, 2022
February 9, 2023

CHRISTMAS, December 25, 2022

Eglise Saint Jean Baptiste
Sunday, 25 December 2022 / Published in Church Reflections

CHRISTMAS, December 25, 2022

There were shepherds in that region living in the fields and keeping night watch over their flock. An angel of the Lord appeared to them and the glory of the lord shown around them, and they were struck with great fear. The angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For today, in the city of David a savior has been born for you who is Messiah and Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find an infant wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger…”

When the angels went away from them to heaven the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go then to Bethlehem to see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us.” So, they went in haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the infant lying in a manger. When they saw this, they made known the message that had been told them about this child. All who heard it were amazed by what had been told them by the shepherds. And Mary kept all these things in her heart. (Luke 2:8-12, 15-19)

In this portion of the account of the birth of Jesus, Luke doesn’t relate this story as one would relate the stories on the 6 o’clock news. He’s creating a sacred narrative meant to teach the generations after him the essence of the good news of Jesus Christ.

In the narrative, the blinding light of God’s glory appears in the dead of night to simple shepherds. From within the light angels proclaim the good news of the birth of a Messiah who is Lord. They speak to them of a sign, an image, that will teach them all they need to know about this child. “You will find an infant wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger.” Luke mentions this twice in this short account. The angels tell the shepherds of the sign. Then Luke tells us that the shepherds went to Bethlehem to see the sign for themselves. Let’s look into the meaning of this sign.

The two images, the swaddling clothes and the manger, speak volumes about this child. The

clothes used to wrap the baby are long strips of cloth. They’re wrapped around an infant to keep it secure and warm. But these long strips are reminiscent of another long strip of cloth that would wrap this child at the end of his adult life. The swaddling clothes are an image of Jesus’ shroud. His destiny was marked from the first moment of his life. Luke is telling us that Jesus’ death is an essential part of the good news.

The second image is of the child lying in a manger. By placing the child in a manger, a feeding trough, Luke is telling us that the good news is that this child will be, in some mysterious way, food for all people. John the evangelist makes the same point in a title he gives to Jesus, the Bread of Life. The image of the manger evokes the eucharistic meal where Jesus breaks the bread, where Jesus says, “This is my body which will be given for you.” Where Jesus says, “Do this in memory of me.”

These two images stir up rich theological reflection. Throughout his gospel Luke will expand the image of the manger through his depiction of many meals Jesus ate with his disciples. Each meal presents an aspect of the eucharist. The meaning of the manger and the swaddling clothes become clear when they again come together at the Passover meal Jesus eats with his disciples, his last supper with them before sacrificing himself on the cross.

At the end of his nativity narrative Luke adds an essential note. “And Mary kept all these things, reflecting on them in her heart.” Mary is the Church, you and I, and all those who, throughout the centuries heard of the child that was wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger. Mary is all who gathered and who continue to gather to reflect on the meaning of his death when they come together to break the bread. Mary is all of us who recognize him. Recognize him when we pass on his story. Recognize him when we ponder the meaning of his death. Recognize him when we break the bread and share it.

  • Tweet
Tagged under: ordinary time, pastor, reflection, sunday

What you can read next

SECOND SUNDAY OF EASTER, April 24, 2022
FIFTH SUNDAY OF LENT MARCH 28-29, 2020
SEVENTH SUNDAY OF EASTER MAY 24, 2020

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recent Posts

  • FOURTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME, January 22, 2023

    ZEPHANIAH 2:3,3:12-13 | 1 CORINTHIANS 1:26-31 |...
  • THIRD SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME, January 22, 2023

    ISAIAH 8:23, 9-3 | 1 CORINTHIANS 1:10-13, 17 | ...
  • SECOND SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME, January 15, 2023

    ISAIAH 49:3, 5-6 | 1 CORINTHIANS 1:1-3 | JOHN 1...
  • EPIPHANY, January 8, 2023

    MATTHEW 2:1-12 Balaam gave voice to this oracle...
  • MARY, MOTHER OF GOD, January 1, 2023

    NUMBERS 6:22-27 | GALATIANS 44-7 | LUKE 2:16-21...

Recent Comments

  • Eglise Saint Jean Baptiste on HOLY FAMILY SUNDAY, January 3, 2021
  • Joanne Spuches on HOLY FAMILY SUNDAY, January 3, 2021
  • Donna Szabo on SECOND EASTER SUNDAY APRIL 19, 2020

Archives

  • January 2023
  • December 2022
  • November 2022
  • October 2022
  • September 2022
  • August 2022
  • July 2022
  • June 2022
  • May 2022
  • April 2022
  • March 2022
  • February 2022
  • January 2022
  • December 2021
  • November 2021
  • October 2021
  • September 2021
  • August 2021
  • July 2021
  • June 2021
  • May 2021
  • April 2021
  • March 2021
  • February 2021
  • January 2021
  • December 2020
  • November 2020
  • October 2020
  • September 2020
  • August 2020
  • July 2020
  • June 2020
  • May 2020
  • April 2020
  • March 2020
  • February 2020
  • January 2020
  • December 2019
  • November 2019
  • October 2019
  • September 2019
  • August 2019
  • July 2019
  • June 2019

Categories

  • Church Reflections
  • Memorials

Featured Posts

  • FOURTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME, January 22, 2023

    0 comments
  • THIRD SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME, January 22, 2023

    0 comments
  • SECOND SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME, January 15, 2023

    0 comments

FOOTER MENU

  • DONATE
  • Our History

NEWSLETTER SIGNUP

By subscribing to our mailing list you will always be updated with the latest news from us.

We never spam!

GET IN TOUCH

T (212) 288-5082
Email: info@sjbny.org

St Jean Baptiste Church
184 E 76th St, New York, NY 10021

Open in Google Maps

  • GET SOCIAL

Eglise St. Jean Baptiste © 2019 All rights reserved. Credits Gianluca Boccia.

TOP
CHURCH SCHEDULE OF MASSES

REVISED CHURCH SCHEDULE

WEEKDAYS
The church will open for Prayer and Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament at 7:00 AM
CONFESSIONS will be heard from 11:30 PM until 11:50 PM
MASS will be celebrated at 12:00 PM. The church will close at 2:00 PM.

SATURDAY
The church will open at 11:00 AM
CONFESSIONS will be heard from 11:30 PM until 11:50 PM
MASS will be celebrated at 12:00 PM
**Prayer and Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament will generally follow Mass until 4:45 PM. Weddings may take place during the afternoon preventing Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament.
The anticipated Sunday MASS will be celebrated at 5:00 PM.
The church will close at 6:30 PM.

SUNDAY
The Church will open at 8:30 AM
MASS will be celebrated at 9:00 AM
THE HIGH MASS will be celebrated at 11:00 AM Prayer and Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament will follow the High Mass until 3:45 PM.
MASS will be celebrated at 4:00 PM
The church will close at 5:30.