For 25 December 2025, The Nativity of the Lord (Christmas), based on Isaiah 9:1-6
(Photograph by Gregory Heille, OP)
Every December, my Dad would go up north with some of his Minnesota teaching buddies to cut a Christmas tree. In my memory, the tree, which seemed fairly small in the forest, was far too tall for the living room, and my parents had to make such a prolonged effort to make it fit.
Years later, during my Dominican novitiate in River Forest, Illinois, I remember an esteemed elder, Fr. Benedict Ashley, lying on the floor, looking up in wonder through branches and lights of a Christmas tree that reached to the top of the community room’s vaulted ceiling.
As I remember Christmases past, my grateful but aching heart turns also to the needs of my world today in Christmas present. In addition to wonder and awe, there is a paschal tone to a mature celebration of this feast that makes me mindful of the Appalachian Christmas carol, I Wonder as I Wander:
I wonder as I wander, out under the sky,
How Jesus the Savior did come for to die
For poor orn’ry people like you and like I;
I wonder as I wander, out under the sky.
Families and communities and peoples have so many memories and traditions when it comes to Christmas. In our liturgical celebration of Christmas, we Christians throughout the world share so many images and stories from Scripture, as reflected by the rich tapestry of lectionary readings for the four masses for this feast: the vigil mass, the mass during the night, the mass at dawn, and the mass during the day.
The prophet Isaiah has been a scriptural beacon of hope throughout Advent, and today on Christmas, we hear Isaiah’s prophetic call to peace. Perhaps you have also noticed in recent months how often Pope Leo issues a clarion call to peace.
With wonder, gratitude, and longing, we can join today with Isaiah and Leo and all people of goodwill in a prayer for peace. In the first reading for the Christmas mass during the night, Isaiah, in chapter 9, verses 1-6, puts words to our hope and prayerful longing for peace:
The people who walked in darkness
have seen a great light;
Upon those who dwelt in the land of gloom
a light has shone.
You have brought them abundant joy
and great rejoicing,
as they rejoice before you as at the harvest,
as people make merry when dividing spoils.
For the yoke that burdened them,
the pole on their shoulder,
and the rod of their taskmaster
you have smashed, as on the day of Midian.
For every boot that tramped in battle,
every cloak rolled in blood,
will be burned as fuel for flames.
For a child is born to us, a son is given us;
upon his shoulder dominion rests.
They name him Wonder-Counselor, God-Hero,
Father-Forever, Prince of Peace.
His dominion is vast
and forever peaceful,
from David’s throne, and over his kingdom,
which he confirms and sustains
by judgment and justice,
both now and forever.
The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this!
Scripture passage from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Catholic Edition, copyright 1989, 1993, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
About Gregory Heille, O.P.
Gregory Heille, O.P., is an Emeritus Professor of Preaching and Evangelization at Aquinas Institute of Theology in St. Louis, Missouri. He is a friar of the Province of St. Albert the Great USA and has a particular interest in racial equity education.
General editor: Scott Steinkerchner, OP. TheWord is a free service of the Order of Preachers around the world. You can donate via PayPal to support our mission using the QR code or this link.
25 Dec 2025
0 CommentsA Prayer for Peace
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(Photograph by Gregory Heille, OP)
Every December, my Dad would go up north with some of his Minnesota teaching buddies to cut a Christmas tree. In my memory, the tree, which seemed fairly small in the forest, was far too tall for the living room, and my parents had to make such a prolonged effort to make it fit.
Years later, during my Dominican novitiate in River Forest, Illinois, I remember an esteemed elder, Fr. Benedict Ashley, lying on the floor, looking up in wonder through branches and lights of a Christmas tree that reached to the top of the community room’s vaulted ceiling.
As I remember Christmases past, my grateful but aching heart turns also to the needs of my world today in Christmas present. In addition to wonder and awe, there is a paschal tone to a mature celebration of this feast that makes me mindful of the Appalachian Christmas carol, I Wonder as I Wander:
I wonder as I wander, out under the sky,
How Jesus the Savior did come for to die
For poor orn’ry people like you and like I;
I wonder as I wander, out under the sky.
Families and communities and peoples have so many memories and traditions when it comes to Christmas. In our liturgical celebration of Christmas, we Christians throughout the world share so many images and stories from Scripture, as reflected by the rich tapestry of lectionary readings for the four masses for this feast: the vigil mass, the mass during the night, the mass at dawn, and the mass during the day.
The prophet Isaiah has been a scriptural beacon of hope throughout Advent, and today on Christmas, we hear Isaiah’s prophetic call to peace. Perhaps you have also noticed in recent months how often Pope Leo issues a clarion call to peace.
With wonder, gratitude, and longing, we can join today with Isaiah and Leo and all people of goodwill in a prayer for peace. In the first reading for the Christmas mass during the night, Isaiah, in chapter 9, verses 1-6, puts words to our hope and prayerful longing for peace:
The people who walked in darkness
have seen a great light;
Upon those who dwelt in the land of gloom
a light has shone.
You have brought them abundant joy
and great rejoicing,
as they rejoice before you as at the harvest,
as people make merry when dividing spoils.
For the yoke that burdened them,
the pole on their shoulder,
and the rod of their taskmaster
you have smashed, as on the day of Midian.
For every boot that tramped in battle,
every cloak rolled in blood,
will be burned as fuel for flames.
For a child is born to us, a son is given us;
upon his shoulder dominion rests.
They name him Wonder-Counselor, God-Hero,
Father-Forever, Prince of Peace.
His dominion is vast
and forever peaceful,
from David’s throne, and over his kingdom,
which he confirms and sustains
by judgment and justice,
both now and forever.
The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this!
Scripture passage from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Catholic Edition, copyright 1989, 1993, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
About Gregory Heille, O.P.
Gregory Heille, O.P., is an Emeritus Professor of Preaching and Evangelization at Aquinas Institute of Theology in St. Louis, Missouri. He is a friar of the Province of St. Albert the Great USA and has a particular interest in racial equity education.