- First Reading - Second Reading - Gospel Isgich 52:7-10 Hebrew 1:1-6 duan 1: 1=18 Theme of the Gospel Theme of the Homily The birth of Jesus

The readings you provided are:<br /><br />* **Isaiah 52:7-10:** This passage speaks of the joy and beauty of the messenger who brings the good news of peace and salvation. It emphasizes the visual impact of the messenger arriving on the mountains, proclaiming God's victory and the coming of his reign.<br /><br />* **Hebrews 1:1-6:** This passage proclaims the supremacy of Christ. It states that God, who spoke through the prophets in the past, has now spoken definitively through his Son. It emphasizes Jesus's role as heir, creator, and the radiance of God's glory.<br /><br />* **John 1:1-18:** This prologue to John's Gospel is a deeply theological statement about the nature of Jesus. It identifies Jesus as the Word (Logos), who was with God in the beginning and is God. It describes his role in creation, the coming of light into the world, and his incarnation as flesh.<br /><br /><br />**Theme of the Gospel (John 1:1-18):** The Incarnation of the Word of God. This passage focuses on the pre-existence of Jesus as the divine Word and his coming into the world as a human being.<br /><br />**Theme of the Homily (based on all three readings):** The Good News of Salvation through Jesus Christ. All three readings point to the arrival of a savior. Isaiah announces the messenger bringing good news; Hebrews proclaims the ultimate messenger, Jesus, as God's Son; and John reveals the divine nature of Jesus and his coming into the world.<br /><br />**The Birth of Jesus:** While the readings allude to the coming of Jesus, they don't specifically describe the nativity scene. John's prologue focuses on the theological significance of Jesus's arrival, while Isaiah and Hebrews emphasize the announcement and implications of his coming. A homily based on these readings might connect them to the Christmas season by emphasizing that the promised messenger and savior foretold in Isaiah and proclaimed in Hebrews is the same Jesus whose birth we celebrate. The readings provide a deeper understanding of *who* Jesus is, enriching the celebration of his birth.<br />