December 30
Sixth Day in the Octave of Christmas
Year B
The Sixth Day in the Octave of Christmas is part of the Church’s joyous celebration of the Nativity, a period comprising eight days that extend the solemnity and wonder of Christ’s birth. Unlike ordinary weekdays, each day in this octave holds a certain festive character, drawing the faithful deeper into the mystery of the Incarnation.
During this sixth day, the liturgy continues to focus on the themes of light and salvation brought into the world through the newborn Jesus. The readings often highlight the recognition of Christ as the long-awaited Savior, blending prophecy with the fulfillment in Bethlehem. This period is not only a time of rejoicing, but also an invitation for Christians to meditate on the humility of the manger, the joy of the shepherds, and the faithfulness of Mary and Joseph.
The Octave of Christmas leads the Church from the immediate aftermath of the Nativity through various feasts and memorials, including St Stephen, St John, and the Holy Innocents, each offering their unique testimony to the reality and significance of the Incarnation. By marking each day, the Church gently guides believers to remain in the presence of the mystery, fostering gratitude and awe. The white vestments used on this day reflect the purity and the joy that the birth of Christ brings into the world. In this way, the Sixth Day in the Octave of Christmas is a continuation of the Christmas celebration, helping the faithful to keep their hearts open to the light of Christ in the midst of daily life.
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Questions about Sixth Day in the Octave of Christmas (Novus Ordo Missae)
The liturgical day
Mass readings
Reading1 Jn 2, 12-17
I am writing to you, little children:
Your sins are forgiven for the sake of Jesus’ name.
I am writing to you, parents:
You know him who is from the beginning.
I am writing to you, young people:
You have overcome the Evil One.
I have written to you, children:
You know the Father.
I have written to you, parents:
You know him who is from the beginning.
I have written to you, young people:
You are strong,
God’s word remains in you,
you have overcome the Evil One.
Do not love the world
or what is in the world.
If anyone loves the world,
the love of the Father is not in them.
For all that is in the world
– the desire of the flesh,
the desire of the eyes, and the pride of riches –
all this does not come from the Father, but from the world.
And the world passes away, and its desires with it.
But whoever does the will of God
remains forever.
– The word of the Lord.
PsalmPs 95 (96), 7-8a, 8b-9, 10
Give to the Lord, families of peoples,
give to the Lord glory and power,
give to the Lord the glory of his name.
Bring your offering, enter his courts,
worship the Lord, resplendent in holiness:
tremble before him, all the earth.
Say among the nations: “The Lord is king!”
The world stands firm, unshakable.
He governs the peoples with justice.
GospelLc 2, 36-40
At that time,
when the parents of Jesus came to present him in the Temple,
there was also a prophetess,
Anna, daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher.
She was very advanced in age;
after seven years of marriage,
she had remained a widow,
and was now eighty-four years old.
She never left the Temple,
serving God day and night with fasting and prayer.
Coming up at that very moment,
she gave praise to God
and spoke about the child
to all who were awaiting the deliverance of Jerusalem.
When they had finished
everything required by the law of the Lord,
they returned to Galilee, to their town of Nazareth.
The child grew and became strong,
filled with wisdom,
and the grace of God was upon him.
– Let us acclaim the Word of God.
Liturgical texts: © AELF — aelf.org