Christmas
Intro: The God and Father we cannot yet see face to face reveals Himself to us through His Son. No longer need we rely on the hopes and promises of the prophets because, in Christ, God has become man, one of us, so that man may become one with God.
Readings: Isaiah looked forward to this day, using the image of messengers running through the mountains to proclaim the coming of salvation, a message repeated by the watchmen guarding the walls of Jerusalem.
In this opening passage from Hebrews, the writer explains that what the prophets had longed for all through the ages has finally come to pass: Christ has come to reveal the reality of God's glory and salvation.
Isaiah 52: 7 -10;
Hebrews 1: 1 - 6;
John 1: 1 - 18;
Genesis describes the beginning of the earth as a "formless void" with "darkness over the deep," and God's Spirit hovering over the water. Echoing those opening words, St. John's Gospel also takes us back to the beginning where there was only the Word, the Word which was with God, and the Word Who was God. God's word in Genesis creates the light, and everything which is good. In John, it's through this Word that "all things came to be" and "had life in them," life that was the light of humanity, a light which darkness could not overcome. So the opening words of Genesis proclaim the first creation ... and the opening words of John's Gospel proclaim the new creation of salvation through the pre-existing Word Who became flesh in the mystery of the incarnation.
John's Gospel is full of symbolism and light, and its opposite, darkness, always has a profound spiritual meaning where light is a sign of faith and darkness a sign of unbelief and of everything which opposed to God.
One of our carols proclaims, "How silently, how silently, the wondrous gift is giv'n." God's gift of Himself can only be received in stillness, expectancy and wonder.
There is certainly a place for silence in what can be the hustle and bustle of Christmas celebrations; but its a silence which Mary enjoys as she ponders over
the mystery of her newborn Son. Today we don't just hear and speak words: we encounter God's word in bread and wine, transformed, totally changed, into the Body and Blood of Christ. And we can recognise that same presence in the silence of our prayers, and when we greet each other with the peace of Christ before we return home to celebrate the great feast of God's gift of Himself to us in His Son.
"He came to His own domain, and His own people did not accept Him." Today, may the true light of the world enlighten our hearts and minds, and may His wondrous gift not take us unawares. May God make us His dwelling place so that we do accept Him, and take His message of salvation to all those whom we meet.
Intercessions
From the very first moment of man's fall from grace, God promised the human race that He would send a Saviour to redeem it. That salvation has arrived in the Person of Jesus, the Son of God, the Saviour. Let us pray for our own needs, and for those of our world:-
1. For the Church. May She continue to be a true herald of the Good News of salvation to people everywhere - Lord, hear us.
2. For families or nations at war with each other. May they come to know and enjoy the peace which Your Son, the Prince of Peace, came to earth to bring - Lord, hear us.
3. For families suffering through separation, divorce or bereavement. May the Christ-Child enter their hearts and bring light to their darkness - Lord, hear us.
4. For young people in their innocence and sincerity. May they grow like Your Son in wisdom, age and grace with God and man - Lord, hear us.
5. For all the families in our parish. May this Christmas be a time of real joy, happy memories and thanksgiving for the blessings You have given us all through the year - Lord, hear us.
6. Your Son came into our world to overcome death. May those who have passed through death now enjoy the light of Your Presence forever - Lord, hear us
God our Father, You sent Your Son as an eternal sign of Your love for us. May we continue to welcome Him into our hearts and homes this Christmas, and throughout the coming year.