Presence

I take refuge in the loving heart of God, and lay down all my burdens during these few moments of prayer…

First Reading

Malachi 3:1-4, 23-24 NRSVue

See, I am sending my messenger to prepare the way before me, and the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple. The messenger of the covenant in whom you delight—indeed, he is coming, says the Lord of hosts. But who can endure the day of his coming, and who can stand when he appears?

For he is like a refiner’s fire and like washers’ soap;

he will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and he will purify the descendants of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, until they present offerings to the Lord in righteousness. Then the offering of Judah and Jerusalem will be pleasing to the Lord, as in the days of old and as in former years.

First Reading Reflection

The Lord has many messengers. The prophets were privileged messengers, like Malachi, whose words we still read and reflect on thousands of years later, words inspired by the Holy Spirit. The angels are messengers, and we see how they imparted messages from Heaven to the people of God at different moments in salvation history.  Each of us is also called to be a messenger of God, in what we say and do, in how we live. We can take pride and joy in this, in witnessing to Christ in our lives, by our words, but maybe more importantly through our actions and attitudes. Let us think about what the real message of Christmas is, of the coming of Jesus Christ, the Word made flesh, Son of God and Son of Mary, and how we can share the joy and wonder of this with others. We thank God for the privilege of being called to be his messengers, in ways unique to each one of us.

Gospel

Luke 1:57-66 NRSVue

Now the time came for Elizabeth to give birth, and she bore a son. Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown his great mercy to her, and they rejoiced with her.

On the eighth day they came to circumcise the child, and they were going to name him Zechariah after his father. But his mother said, “No; he is to be called John.” They said to her, “None of your relatives has this name.” Then they began motioning to his father to find out what name he wanted to give him. He asked for a writing tablet and wrote, “His name is John.” And all of them were amazed. Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue freed, and he began to speak, praising God. Fear came over all their neighbors, and all these things were talked about throughout the entire hill country of Judea. All who heard them pondered them and said, “What then will this child become?” For indeed the hand of the Lord was with him.

Gospel Reflection

There was a great sharing of joy when Elizabeth gave birth to John the Baptist. Friends and relations arrived to congratulate her and wonder at the miracle of this birth. One of the marks of love is to be able to share the joys of others. Babies have a particular way of bringing out the goodness, affection and love in people, even the most unlikely of people. The baby doesn’t have to do anything to evoke this response; it is innate in us. Christmas is a time to remember this, that God came in a way that He knew could touch the heart of even the most hardened or cynical person. Jesus, as a baby, totally disarms us. We cannot but love him. He isn’t asking or demanding anything of us, but naturally brings forth what is best in us, and what has often become lost in us. He helps us to connect with our own original goodness, blessedness and innocence, made in His image and likeness. May we be conscious of the ways we can give and receive joy this Christmas (whether there are physical babies and young children present or not!). May we remember that the baby Jesus is truly in our midst and in our hearts, and is always ready to give and receive love, joy and affection.

Closing Prayer

Dear Jesus, as Christmas draws nearer, I want to draw closer to you. Help me to experience your presence in my life and in the world in a fresh way this year. Send messengers to me to bring me into a deeper understanding of who you are, and send me as a messenger to others, to share your love, which is for ALL of us. Just as a baby doesn’t discriminate between people, you do not discriminate; you open your arms wide to each and every person. May this truth sink deep into my heart, and change how I relate to others, and to you. Amen.