Christmas, 2024

My prayers of gratitude, love, and blessing
to each of you and your loved ones this Christmas.

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In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus
that the whole world should be enrolled.
This was the first enrollment, when Quirinius was governor of Syria.
So all went to be enrolled, each to his own town.
And Joseph too went up from Galilee from the town of Nazareth to Judea,
to the city of David that is called Bethlehem,
because he was of the house and family of David,
to be enrolled with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child.
While they were there, the time came for her to have her child,
and she gave birth to her firstborn son.
She wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger,
because there was no room for them in the inn.
Luke 2: 1-7

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Reflection:

Mary is wrapped in the cold darkness of this winter night.
She is vulnerable as she waits to bring forth her child.
Yet she feels wrapped by God and supported by God’s love.
And she wants to welcome this child in warmth
And to wrap him in love and tenderness.
We too want to welcome Jesus with tenderness.
We have tried to bring Christ into our world over many years,
And to warm and comfort people with God’s presence.
Is there a person in your life
Or a place in your heart needs the same warmth, comfort and love tonight.
Maybe our quiet prayer could be for that person or place in our hearts.

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Music: The Beautiful Mother – John Foley, SJ

The beautiful mother is bending low, where her baby lies.
Helpless and frail for her tending, but she knows the glorious eyes.
The mother smiles and rejoices, while baby laughs in the hay.
She listens to heavenly voices: “The child shall be king one day.”

All nations draw near to the manger low on this holy night.
Surely as shepherds and kings they come, to know the glorious sight.
0 see the angels before Him, who rule the earth with their might.
With Ioseph and Mary adore Him, in stillness behold the light.

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For Your Reflection

• What feelings or reactions do I have after reading this reflection?
• Do my feelings or reactions remind me of any passage or event in scripture, especially in the life of Christ? 
• What actions might I take today because of my response to these readings?