SOCL, Christmas Day

Cycle A,B,C

December 25, 2024

A holy day has dawned upon us. Come, you nations, and adore the Lord. For today a great light has come upon the earth.

See

There is on-going research into how certain animals manage to communicate, establishing some commonality with human beings. Such investigation makes it clear, however, that language, in its complexity and depth, is distinctively human, a mark of who we are. When we speak, something of who we are goes out from us, so to speak. Words are personal, mysterious, powerful (cf. a soft tongue can break a bone. Prov 25:15). God, too, discloses himself: in the “word” of creation, in the words of the prophets and, now, in the Word made flesh, God’s deepest and most personal disclosure. We give thanks for God’s “eloquence” in Jesus of Nazareth, as we mark his birth.

Listen

Isaiah 52:7-10; Psalm 98 (97); Hebrews 1:1-6; John 1:1-18

Reflect

(John 1:1-18)

-“In the beginning” takes me back to my own new creation in Christ—back to significant moments—perhaps even to a single moment which stands out as the beginning of my own belonging in Christ. A prayer of praise.

-Life—what makes me alive, taking hold of my imagination and energy? How is my life in Christ? Prayer of gratitude.

-Light—a fabulous imagery. It may be that some particular land or seascape stands out in my memory as having an especially beautiful light. Prayer of enlightenment.

-The dark side of refusal and rejection—in my life I probably have said both yes and no to grace. Where am I now in my life? Prayer of pilgrimage.

-Wisdom was God’s presence—a feminine presence, because (to use Biblical language) just as a man is “incomplete” without the love and companionship of a woman, the human person needs to be complemented by God’s wisdom.

-The power of language in my experience as an entry point to appreciating the Word made flesh. What word am I hearing especially today?

Pray

Eternal Word made flesh, You who spoke the universe into being and now speak to us through a newborn's cry, who sustain all things yet depend on human hands for care, help us to see Your glory in the ordinary, hear Your voice in the silence, and recognize Your light in the darkness, so that we may become bearers of Your good news, singers of Your new song, and children who reflect Your grace and truth, making our lives dwelling places where others encounter Your presence, and all the earth sees Your saving power at work in us; through Christ, the Word made flesh. Amen.