Christmas Week: Dec. 25 - 31, 2011
Loading...
Authors
Issue Date
Volume
Issue
Type
Language
en_US
Keywords
Alternative Title
Abstract
"My own eyes have seen the salvation which you prepared in the sight of every people, a light to reveal you to the nations and the glory of your people Israel." Luke 2
Christmas Week|Sunday is Christmas Day. The first celebration of The Nativity of the Lord is the Mass at Midnight. The first reading is from Isaiah: "The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; upon those who dwelt in the land of gloom a light has shone." This powerful reading deserves a slow contemplation. The Gospel is from Luke: the journey to Bethlehem, the birth, the angels announce the birth to the shepherds. The second celebration of The Nativity of the Lord is the Mass at Dawn. The Gospel is from Luke: the shepherds visit the newborn child. "And Mary kept all these things, reflecting on them in her heart." The third celebration of The Nativity of the Lord is the Mass during the Day. Here the Gospel is from the beginning of John's Gospel: "And the Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us, and we saw his glory, the glory as of the Father's only Son, full of grace and truth."|Then, the church celebrates three very important feasts after Christmas. Monday is the Feast of Saint Stephen, the first public witness who gave his life for his faith. Tuesday is the Feast of Saint John, Apostle and evangelist. Wednesday is the moving Feast of the Holy Innocents, remembering the infant martyrs of Herod's jealous rage.|Thursday is the Fifth Day in the Octave of Christmas. We have the story of the Purification in the temple and the powerful words of Simeon about Jesus and about Mary.|Friday is the wonderful Feast of the Holy Family, and there is a wonderful variety of readings from which to choose. Luke's Gospel is the story of the teen aged Jesus teaching in the temple while his parents searched for him. Jesus goes back home with his family. "He went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was obedient to them; and his mother kept all these things in her heart. And Jesus advanced in wisdom and age and favor before God and man."|Saturday is the Seventh Day in the Octave of Christmas. The Gospel is the beginning of John's Gospel.|Sunday, New Year's Day, is the Solemnity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of God and also theNaming of the Child, Jesus,a special day for the Society of Jesus. In addition, it is a celebration of World Day of Prayer for Peace. It marks the mid-point in the Christmas Season.
Daily Prayer This Week|There is a very quick transition after Christmas. We move into Jesus' public life, almost completely passing over the hidden life years. By Tuesday's gospel, the disciples are finding the empty tomb. It helps to recognize this and let ourselves enter this part of the mystery of the Incarnation. We are living in the flesh each day of our lives. He came to enter this life and be with us in it. After Christmas, we have these few days to let the blessings of Christmas settle in.|Each one of us can begin our post-Christmas time by staying in touch with ourselves in the flesh - as people touched by Jesus' coming. We can turn to our Lord throughout each day and have real conversations with our Savior. Over the kitchen sink, by the dishwasher, in front of the washing machine. While going to work, walking, going to a meeting, returning from one.|During our preparation for Christmas we were asking the Lord to open our hearts, to let us wait with patient trust, and to come to us. This week we experienced joy and the mixed challenges of Christmas. We have the opportunity to have ordinary conversations with our God who came to be with us.|Thank you so much, Lord, for becoming flesh for me. And, thank you for being with me now, in the midst of each day's joys and sorrows. I ask you to increase my trust in you, my desire for closeness with you and my commitment to turn to you all day long. Continue to be with me when I have to make difficult decisions, when I need extra patience and care when in challenging situations. Continue to let my heart experience the joy of Christmas all week as I see signs of your presence with me.|When these words take on our own voice and our details, it will feel very personal. And, when we speak about our fears, our needs, when we express our gratitude and our deep desires, we are living and intimate relationship with the one who became flesh that we might never need feel alone again.
Christmas Week|Sunday is Christmas Day. The first celebration of The Nativity of the Lord is the Mass at Midnight. The first reading is from Isaiah: "The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; upon those who dwelt in the land of gloom a light has shone." This powerful reading deserves a slow contemplation. The Gospel is from Luke: the journey to Bethlehem, the birth, the angels announce the birth to the shepherds. The second celebration of The Nativity of the Lord is the Mass at Dawn. The Gospel is from Luke: the shepherds visit the newborn child. "And Mary kept all these things, reflecting on them in her heart." The third celebration of The Nativity of the Lord is the Mass during the Day. Here the Gospel is from the beginning of John's Gospel: "And the Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us, and we saw his glory, the glory as of the Father's only Son, full of grace and truth."|Then, the church celebrates three very important feasts after Christmas. Monday is the Feast of Saint Stephen, the first public witness who gave his life for his faith. Tuesday is the Feast of Saint John, Apostle and evangelist. Wednesday is the moving Feast of the Holy Innocents, remembering the infant martyrs of Herod's jealous rage.|Thursday is the Fifth Day in the Octave of Christmas. We have the story of the Purification in the temple and the powerful words of Simeon about Jesus and about Mary.|Friday is the wonderful Feast of the Holy Family, and there is a wonderful variety of readings from which to choose. Luke's Gospel is the story of the teen aged Jesus teaching in the temple while his parents searched for him. Jesus goes back home with his family. "He went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was obedient to them; and his mother kept all these things in her heart. And Jesus advanced in wisdom and age and favor before God and man."|Saturday is the Seventh Day in the Octave of Christmas. The Gospel is the beginning of John's Gospel.|Sunday, New Year's Day, is the Solemnity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of God and also theNaming of the Child, Jesus,a special day for the Society of Jesus. In addition, it is a celebration of World Day of Prayer for Peace. It marks the mid-point in the Christmas Season.
Daily Prayer This Week|There is a very quick transition after Christmas. We move into Jesus' public life, almost completely passing over the hidden life years. By Tuesday's gospel, the disciples are finding the empty tomb. It helps to recognize this and let ourselves enter this part of the mystery of the Incarnation. We are living in the flesh each day of our lives. He came to enter this life and be with us in it. After Christmas, we have these few days to let the blessings of Christmas settle in.|Each one of us can begin our post-Christmas time by staying in touch with ourselves in the flesh - as people touched by Jesus' coming. We can turn to our Lord throughout each day and have real conversations with our Savior. Over the kitchen sink, by the dishwasher, in front of the washing machine. While going to work, walking, going to a meeting, returning from one.|During our preparation for Christmas we were asking the Lord to open our hearts, to let us wait with patient trust, and to come to us. This week we experienced joy and the mixed challenges of Christmas. We have the opportunity to have ordinary conversations with our God who came to be with us.|Thank you so much, Lord, for becoming flesh for me. And, thank you for being with me now, in the midst of each day's joys and sorrows. I ask you to increase my trust in you, my desire for closeness with you and my commitment to turn to you all day long. Continue to be with me when I have to make difficult decisions, when I need extra patience and care when in challenging situations. Continue to let my heart experience the joy of Christmas all week as I see signs of your presence with me.|When these words take on our own voice and our details, it will feel very personal. And, when we speak about our fears, our needs, when we express our gratitude and our deep desires, we are living and intimate relationship with the one who became flesh that we might never need feel alone again.
Description
Citation
Publisher
University Ministry, Creighton University.
License
These prayer guides may not be sold or used commercially without permission. Personal or parish use is permitted.