'BE BORN IN US TODAY'

 

 

The Word with us.

Not only conceived in the womb of Mary

    by the overshadowing power of the Spirit,

    but born in our hearts today.

The word that brought joy and peace

    to those who had eyes to see,

    and minds to perceive that here was more

    than a new-born child,

    nothing less than the hopes and fears of all the years.

This same Word is born in us as we celebrate

    his birth each day.

May we be creative in responding to this

    amazing news.

May we allow our spirit of adoration

    to flow through our everyday lives.

May we resist hankering after a different, easier life,

    but use all the powers of our natural senses,

    all the resources we have already received,

    to proclaim the meaning of his coming within

    the ordinary and extraordinary encounters of

    our daily life.

For as soon as we think we have exhausted

    the meaning of his coming – we have failed

    to grasp what it is really about.

The mystery of the Incarnation always has more

    to be revealed.

Our grasp of God’s truth is always partial.

Our embrace of God’s spirit of peace – that surpassed

    all our understanding – has hardly begun.

 

C.S.

 

'PRAYERS AT CHRISTMAS'

 

 

Almighty God,

born in David's town, Jesus your Son, the promised Messiah,

has come into the world to bring unity to the whole of creation

and gather the whole of humanity into your kingdom of light and peace.

As we worship with poor shepherds, the song of angels echos in our ears,

and fills our hearts with hymns of praise.

May our prayer for peace bear fruit in the lives of all people

that the whole world may resound with Your love.

We make our prayer through the same Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

 

Glory to you Lord God, almighty God and Father,

we give you thanks and praise to you for your glory and rejoice

in the birth of your incarnate Son.

Cradled in a manger, he sustains the world with His love

and nourishes us with the gift of himself,

for he is the Bread of Life, who has come down from heaven

to live in the midst of His people.

Open our hearts to his presence in our lives

and send us out to share the good news of salvation he brings.

We ask this through the same Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lord God,

you bless the world with the gift of your Son,

who fills the world with light and life.

As we rejoice in the mystery of his birth,

may the song of angels and the worship of the shepherds,

the love of Mary and the dedication of Joseph,

bring us closer to the knowledge of our Saviour's love

and help us discern his presence in our lives,

for he is Lord for ever and ever. Amen.

 

 

 

INCARNATION (not just for Christmas)

 

 

When God revealed himself

through the incarnation of his Son,

he filled the world with immense joy.

There are announcements,

promises, and miracles;

a remarkable process of events

in which the main participants

are astonished by the touch of God.

They all received infinitely more

than they had either expected

or believed possible:

sterile Elizabeth bears a child;

incredulous Zechariah prophesies;

the virgin becomes a mother;

shepherds speak with

‘angelic messengers’;

the Magi bring the best they can offer,

and return with much more

than they had brought;

Joseph is affirmed

in his blind faith in God;

and Simeon is ready to embrace death

now that he has seen

the light to enlighten all nations.

Rejoice! that you are able to celebrate

Christmas once a year.

 

Rejoice! that you are able to celebrate

the Incarnation daily,

by turning away from sin and

being faithful to the Gospel,

by being taken from birth

to death and resurrection,

by being sent out to share the Good News

in the power of the Pentecostal  Spirit.

 

C.S.

This reflection is based on the Glastonbury Pilgrimage sermon of Brother Angelo SSF