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Christmas: 'And the Word was made flesh and made his dwelling among us'
It was a cold winter night, my first Christmas in the convent. The festive Christmas Eve Eucharistic Celebration and social that followed were filled with wishes, songs, laughter, and lots of goodies.
Close to midnight, a group of Sisters gathered in the front hall of the convent. Candles were lit, scarves wrapped tight, and the statue of Baby Jesus was handed to me, the youngest novice in the community.
The singing began as we processed outside, down the front stairs, and to the grotto where the Baby was to be placed in the crib next to Mary, Joseph, the shepherds, an ox, and some sheep. "Silent night, holy night . . ." echoed through the crisp night sky.
Christmas
(Dec. 25, 2005)
Readings for Mass during the day
Is 52:7-10
Ps 98:1, 2-3, 3-4, 5-6
Heb 1:1-6
Jn 1:1-18 or 1:1-5, 9-14
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When we arrived in front of the grotto, one of the Sisters read ". . . and the Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us, and we saw his glory . . ."
Finally, it was time for me to place the Baby in the manger. I walked in silence with the statue of Baby Jesus in my arms and placed him upon the straw. There was a pause and then the singing began again. "Gloria in excelsis Deo" rang out as the Sisters slowly made their way back to the warmth of the motherhouse.
My heart still carries the memory of that first Christmas night in the convent - a vivid memory that I hope never dims.
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Reflection questions
• What are you thankful for this Christmas?
• How can you share the gift of Christ with others?
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Christmas is a time to remember, to give thanks, and a time to share the gift of Christ in our lives. With Saint Bonaventure, I entreat you to, ". . . embrace that divine manger; press your lips upon and kiss the boy's feet. Then in your mind keep the shepherds' watch, marvel at the assembling host of angels, join in the heavenly melody, singing with your voice and heart: Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to men of good will." (The Tree of Life)
Sr. Marianna Merkatoris is the vocation director for the Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity. She provides spiritual companioning at Saint Paul University Catholic Center.
St. Paul's Web site is www.stpaulscc.org
Faith Alive!
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In a Nutshell
To ask God's mercy means more than asking forgiveness. It is to ask God's loving kindness, to ask that God pour out divine goodness upon us.
To be merciful is to be God-like. The one extending mercy and the one receiving it catch a glimpse of God's mercy.
To offer mercy is to seek healing. And the one showing mercy finds some peace.
Catholic News Service
3211 Fourth St NE
Washington DC 20017
202.541.3250
cns@catholicnews.com
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Food for Thought
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I wonder sometimes how many meanings the word "mercy" really has in the Christian vocabulary.
There are times, I suspect, when we'd consider it merciful simply not to be given more to do in life than we think we can handle. When we pray for mercy, are we sometimes begging God to go easy on us -- to understand our situation and lighten our load somehow, through grace to resolve what we cannot seem to resolve?
To be understood is, of course, a good thing. I bet that pleas for mercy sometimes are this: pleas that God will know and understand us. Of course, God already does this, so ultimately what we're wanting is the grace to know, understand and accept this kind of a God -- to trust that God grasps what our life truly is.
The mercy we want encompasses forgiveness, no doubt. We know God isn't vengeful, but we also want to feel this.
full story
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Mercy paves a path
to healing
By Father Herbert Weber
Catholic News Service
A man e-mailed me asking for help with a major decision he needed to make. It had to do with a court hearing regarding the person who had killed his daughter.
Less than a year before, this man's bright and beautiful daughter was dating a young man she really cared for. They were coming home from a party. Both had been drinking, the boyfriend to excess. There was an accident, and the young woman was killed. The friend, who was the driver, walked away with minor injuries.
full story
Mercy to survive
By Father David K. O'Rourke, OP
Catholic News Service
Recently I made a quick trip to the Lithuanian capital of Vilnius. A friend and I are making a documentary on the resistance to the Soviet secret police after the 1939 Soviet takeover. There were a few important, last-minute details I had to pin down in person -- mostly interviews with witnesses to the terror and seeing films of the actual events.
I knew when I left for Lithuania that I would be returning to California just in time for my parish's weekend Masses. So I used the long flights over and back to prepare the sermon I was scheduled to preach. However, when I went into our church for the Saturday evening Mass, I realized that -- in the process of lining up tickets, money, schedules, phone lists, winter clothes -- my sermon was on the wrong Gospel!
full story
"Lord have mercy." What does this mean?
By Father Lawrence E. Mick
Catholic News Service
"Lord, have mercy. Christ, have mercy. Lord, have mercy."
The words are familiar to anyone who celebrates the Eucharist regularly. The rich meaning behind those simple words, however, may be less widely understood.
full story
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Copyright © 2005 Catholic News Service/U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops
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This week's readings
Week of December 25 - 31, 2005
(for Christmas Vigil Mass, see 12/15 issue)
Sunday, Dec. 25, 2005
Nativity of the Lord (Christmas) Mass at Midnight
Reading I: Is 9:1-6
Reading II: Ti 2:11-14
Gospel: Lk 2:1-14
Sunday, Dec. 25, 2005
Nativity of the Lord (Christmas) Mass at Dawn
Reading I: Is 62:11-12
Reading II: Ti 3:4-7
Gospel: Lk 2:15-20
Sunday, Dec. 25, 2005
Nativity of the Lord (Christmas) Mass During the Day
Reading I: Is 52:7-10
Reading II: Heb 1:1-6
Gospel: Jn 1:1-18 or 1:1-5, 9-14
Monday, Dec. 26, 2005
Feast of Saint Stephen, first martyr
Reading I: Acts 6:8-10; 7:54-59
Gospel: Mt 10:17-22
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Tuesday, Dec. 27, 2005
Feast of Saint John, Apostle and evangelist
Reading I: 1 Jn 1:1-4
Gospel: Jn 20:1a and 2-8
Wednesday, Dec. 28, 2005
Feast of the Holy Innocents, martyrs
Reading I: 1 Jn 1:5--2:2
Gospel: Mt 2:13-18
Thursday, Dec. 29, 2005
The Fifth Day in the Octave of Christmas
Reading I: 1 Jn 2:3-112
Gospel: Lk 2:22-35
Friday, Dec. 30, 2005
Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph
Reading I: Sir 3:2-7, 12-14
or Gn 15:1-6; 21:1-3
or Col 3:12-21 or 3:12-27
or Heb 11:8, 11-12, 17-19
Gospel: Lk 2:22-40 or 2:22, 39-40
Saturday, Dec. 31, 2005
The Seventh Day in the Octave of Christmas
Reading I: 1 Jn 2:18-21
Gospel: Jn 1:1-18
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Pope's Prayer Intentions
January General Intention
Unity of Christians. That the effort to bring about the full communion of Christians may foster reconciliation and peace among all the peoples of the earth.
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January Mission Intention
Migrants. That Christians may know how to welcome migrants with respect and charity, seeing in each person the image of God.
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Prayer for victims of Hurricane Katrina
Merciful and ever-living God,
since the very dawn of creation
the waters that you created
have brought life from death:
the Great Flood purified our world
and brought forth a new generation;
you led your people Israel from bondage to freedom
through the Red Sea;
from the side of Christ, sacrificed for us on the cross,
water flowed with his precious blood;
and through the waters of baptism
you call us from darkness into your wonderful light.
Look with pity on your people
affected by the waters of Hurricane Katrina.
Calm their fears, comfort their sorrow,
heal their pain and mercifully welcome those
who have perished into your heavenly kingdom.
Strengthen all who are helping them,
and thwart all who seek to create chaos.
Inspire us to reach out to those who are afflicted
from the bounty you have bestowed on us
and, like you once did with the loaves and fishes,
increase our gifts far beyond what we can imagine.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
The above is a prayer from the Diocese of Madison's Office of Worship. For more prayer resources for the victims of Hurricane Katrina, visit the Office of Worship's Web page at www.straphael.org/~office_of_worship/
(Click on the link on the main page.)
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