Well hello friends,
This is Mark Gladman,
Also known as Brother Frederick James,
Your friendly neighbourhood monkeyndogs.
Welcome to Towards the Light,
An Advent Journey.
And we're nearly there,
It's day 24,
It is Christmas Eve,
And today we're going to have a look at peace and presence.
Now peace and presence are two gifts that speak to the heart of this season of Advent.
These gifts are simple and yet profound,
And they have the power to transform how we experience the birth of Christ and how we live it out in our daily lives.
First let's consider peace.
The peace of Christ isn't about avoiding life's storms or denying its struggles.
It's about wholeness,
A deep assurance that God is with us,
Even when the wind howls and the waves rise.
As we've seen,
Isaiah calls Christ the Prince of Peace,
Reminding us that this peace is a gift freely offered to us,
Not something that we have to earn.
But Christ's peace is also a challenge.
And that's because Christ's peace also calls us to be peacemakers as well.
As Jesus says in Matthew chapter 5 in the Beatitudes,
Blessed are the peacemakers,
For they will be called children of God.
Where do you need Christ's peace in your life right now?
Maybe it's in your relationships,
Your work,
Or even within your own heart.
And how can you share that peace with others?
Sometimes it's a conversation to heal tension.
Other times it's holding someone in prayer or offering grace where it's hard to give.
We're going to do something a bit different today.
We're going to pause and just take a moment now to breathe deeply.
And as you do,
I invite you to just think of one of those areas in your life where you need peace.
And as you breathe in,
Inhale God's peace.
And exhale worry,
Frustration,
And what you cannot control.
Again,
Inhale God's peace.
And exhale worry,
Frustration,
And what you can't control.
Let's do that again.
Breathe in,
Peace,
And out.
Worry,
Frustration,
Lack of control.
And let Christ's peace settle into your heart,
Becoming both a comfort and a calling.
Let's just sit with that,
Just for a moment.
And now as we sit with that peace,
Let's step into the wonder of Christmas Eve and embrace the sacred gift of presence.
It's probably been hard to both feel present and be present in this season.
In the midst of the to-do lists and the last minute preparations and the chaos,
There's a whisper that we often hear.
Slow down.
Be here.
Notice the faces of those you love,
The quiet moments,
The sacredness of simply being together.
Again,
The beautiful Anne Lamott writes,
And I love this one,
Almost everything will work again if you unplug it for a few minutes,
Including you.
What might happen if you unplug from the distractions,
Set aside the pursuit of perfection,
And focus on being fully present?
I think of the shepherds who visited the manger.
They weren't consumed by tasks or even their appearance or their smell.
They just showed up,
Fully present,
To witness the miracle of Emmanuel,
God with us.
Think about how you can give the gift of presence today.
Perhaps it's sitting down for an unhurried meal,
Lighting a candle,
Sharing a quiet moment with someone you love.
Let your presence,
Your undivided attention,
Be the greatest gift that you can offer on this holy night.
And so here on Christmas Eve,
May you feel the peace of Christ settle into the corners of your heart and your home.
May you be a peacemaker,
Reflecting God's wholeness and grace to those around you.
May you slow down,
Unplug,
And savour the sacred gift of this moment.
May you find joy,
Not in what's perfect,
But in what's real.
Love,
Connection,
And God's abiding presence.
And as you enter this final stretch of Advent and the dawn of Christmas,
Carry these gifts with you.
Peace and presence,
They are the light that leads us to the manger and the world is transformed by the love that is found there.
May that peace and presence be with you,
Friend.
Have a wonderful Christmas Eve.
We'll see you tomorrow for one more reflection for Christmas Day.
Bye for now.
