Hello friends,
This is Mark Gladman,
Also known as Brother Frederick James,
Your friendly neighbourhood monk in-dox.
This is the last episode of Towards the Light,
An Advent Journey,
And our journey has brought us here to Christmas Day,
Day 25.
God is with us.
Today,
We celebrate the most profound truth of Christmas,
Emmanuel,
God with us.
This truth is what changes everything.
The creator of the universe who spoke the stars into being,
Stepped into our story as a baby,
As a vulnerable child,
Fully human and fully divine.
God did not remain distant,
Instead,
God chose to be near to us,
To walk alongside us in the messiness of life.
Richard Rohr writes,
And I quote,
The incarnation is not only about Jesus,
But about you and me also.
God chose to become fresh so that we might recognise ourselves as holy.
End quote.
This means that God's choice to dwell among us wasn't just a divine act of grace for a moment in history,
It's a divine invitation to each and every one of us.
God chose to become one of us so that we might know that we too are holy,
Loved and worthy of God's presence.
As you gather today,
Whether it's in joyful celebration or in quieter reflection,
Carry this truth with you.
Are you ready?
God is with you.
In every laughter filled moment,
In every challenge,
In every step of your journey,
God is with you.
God with you in your joys,
God with you in your struggles.
The creator of all things is never far off.
The creator is near,
With you,
Right where you are.
Maybe today is the perfect day to think about how this truth changes the way you experience Christmas.
How does it shape your understanding of this holy day?
We live in a world that's full of distractions,
Stresses,
Grief.
How can you pause and recognize God's nearness?
Friends,
This is not just a holiday to observe,
But an invitation to embrace the sacredness of God's presence in every moment of our lives.
Take a moment now to reflect on God's love,
Made tangible in Christ,
And let it shape the way you live today.
Let it guide your interactions with family,
Friends,
And those who will be around you.
And so,
In the spirit of this holy day,
Let me share this final prayer with you.
Let's pray.
May we know that God is with us,
Not just in our celebrations,
But also in our struggles and in our becoming.
May we recognize the sacredness of the every day and see the presence of God in the ordinary moments.
May we offer words of gratitude today,
Thanking God for the profound gift of Emmanuel,
God with us.
And may we let this awareness shape our heart and our actions as we carry the love and presence of Christ with us in every interaction.
As we celebrate today,
Remember that Christmas is not just a day.
It is the reminder that God's presence is with us always,
Transforming the ordinary into the sacred.
God,
We thank you that you are with us.
May we never lose sight of this truth and great hope.
Friend,
Thank you so much for making this adventure journey with me.
I hope that you've grown,
Been stretched,
Been blessed,
Been comforted by the words that we've shared together over the last 25 days.
Know of my prayers for you,
Your family,
Your loved ones today.
And may grace,
Peace,
Love,
Hope,
And the presence of God,
The Emmanuel be with you and all whom you love today and every day.
Amen.
Merry Christmas.
God bless you.
Amen.
