“Should you build me a house to dwell in?”

2 Samuel 7:5

Christmas Eve, a time of excitement. All our preparations have led us to this very moment, the day before our Lord is born. Have you prepared a dwelling place for him? Is your heart ready to accept him, to shine light upon the darkness, to guide you in a peace.

This morning as I was reading the gospel reading from Luke 1:67-79, I was reminded of a discussion with my youngest daughter.  It was Easter and she was questioning which event in Jesus life was more important, Easter or Christmas.  Her explanation to me was that Christmas was more important because if Jesus had not been born, he could not have died on the cross to save us from our sins. 

Our celebration on Christmas morning is the welcoming of this baby into our hearts to transform us.  It’s a new beginning.  A moment when light begins to shine upon the darkness in our lives and we begin to examine the areas where sin has poisoned our hearts, our lives.  It’s the beginning of our journey that will lead us into Lent and to the cross. 

Tomorrow, we invite the gift of “a mighty Savior, born of the house of His servant David.” (Luke 1:69)  It is in this gift that “the tender compassion of our God, the dawn from on high shall break upon us, to shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death, and to guide our feet into the way of peace.” (Luke 1:78-79)

My dear friends, today make the final preparations in your hearts to provide a dwelling place for the one thing it most longs for.

May the joy of today and the peace of tomorrow bring forth a great love that is everlasting.

Categories: #Advent, #Christmas, Faith

Tags: #Advent, #Catholic, #Christian, #Christmas, #god, #grace, #joy, #life, #mercy, #peace, Faith, Hope, Jesus, Love