Vigil of Christmas

I think that it was in the 16th or 17th century that religious superiors were advised lock the monks in the cloister on Christmas Eve, so that in their drunken state they would not damage the church. In the last few hundred years our Christmas celebration has taken on somewhat of a religious nature again. All the while we are deluged with the message to buy stuff, people of faith recognize the religious aspects of this feast. While the vigil is not really Christmas, very much like waiting for the birth of a child, we pray and fast during these last few hours anticipating the presence of Jesus, our King and our Saviour.

There are a plethora of stories recalling the ceasing of war, if only for a few hours, during the eve of Christmas. In Paul the VI, Pacem in Terres, Pope Paul VI will expound upon the nature of the vulnerable, oppressed, and dejected in our world today. Echoing the Gospels Paul call for conversion and discipleship throughout the world. Over the next few nights we will be inundated with Christmas shows. All in all hey make us feel good about ourselves. Certainly God feels good about us because he comes in human form, to bring us salvation and peace.

I was reading another blog this morning in which the writer quotes an article finding commonality between the manger and the cross. This author sees the journey, the dangers, and the proclamation of 'Good News' to be sort of bookends in our experience of Christ Jesus. The Incarnation is the unconditional 'Yes' of God, who loves us more than we can understand or really deserve. God wants us to enter into a communal relationship with him.

To be sure this is a time of family and celebration. But there is an introspective part of this feast that asks us to look at our response to God. We want to receive God's gift of himself gratefully, and allow it to change us. The Vigil is a good to look at our preparation for the coming of Christ. I recall eons ago sitting at home with my parents and siblings prior to midnight mass, bathed in Christmas tree light, I had realized how great my family was. Previous squabbles just seemed so silly at that particular moment.

Hopefully this will be a time of comfort and joy for everyone. May the blessings of the Christ child show us the way to peace and healing throughout the year.