December 24, 2024, the eve of Christ’s Mass

Last night I dreamt about Mary, inseparable from her son, the baby Jesus.  Spiritually they are one, no line or demarcation separates them.  I also dreamt to wish everyone a happy Christ’s Mass, the original meaning of Christmas.

Luke 1:67-79

Many hosts of angels are gathering and are extra attentive at this time of year.  For many people, Christmas and New Year are a transition time, the end of the old year and the start of the new.  It is like a seam in time, where the old meets the new. In this transitional time, emotions run high, and the angels are paying attention to smooth the way and try to avoid mishaps for people.

In today’s reading, the older generation – Zechariah, Elizabeth, Joseph, and Mary, are open to the moving of the Holy Spirit and to hearing Spirit’s messages and activity.  In this way, there was openness to God working through them, and they alone realized that this was the start of a new covenant with God.  The leadership of the Israelites did not catch on at all, but some of the most vulnerable among them did and followed Jesus. Here Zechariah prophesies and sees it coming, realizing “In 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.” 

Still now, all the centuries later, the tender compassion of God wishes to guide our feet into the way of peace.  Amen.