John 1:1-18

 
Even as a child, Jesus was known to have the favour of God upon him, to have grown well, to be strong (perhaps strong-willed?) and filled with wisdom. (cf. Luke 2:40).  Is it any wonder that St. John, who is reputed to be the only disciple who escaped martyrdom and lived to a good old age, noted in his Gospel that Grace and Truth came into the world through Jesus Christ? What other individual outside of the Holy Family on this earth has been undoubtedly ‘full of grace and truth’? The Good News is that the Holy Spirit of God is at work within anyone who prefers the Light of Christ to the darkness of this world, even now throughout all the ins and outs, ups and downs, shut ups and shut ins that will be ours in 2022. In this way,you and I, indeed all of humanity, can receive grace upon grace from the hand of our God of Truth and Love. Looking back in the old year, 2021, I for one can trace many graces received. Looking forward to 2022, I have a choice – to be scared, or prepared that is prepared and watching - to receive the fullness of Christ by accepting grace upon grace throughout the 365 days of the coming year of Grace. Will I choose to turn to the Light of Christ shining into the darkness of the world and receive his fullness, grace by grace?  Christ Jesus, full of grace and truth, let us, let me, continue to receive grace upon grace.  
 
Sing to the Lord a new song; Sing to the Lord, bless his name; tell of his salvation from day to day.  (Psalm 96:1)
 
He became what we are that he might make us what he is.
St. Athanasius
 
Soli ad gloriam
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John 1:1-18 &1 John 2:12 -17
…

The tragedy of Christmas is that Christ, the Light of the world, came into the world and yet the world did not know him. He came to what was his own, and his people did not accept him. The Grace of Christmas, on the other hand, is that as much as a man, a woman, or a child  receives Jesus into their lives, accepting him for who he is – the healer and redeemer of human history – that much he enters into their lives, giving them the power to become children of God. It is simple, really, this turning to the Light of Christ, this acceptance of Jesus’ incarnation as the Son of God who was the Son of Man, this preference for Light over darkness.  But it is not easy.  The temporal world with all of its desire of the flesh, the desire of the eyes, and the pride in riches is at best amazing, amusing and awe-full, particularly in this digital age when virtual connections and information are the norm. At worst it is death-dealing as our odyssey with pandemic lockdowns have underscored. We realize everyday that with a flick of a button this ‘world’ as we know it becomes just a byte of data in cyber space; and yet we are mesmerized by this darkness.  Breaking free from bondage to the dark inner workings of society becomes more and more challenging as time elapses. Today will I prefer the darkness of society’s activities and norms and become so immersed in that virtual reality that I turn my back on Jesus?  Or will I prefer and accept the Light of Christ, turning to him first and foremost hour by hour, day by day? Holy Spirit, help me to prefer your light to my darkness.
 
Ascribe to the Lord, O families of the peoples, ascribe to the Lord glory and strength  (Psalm 96:7)
 
He became what we are that he might make us what he is.
St. Athanasius
 
Soli ad gloriam
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Luke 1:67-79
​
Today, Christmas Eve, is a good time to reflect on the song of a holy priest, at the birth of his son, John (the “Baptister”) just months before Jesus was born of Mary: 
 
Blessed be the Lord God of Israel for he has visited and redeemed his people.
He has raised up a mighty salvation for us in the house of his servant David,
As he spoke by the mouths of the holy prophets
which have been since the world began
That we should be saved from [the darkness]
and from the hands of all that hate us,
To perform the mercy promised to our forefathers, [and foremothers], and to remember his holy covenant,
To perform the oath which he agreed upon with our forefather Abraham,
That he should grant us, that we being delivered from our [darkness],
Might serve him without fear,
In holiness and righteous before him, all the days of our life.
And you, child, shall be called the prophet of the most high
For you shall go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways,
To give knowledge of salvation unto his people, for the forgiveness of their sins.
Through the tender mercy of God, whereby the dayspring from on high has visited us,
To give light to those that sit in darkness, and in the shadow of death, and to guide our feet into the way of peace.
All glory be to the Father, and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,
As it was in the beginning, is now, and every shall be,
World without end. Amen           Book of Common Prayer, 1959, [] mine
 
As we celebrate the Christmas season and enter the New Year called 2022,
May Life, Light and Love grow up through each one of us!
Much Hope, Peace, and Joy be to you and your family
 throughout this season of days growing longer.
Quviasugitsi, Quviasuvvinmmik! “Be joyful at this time of Joy!”
Soli ad gloriam                                                                                    Beverly Illauq
Gospel Mystery of the Day on FaceBook
& www.gospelmysteryoftheday.ca
 
                                                                                  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Luke 1, 46 - 56

Receiving presents was perhaps the most exciting part of Christmas for me as a child. But the older I have become, the more I realize how great a gift a child is to a mother, and that Mother Mary received the greatest gift of all mothers in the infant Son of God who was Son of Man, “God Saves”, the Redeemer of humanity, that is Jesus. Her response to receiving this gift was to break out into a full-hearted song of praise, magnifying God and rejoicing in the fact that God’s mercy is beyond all human plans and projects. God’s mercy instead reaches out through time and space to bring each human being into the Life and Light, and the Creative Hope of the Holy Spirit. This Christmas whether one is poor or rich, marginalized or privileged, a child or an adult the same gift that was born through Mary is being held out to each one of us. Jesus noted that is especially poor, marginalized, suffering and child-like people who best recognize the gift of Emmanuel, God-with-us; but indeed by accepting this Christmas gift of the incarnation of Jesus, the poorest person can be the richest, the most outcast the most privileged, and a person who is suffering deeply, a wise teacher of others.  No matter our age, our place in society or our location in the world, we can always find, accept and unwrap the gift of God’s love in Christ Jesus. Then we too will need nothing else to be able to respond with full-hearted joy and rejoice in the Lord, which gifts us beyond all telling!  Holy Spirit help me to receive the gift of Emmanuel within me, so I too can magnify the Lord and rejoice in God my Saviour.
 
The friendship of the Lord is for those who fear him, and he makes his covenant known to them. (Psalm 25:10)
 
He became what we are that he might make us what he is.
St. Athanasius
 
Soli ad gloriam
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Luke 1:26-45

In these times we are longing more than ever for connection with others, for the opportunity to go to communal gatherings, and for companionship during this strange journey through a shifting landscape. This is no accident! These are the deepest needs of our lives that reach far beyond our possessions, any kind of public recognition, and all kinds of success. These pandemic times have graced us with opportunity to return again to these basic principles of our humanity. When God-with-us, that is Jesus, came as an infant to Mary, Elizabeth and to Joseph, it was through deeply satisfying connection, companionship and communion in the Holy Spirit of God, that they each recognized Emmanuel as no ‘ordinary’ human being, but as God present – Mary as Jesus came to be with her in her womb, Elizabeth as she and her child in utero recognized Emmanuel yet to make an appearance, and Joseph as it was revealed to him in a dream that within his relationship with Mary God was present as never before. When we sing O Come, O Come, Emmanuel in this present age, are we hoping Jesus will come to perform miracles for us, and increase our personal comfort? Or are we seeking the deeper gifts of connection, companionship and communion with the Holy Spirit of God that He birthed into the world? Now, more than ever, Let us seek the gifts that God designed us to receive. O Come, Emmanuel, God-with-us, and stay with us!  
 
Our soul waits for the Lord. He is our help and shield.     (Psalm 33:20)
 
Open wide the door to the one who comes. Open your soul, throw open the depths of your heart to see the riches of simplicity, the treasures of peace, the sweetness of grace.
St. Ambrose
 
Soli ad gloriam
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