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In recent weeks I’ve been enjoying sitting outside early morning and later evening, thinking, reading, praying, pondering – and noticing.
In the midst of the many sounds and sights of dawn and dusk I’ve noticed and followed with interest a blackbird couple, building a nest and raising their offspring in a small tī kōuka just a couple of metres from my seat.
After hatching a couple of weeks ago the three chicks grew in their nest – until today.
About ten minutes after I took the pic above, the fledglings, one after the other and with much squawking, flew from the nest.
By a miracle of timing I was sitting and watching.
I was noticing.
The Christmas story is so well known we can play it over in our heads without too much noticing – from Gabriel to Elizabeth, with Joseph and a journey to a Bethlehem cave for a birth, a star, shepherds and kings and then an even longer Egyptian trek before returning to Nazareth.
We know the event to be the birth of God in Jesus, into our time, to dwell in and to transform our messy and struggling reality.
But with all the now-well-known details of the Christmas event, have you ever noticed how few people of the time noticed.
Apart from one moment when Jesus was twelve there is no record of anyone noticing the new thing God was doing.
Even when Jesus was aged thirty and began to live more publicly, very few noticed.
And today, there are too many moments when I fail to notice.
In whatever way you celebrate Christmas today, treat yourself by noticing that Jesus is present and active, often in the most unlikely and unexpected situations and people.
And you might like to savour the contributions of others reflecting on Christmas – and add your own to the experience of God-with-us in the circumstances of life at Monday’s post, YOUR TURN at this link.
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Here’s an inclusive grace you might like to use at your Christmas meal this year.
A Grace before Christmas Dinner
One of the more senior people
at the dinner begins saying:
Before we share this Christmas meal together,
Let us take a moment of silent prayer
to give God thanks
for all the blessings we have received this year
and for the burdens we bear, shared and personal.
A moment of silent reflection follows
Then the leader continues
Let us remember those
we have shared Christmas with in past years,
those who have died,
and also those who are not able to be with us today.
Let us now share aloud
the names of those we especially wish to remember.
Those at table take a moment
to share the names of those
they wish to remember.
When the names have been shared
a candle is lit in the centre of the table
(perhaps by one of the children).
Then the leader prays
May the light of this candle
lead us to the One
who overcomes every darkness.
And for what we receive in this meal,
the food, drink, and family and friendship,
let us be deeply grateful.
Amen
Thank you for the grace prayer, how beautiful
The greatest present at Christmas for me is Christ’s presence human and vulnerable, holy and mighty…. I wait with anticipation to see what He will birth in me this next year… As well I enjoy and feel blessed by the gift of loved ones near and far (noticing their beauty, life and growth) and those no longer here (may they Rest in Peace).
THANK YOU SO MUCH FR JOHN FOR ALL YOUR WONDERFUL AND INSIGHTFUL POSTS. I PRAY THE LORD JESUS BLESS YOU ABUNDANTLY NOW AND ALWAYS. . GOD BLESS .
This Christmas, leave the business and hassles of everyday life, enter into the silence of the Manger with baby Jesus, Mary and Joseph.
Christmas Blessings to all readers.
Nice David ,we all need to do that,
Especially when we have family ,grandkids etc .
Blessings to all.
Thank you Fr John for your insight & inspiration throughout the year. Merry Christmas & many blessings upon you.
Hop-along-fledgling has been part of my observations the latter half of this month. She, based on her colouring, followed a young male blackbird around, beak open, calling for food. Daddy for the first time? The last time I saw her she hopped around alone. Slightly older, young male blackbirds lay in the sun on the lawn, wings spread out around the same time. (while I’m hoping the neighbours’ cats are asleep or indoors. There are two self-sown ti koukas, and three others. I don’t know how John you managed to take a photo of a nest of fledglings!!
I figure that hop-along now flies and finds her own food. Let’s care for those vulnerabilities of others and not be afraid to ask for help in areas of our weaknesses, through the power and blessings of the Trinity.
This Christmas our Pohutukawa is blossoming in a special way. The flowers are unusually round pompoms of red beauty, greatly enhanced when the there is blue sky above. It’s a real show-piece for visitors to be savoured during the short flowering time. The world of nature shows us that the spectacular moments of life are short -lived , to be savoured if you are lucky enough to be there, before returning to the real life of everyday…….
With the blessings of Christmas so recently, may these special moments be the life experience we all need to carry us into the New Year ahead as constant reminders that God Emmanual is with us.