Christmas Eve 2010

Finally we are here, the Eve of Christmas. the 4 weeks of Advent have ended, and tonight in Churches all over the world, we will again celebrate the Birth of Jesus in a stable at Bethlehem.

This morning was again bitterly cold, -9c, but by 9 am the sun was up. The world looks so beautiful. We will have a White Christmas.

We were at 10am Mass this morning, and tonight we will be there for the carol Service, then the First Mass of Christmas. There is always something special about the particular Mass.

We have tried very hard not to be sucked in by the commercialisation of the Feast. The media are full of stories of ruined holiday plans, non delivery of ordered Christmas presents and so on.

We have not spent beyond out means. There are no exorbitant gifts. There will be a family Christmas dinner. It will be nice without being decadent.

I used to try and make the children I taught think about the real meaning of Christmas. It is the birthday of Jesus, and yet, everyone gets presents that day, while Jesus is forgotten. I asked them to imagine their own birthday with everyone celebrating it and receiving gifts while they watched on but got nothing.
I told them Jesus did want a gift...not a bike...or a lap top...or dvds. He simply wanted us to be at Mass that morning to join in the celebration of His birth. And every Sunday too. An hour a week at most. 1 hour. Is that too much for Jesus to ask of us?

I wish all who might read this little blog a Happy and a Holy Christmas, and a New Year filled with Peace and Blessings!

GLORIA IN EXCELSIS DEO!

photos taken today at home and by the River Clyde at Old Kilpatrick