[The gospel on Christmas day is taken from the Gospel according to St. John. I invite you to try the following spiritual exercise:
1. Silently read straight through from beginning to end. Pause in silence.
2. Slowly read it out loud. Pause in silence.
3. Read it slowly to yourself. Spend time with any verse that speaks to you.
4. Speak to God in your own words and/or end with the Te Deum]
In the beginning was the Word,
and the Word was with God,
and the Word was God.
He was in the beginning with God.
All things came to be through him,
and without him nothing came to be.
What came to be through him was life,
and this life was the light of the human race;
the light shines in the darkness,
and the darkness has not overcome it.
The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world.
He was in the world,
and the world came to be through him,
but the world did not know him.
He came to what was his own,
but his own people did not accept him.
But to those who did accept him
he gave power to become children of God,
to those who believe in his name,
who were born not by natural generation
nor by human choice nor by a man’s decision
but of God.
And the Word became flesh
and made his dwelling among us,
and we saw his glory,
the glory as of the Father’s only Son,
full of grace and truth.
From his fullness we have all received, grace in place of grace,
because while the law was given through Moses,
grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.
No one has ever seen God.
The only Son, God,* who is at the Father’s side, has revealed him.
John 1:1-5, 9-14, 16-18
[Scripture texts in this work are taken from the New American Bible, revised edition © 2010, 1991, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Washington, D.C. and are used by permission of the copyright owner. All Rights Reserved. No part of the New American Bible may be reproduced in any form without permission in writing from the copyright owner.]
[To pray the Te Deum, click HERE]
[Heartlight provides positive resources for daily Christian Living. LINK TO HEARTLIGHT: http://www.heartlight.org%5D
HEARTS ON FIRE 