Tuesday 24 December 2024

Today is Tuesday the 24th of December in the 4th week of Advent. Salt of the Sound sings, ‘Silent Night'. As you begin to pray on this Christmas Eve, you might like to use this song to enter into the “thrill of hope” that Jesus brings us through his birth… how might it be speaking to you in a fresh way this year? Silent night, holy night, All is calm, all is bright Round yon virgin mother and child! Holy Infant so tender and mild, Sleep in heavenly peace, Sleep in heavenly peace. Silent night, holy night, Son of God, love's pure light Radiant beams from Thy holy face, With the dawn of redeeming grace, Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth, Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth. Today’s reading is from the Gospel of Luke. Luke 1:67-79 Then his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke this prophecy: ‘Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for he has looked favourably on his people and redeemed them. He has raised up a mighty saviour for us in the house of his servant David, as he spoke through the mouth of his holy prophets from of old, that we would be saved from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us. Thus he has shown the mercy promised to our ancestors, and has remembered his holy covenant, the oath that he swore to our ancestor Abraham, to grant us that we, being rescued from the hands of our enemies, might serve him without fear, in holiness and righteousness before him all our days. And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High; for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways, to give knowledge of salvation to his people by the forgiveness of their sins. By the tender mercy of our God, the dawn from on high will break upon us, to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.’ Zechariah praises God for remembering and fulfilling the promises made to them. How do you feel about God’s promises? Are you able to find hope that they are being fulfilled? Zechariah speaks of enemies and those who hate God’s people. What have you experienced as ‘enemies’ of God’s promises, outside and within yourself? Have you experienced any ‘rescue’ from them? Listen out, as the reading is repeated, for any words that strike you. Where do those words or images take you in your response to God? Whether you are ‘sitting in darkness’ or ‘in the way of peace’, take time now to speak from your heart to the God who guides us in darkness and in light. O Wisdom Lord and Ruler Root of Jesse Key of David Rising Sun King of the Nations Emmanuel Come, Lord Jesus