Buddhist Catholic Contemplative Evangelical General Christian Hindu Jewish Latter-day Saint Muslim New Visions Progressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos

Stories - with Kaitlin B. Curtice

Home
Progressive Christian
Day 26 of Advent: the Christmas Eve weight

Day 26 of Advent: the Christmas Eve weight

Last updated on: December 24, 2015 at 8:30 am by Kaitlin B. Curtice

Day 26 of Advent: the Christmas Eve weight 2015-12-24T08:30:00-04:00 Kaitlin B. Curtice

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

“And every Christmas I go back to the scene where it all started and ask once more: ‘Can I bear you again? Can I be your midwife, your mother, your wet nurse, your nanny—anyone; someone who will nurture the birth of Love on earth and goodwill toward all man?’ ” –Erika Morrison

FullSizeRender

There is a heavy weight that bears down over our shoulders on Christmas Eve, like the one Erika describes here as she reflects on what it means to get through Advent to the actual birth of Jesus.

The weight may be that we have to stuff our children’ stockings after they go to bed, getting everything ready for the arrival of St. Nicholas and his abundance of goodies.

Or maybe it’s a different weight that we carry,

the weight of caring for humankind,

the weight of providing a space for the Savior Child to come out of His mother’s womb and into our spaces again,

for another year to be marked on the calendar,

another sign to keep us going on the way to the Kingdom.

We’ll have a Christmas Eve meal together tonight, and while we sit around the table and laugh and talk and enjoy an abundance of food,

every now and then, things go quiet, and if you catch it,

you’ll feel it,

that weight,

the way it felt that long night of contractions and heavy sighs,

that long darkness under the shining star that led everyone to

His little throne of straw.

We are the ones who are asked to nurture Love on earth and goodwill toward all man, aren’t we?

We are the ones who carry the weight,

the ones who are tangible flesh,

the tangible flesh of today

who have hands to reach

and pockets to empty

and kind words to give

when everything is hatred and prejudice

swirling in the air around us.

We carry the weight tonight.

We sit beside Mary and birth the Infant Savior into our midst,

release His Spirit back again

into our flesh and bones and blood.

Carry the weight,

and let it bring the Love and goodwill out of you,

and miracle of all miracles,

promise of all promises

we’ll finally, one day,

see Kingdom actually come,

that Infant-King bringing all things into

His holy and right reality

before our very eyes.

Previous Post

December 23, 2015

Advent, Day 25: the gathering

Next Post

December 25, 2015 The End of Advent Wait (Day 27): It's Christmas Day

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Advent 2016 Adventure Community & One Another Contemplation Lent 2016 Lessons Motherhood Native American Heritage Month 2017 Native American Spirituality Politics & Social Justice Prayer Remembrance Seven Gratitudes Uncategorized

Select a Month April 2018 March 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 August 2013 March 2013 February 2013 November 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz