Monique Jacobs, Director of Mission and Identity at Catholic Charities
of Northern Nevada, reflects on the readings for Christmas Day.
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****The Nativity of the Lord (Christmas)****
Today's Lectionary Readings
The first reading for Christmas Mass during the Night comes from Isaiah:
**The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light;**
**Â upon those who dwelt in the land of gloom a light has shone.**
There is no specific promise made in these sentences of Isaiah: no
lifting of outstanding rent, no support with unpaid utility bills, no
intercession with an angry landlord threatening eviction. These are
realities of darkness and burdens that are almost impossible to lift on
our own. The demands of daily life can feel crushing to those for whom
darkness has become the norm. So many of our hardworking clients - the
working poor - struggle with these tensions daily and, when they come to
our doors, the light has gone out of their eyes. The hope they entrust
to us is a fragile thing.
Light means many different things to different people. Into our shadowy
and often scary world comes a Presence that diffuses the shadows and
lights up the dark places - for good. This Presence walks in our
shoes, inhabits our skin, and weeps beside us when the darkness
threatens to overwhelm. Yet,
**this** is the promise! Emmanuel! United to a God with Skin On, the
darkness of our uncertain life dissipates bit by bit.
Who would DO this? What God is like this? "They name him
Wonder-Counselor, God-Hero, Father-Forever, Prince of Peace." The
names pour from tired hearts and astounded faces: "For me? You would
do this for me?"
Flowing forth from the words of the Gospel comes another promise, an
encouraging word that speaks to our deepest anxiety, "Do not be
afraid; for behold, I proclaim to you good news of great joy...for today
in the city of David a savior has been born for you who is Christ the
Lord. And this will be a sign for you." The darkness that we and our
clients experience is temporary. We can take hope. This is a sign of a
living promise, a living Presence that shines in our darkness...and the
darkness shall not overcome it.
Today, this Feast of Feasts, when the Holy One takes on the flesh of
creation in the ultimate signal of alliance, intercession, and oneness,
is marked in time. This promise takes up space in history and is a sign
to us, who dwell in darkness, that the Unending Dawn is on the horizon.
Merry Christmas!
**Monique Jacobs is Director of Mission and Identity at Catholic
Charities of Northern Nevada.**
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