The Seventh Day in the Octave of Christmas
The ancient desert fathers and mothers were known for their wisdom. Christians desiring to deepen their relationship with Christ would seek them out. “Give me a word,” they would ask the abba or amma. This word would be a small piece of scripture, sometimes just a phrase, to ponder for years or more. The word was chosen specifically for each individual seeker.
In our day, in some contemplative circles, both sacred and secular, it is popular on New Year’s Eve to choose a word for the upcoming year - a word to ponder, to center, and to frame the year. One year, I prayed with “joy” for an entire year. I was not always joyful, but I prayed for joy. In that year, I noticed joy more. Even in the hardest times, I noticed joy making an appearance. I fostered joy more that year. In the end, like the psalmist today, I found myself singing a new song!
While our readings today aren’t chosen with New Year’s Eve in mind, they do speak of an ending and a beginning. “Children, it is the last hour,” we hear in the first reading. “It is the last hour…and many antichrists have appeared,” we hear plainly. This letter is addressed to an ancient Christian community, and it is also addressed to us. In their day and in ours, many are working against Love Incarnate, working against love in the flesh. Many are fostering hate and preaching darkness and gloom, this letter says plainly. What are we to do?
We look to the beginning. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God,” we hear in the gospel. The Word that John speaks of is Christ, who existed from the beginning and is the Word made flesh. This is what we celebrate this Christmas season: Christ, the Word, comes into the messiness of our fleshy lives by becoming flesh - Emmanuel, God with us! Christ, who is the Light of God, who is Love Incarnate, who is Merciful-Compassionate-Kindness-Justice (Chesed in Hebrew), who brings Life, is with us in the flesh!
Perhaps on this New Year’s Eve, as one year ends and another begins, each of us might pray for the Holy Spirit to give us a word of our own to ponder and live - Love, Compassion, Justice, Mercy, Gratitude, Joy…what might your word for the coming year?
—Kelly Adamson
“Come, Holy Spirit, give me a word to guide me, to center me, to live in me, and bring to life for a year. Give me a word so that the Word may dwell in my flesh too, this year.”