Readings: 2 Samuel 7:1-5, 8b-12, 14a,
16 / Luke 1:67-79
Reflection
It's Christmas Eve! Tomorrow, we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, the moment heaven touched earth, the
day Jesus is born. Can you feel it? The anticipation? The wonder? Tonight, the
whole world holds its breath before Emmanuel arrives. And today's readings are
bursting with the same excitement. King David sits in his palace and tells the
prophet Nathan, "Here I am living in a house of cedar, while the ark of
God dwells in a tent!" David wants to build God a temple. But God says
something stunning through Nathan: "I took you from the pasture and from
following the flock to be commander of my people Israel. I have been with you
wherever you went. And I will make you famous like the famous on earth. I will
establish a house for you; your throne shall stand firm forever." Wait.
David wants to build God a house, and God says, "No, I'M going to build
YOU a house, a dynasty, a kingdom that lasts forever." That kingdom is
Jesus. That throne is Jesus. That promise is fulfilled tomorrow when a baby is
born in Bethlehem who will reign forever. David wanted to honor God with a
building. God honored David with a Savior. Tomorrow the Savior arrives!
Then Zechariah, silent for nine months,
finally speaks, and he can't stop prophesying! His son John has just been born
and named, and Zechariah is filled with the Holy Spirit: "Blessed be the
Lord, the God of Israel; for he has come to his people and set them free!"
Notice the verb tense, "has come." Not "will come someday."
Has come. It's happening. Right now. In Zechariah's lifetime. In Mary's womb.
Tomorrow in Bethlehem. "He has raised up for us a mighty Savior, born of
the house of his servant David." There's David again! God's promise to
David seven centuries ago is being fulfilled tomorrow. Zechariah keeps going:
"You, my child, will be called prophet of the Most High, for you will go
before the Lord to prepare his way, to give his people knowledge of salvation
by the forgiveness of their sins." John will prepare the way. And
tomorrow, the Way arrives. "The tender compassion of our God will break
upon us, to shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death, and
to guide our feet into the way of peace." Tomorrow! The light shines! The
darkness ends! Peace comes! Christmas Eve isn't just nostalgia or sentiment.
It's the edge of transformation. Tomorrow changes everything.
Here's
what makes Christmas Eve so powerful for us: it's not just about remembering
what happened 2000 years ago. It's about what's happening now. Right now. In
you. God's promise to David was about an eternal kingdom; that kingdom is
breaking into your life tomorrow. Zechariah's prophecy about light shining in
darkness, that light wants to shine in YOUR darkness tomorrow. The tender
compassion of our God breaking upon us, it breaks upon YOU tomorrow. We're not
just commemorating a birthday. We're celebrating the most profound moment in
human history, God entering into His creation. God is coming to dwell among His
people. God choosing to meet us where we are, in our humanity, in our
brokenness, in our need for salvation. And Christmas Eve is your invitation to
prepare. To make room. To open the door. To say, like Mary, "Let it be
done to me according to your word." Tomorrow is Christmas. But it's also
your opportunity for a fresh start. A new beginning. A transformed life. Jesus was not just born in Bethlehem 2000 years ago. He wants to be born in your life, tomorrow and every day. In your choices. In your relationships. In your priorities. In your
heart. The new year is days away. What if you started it with Jesus truly at
the center of everything you do, every word you say, every decision you make? What if tomorrow's birth brings into your life a new life in Christ? What if the light
that shines in Bethlehem illuminates every corner of your life? David's kingdom
is eternal. Zechariah's prophecy is for you. Tomorrow changes everything. Are
you ready?
Franciscan Reflection
Francis celebrated Christmas with such
joy that he created the first living nativity scene in Greccio in 1223. He
wanted people to see the baby, to understand the humility, to grasp that God
became small and vulnerable for us. Francis said, "We have been made
children of God." Tomorrow, we celebrate our adoption papers being signed
in blood. Tomorrow, we remember that God didn't come as a conquering king but
as a helpless infant. And that changes everything. Francis spent his life being
reborn in Christ, letting go of wealth to embrace poverty, releasing control to
trust God, dying to self to live for others. Every day was a new chance to let
Christ be born in him. Tomorrow is Christmas. But it's also the first day of
the rest of your life with Jesus. Francis would tell you: don't just celebrate
the baby in the manger. Let the baby transform your life. Let Him be born in
you. Again. And again. And again.
For
Your Reflection
Take your time. Let these questions
guide you as your Spirit grows closer and closer to Jesus.
About Tomorrow:
- Tomorrow is Christmas! Are you truly ready, or
have you been too busy preparing everything else?
- Jesus is born tomorrow. What needs to be born in
your life, new faith, new hope, new love, new obedience?
- If tomorrow really changes everything, what's the
first thing that needs to change in you?
About David's Kingdom:
- God promised David an eternal kingdom. That
kingdom is Jesus, and it's available to you tomorrow. Will you enter it?
- David wanted to build God a house. God built David
a kingdom. What are you trying to give God when He wants to give you
something far better?
- "Your throne shall stand firm forever."
Jesus' kingdom never ends. Are you living for temporary things or eternal
things?
About Zechariah's Prophecy:
- "The tender compassion of our God will break
upon us." Where do you need God's tender compassion to break upon you
tomorrow?
- "To shine on those who dwell in
darkness." What darkness in your life needs Jesus' light?
- "To guide our feet into the way of
peace." Where do you need peace to walk into in the new year?
About Transformation:
- Christmas is about God's transformation, becoming
human. What transformation is He calling you to?
- The new year is a week away. What if you started
it completely surrendered to Jesus?
- Tomorrow the Light comes. Will you let Him
illuminate the areas you've been hiding?
Praying
the Joyful Mysteries
As you pray the rosary today,
celebrate that tomorrow they all become real:
The Annunciation - Mary said yes. Tomorrow, we see the fruit of her yes.
The Visitation - Mary brought Jesus to Elizabeth. Tomorrow, Jesus comes to
us all.
The Nativity - TOMORROW! This mystery becomes reality! Emmanuel is
born!
The Presentation - After Christmas, Mary presents Jesus in the temple. She
gives Him to the world.
Finding in the Temple - Even as a child, Jesus was about His Father's business. Tomorrow,
He begins that business, saving us.
The Joyful Mysteries have been our
meditation all Advent. Tomorrow, the center mystery, the Nativity, becomes our
celebration. Everything we've waited for arrives tomorrow. Joy! Joy! Joy!
A
Quiet Challenge
Tonight, Christmas Eve night, do
something radical. Before you go to bed, before the rush of Christmas morning,
spend 30 minutes in silence with Jesus. Just you and Him.
Tell Him everything you want to
surrender for the new year. Every fear. Every sin. Every burden. Everything
you've been carrying that He never asked you to carry.
Then ask Him to guide you to His Will.
Filled with New joy? New purpose? New freedom? New love? Listen. Write down
what you hear.
Tomorrow is Christmas. Make it your
day of transformation. Not just a celebration. Transformation.
Closing
Pray this with overflowing joy:
"Lord Jesus, TOMORROW! Tomorrow
You are born! Tomorrow heaven touches earth! Tomorrow God becomes a baby! We
can barely contain our excitement! David's kingdom is fulfilled in You.
Zechariah's prophecy comes true in You. Mary's yes bears fruit in You. And
tomorrow, tomorrow we celebrate! But Lord, we don't want to just celebrate. We
want to be transformed. You didn't come just to be remembered. You came to
change us. To save us. To make us new. So tomorrow, as we rejoice in Your
birth, birth something new in us. Shine Your light in our darkness. Pour Your
peace into our chaos. Guide our feet into Your ways. The new year is coming.
Let it be a year of radical transformation. Let it be a year of complete
surrender. Let it be a year of unprecedented joy in You. Tomorrow You are born.
Let tomorrow be our rebirth, too. We're ready, Lord. We are so ready. Come, Lord
Jesus! Come into my life! In Jesus' Name, Amen."
Then ask:
- Am I truly ready for Jesus to be born, or just
ready for Christmas to happen?
- What needs to be born in my life tomorrow?
- Will I let tomorrow be my day of transformation,
not just celebration?
Tomorrow is Christmas! Emmanuel
arrives! The Light shines! The Kingdom comes! David's promise is fulfilled!
Zechariah's prophecy comes true!
Tomorrow changes everything. Let it
change you.
Christmas Eve
December 24, 2025
A Franciscan Reflection
©2025 James Dacey, Jr., OFS
