On this Christmas Eve may we open our minds, eyes and hearts and look deeply for God’s action in our lives and in the lives of the people we love!

Reading: …because of the tender mercy of our God, by which the rising sun will come to us from heaven to shine on those living in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the path of peace.” Luke 1:78-79.
 
Good morning, happy Friday, Merry Christmas and many blessings my dear family.
 
The Gospel reading (Luke 1:67-79) for this last morning of Advent is the prophecy of Zechariah. It is the continuation of the story of John’s birth. In today’s reading, Zechariah is filled with the Holy Spirit. Later, John also prophesies that a Savior will come to his people. The Savior not only will come, but He also will save them and set them free.
 
When Mary heard that Elizabeth was pregnant, she immediately hurried to be with Elizabeth. Just imagine the conversation these two women had! Both of them became pregnant in highly unusual circumstances. Yet both women were filled with complete faith and trust in God — and faith in the miracle they each were gifted with.
 
Joseph and Zechariah also had to be men of deep faith and trust in their God. Did they wonder what else their lives would hold? Yet they trusted the God they knew and loved! What faith these women and men had in their God!
 
These kinds of happenings are unusual in our day. Often if I hear of a miracle, I question it. I wonder if a true miracle really did happen since miracles seem to be in short supply today. Yet we have miracles around us all day long — if we have the faith and the eyes to see them and recognize God’s action.
 
God has come to rescue his people as he promised long ago. The promise still holds for us. Whatever trouble we may be in, God is coming to save us and we can be at peace.
We have been given all the gifts we need to lead good lives. When we fall short, we can pick ourselves up and start again. The sacrament of reconciliation can be a great gift of healing at such times in our lives.
 
We might all pray that, in our own lives, we would be as clear-sighted as Zechariah in ‘reading the signs of the times’ – in picking up the hints of what God has in store for us.
 
On this Christmas Eve may we open our minds, eyes and hearts and look deeply for God’s action in our lives and in the lives of the people we love! God is with us! God is acting! The question is: will we see and believe?
 
Blessings,
 
Luis+