Catholic worship offers three entire liturgies for Christmas Day, with separate readings and prayers—one to be celebrated at midnight, one at dawn, and one when it is full day.

Each one begins with a snatch of poetry from Isaiah (I have quoted above one verse from each of these three first readings).

At midnight, we are invited to celebrate the light that shines even in the darkness. At dawn, we are to rejoice in the light that is spreading from the horizon out over the whole earth, melting the darkness before it.  In the full light of day, we are exhorted to recognize God right before our very eyes, already at work restoring all things.

As you finish your material preparations for Christmas this week, try to set aside some time for some final spiritual preparation as well.  I invite you to follow the pattern suggested by the three Christmas liturgies.

Once this week, pray when it is dark.  Turn out the lights and experience the dark.  In that darkness, allow yourself to become aware, and to hold before God, all the areas in your own life, in the lives of those you know and care about, and in our world where you/they/we are walking in darkness or dwelling in gloom.  Really name to yourself those places that feel desolate and hopeless. 

Then image a tiny light, perhaps a distant star or a small candle flame, emerging in that dark and desolate space.  In your mind’s eye, allow the light to grow until you begin to sense at least the possibility of hope in that darkness.

Another time this week, try to pray at dawn (which, after all, comes conveniently late in this darkest week of the year).  Just watch the dawn light emerge and swell and gradually dissolve the darkness.  Let yourself feel that transition from darkness to light—the gradualness of it, and the inevitability of it.  Ask God to touch your spirit through that experience.

Finally, take time once this week to pray in full daylight.  In the full light of day, mentally look around you at the people, events, and concerns of your life, and at the people, events, and issues of our world.  Where is God already at work?  Ask the Holy Spirit to give you a new awareness of some way in which God is acting, right before your very eyes.  Carry that prayer with you throughout one day, looking again and again for signs of God’s presence and action.