Week 4: Love on Christmas Eve

'Twas in the moon of wintertime,
when all the birds had fled,
that mighty Gitchi Manitou
sent angel choirs instead;
before their light the stars grew dim,
and wandering hunters heard the hymn...

The Huron Carol by Jean de Brebeuf 1643. Click here to hear the carol sung by the Elora Festival Singers

image under license from Fotolia

In these last hours of Advent, let the planning, stressing, buying, cleaning come to rest, to take time to reflect...

For some the year has been good - dreams  have come true, problems solved, and needs met. For too many though, 2025 has been very hard, cruel even. Losses have outweighed gains and the struggle to live has been a daily challenge. And yet here we all are gathered again on the doorstep of Christmas in the centre of life carrying the hopes and fears of all the years.

And now it's time to leave our flocks and leave our fields...to wait and watch. 
"Let there be light," the One voice once said.
And as the sun sets later this day and the stars arise, around the world Christmas candles will begin to light the darkness.

Tonight there is but one heart's desire:

May  hope, peace, joy, and love awaken together again this night.

May Earth, Air, Fire, Water and Spirit dance joyfully together this night.

May Christmas morning dawn merry and bright.

Thank you all for joining me again this year for Reflections for Advent.

From our house to yours -

Merry Christmas!

©2025 April Hoeller