This Eucharistic meditation is designed to help you spend 30 minutes to an hour in meditation and silent prayer with Jesus during Eucharistic adoration. Even if you cannot be physically present in a church or adoration chapel with the Blessed Sacrament, you can unite yourself spiritually to the Eucharist as you spend this time in prayer.

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THE GRACE I SEEK: a life reordered around Jesus my Savior

IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER, AND OF THE SON, AND OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. AMEN.

Pause for a few moments before Jesus in the Eucharist. Allow yourself to become aware of Jesus’ gift of himself to you. Imagine Jesus looking at you, gazing into your eyes with a look of love. He sees deep into your heart. Bring your whole life to Jesus. Share with him your fears, your hopes, your wounds, your failures, and your love. Jesus is listening attentively to you. Speak to him with trust. There is no limit to how deep your friendship can be with him. After speaking from your heart, stop, wait, listen. Rest in his loving gaze.

Thank Jesus for the gift of himself in the Eucharist.

ASK FOR THE GRACE: Jesus, I ask you to reorder my life with the gift of your Truth and your Love.

SCRIPTURE MEDITATION

‍Slowly read the passage of Scripture. Picture the environment in which the story takes place. Observe the details of what is happening. With your senses, immerse yourself in the event. Who is present? What is happening? Be mindful of a particular moment that seems to be of greater importance to you, that catches your attention.

“In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus
that the whole world should be enrolled.
This was the first enrollment,
when Quirinius was governor of Syria.
So all went to be enrolled, each to his own town.
And Joseph too went up from Galilee from the town of Nazareth
to Judea, to the city of David that is called Bethlehem,
because he was of the house and family of David,
to be enrolled with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child.
While they were there,
the time came for her to have her child,
and she gave birth to her firstborn son.
She wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger,
because there was no room for them in the inn.” (Luke 2:1–7)

Enter still deeper into the mystery of Christ. Wonder at the mercy of God as you see it pouring out on this earth through the birth of Jesus.

“Now there were shepherds in that region living in the fields
and keeping the night watch over their flock.
The angel of the Lord appeared to them
and the glory of the Lord shone around them,
and they were struck with great fear.
The angel said to them,
‘Do not be afraid;
for behold, I proclaim to you good news of great joy
that will be for all the people.
For today in the city of David
a savior has been born for you who is Christ and Lord.
And this will be a sign for you:
you will find an infant wrapped in swaddling clothes
and lying in a manger.’” (Luke 2:8–12)

After some time meditating on the mystery of God’s love for us in Jesus, reflect on these words of Saint Bernard of Clairvaux. Ask the Holy Spirit to speak to you in a personal way.

FROM A SERMON BY ST. BERNARD, ABBOT

“Behold, peace is no longer promised, but conferred; no longer delayed, but given; no longer predicted, but bestowed. Behold, God has sent down to earth a bag bulging with his mercy, a bag that, at the passion, is torn open so that our ransom pours out of it onto us. A small bag, perhaps, but a full one: for it was a small child that was given to us, but in him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead.” (Sermo 1, in Epiphania Domini, 1–2: PL 133, 141–143)

“After the fullness of time had come, there came too the fullness of the Godhead.” (Office of Readings, December 29)

Share with Jesus the thoughts and feelings that have surfaced for you in this Christmas meditation. Open your heart to him. Jesus wants to know your dreams, your desires, your fears. You can share anything. Jesus will receive it with great love. Then remain in silence with the Lord. Allow him to speak in the silence, in your heart. Be grounded in his presence. If it helps, write down what you sense the Lord communicating to you during this time of prayer.

CLOSING PRAYER

‍O God, who wonderfully created the dignity of human nature and still more wonderfully restored it, grant, we pray, that we may share in the divinity of Christ, who humbled himself to share in our humanity. Who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever. (Collect, Christmas Mass During the Day)

MASS CONNECTION

During the Christmas season, listen closely and prayerfully to the readings at Mass and to the prayers that are offered. Lift up your heart in thanksgiving!

MISSIONARY MOMENT

So many still long to see the face of Christ, to receive his mercy, to find hope in his Word, to know that they are loved by God. Ask Jesus during the Christmas season for the name of someone who needs the joy of Christmas. Arrange to spend some time with them, sharing the reason for the joy that is in your heart.