Christmas Vigil Reflection 2024

This evening we participate in the age old ritual of “vigiling.” “A Vigil”, or in verb form, “to vigil,” comes from the Latin word for "awake," and all its meanings include the idea of watchfulness. This evening, we are keeping watch. Benedict has 3 chapters in the Rule about Vigils – those times of prayer in the “middle of the night” – which then was calculated to be around 2 or 3:00 a.m. (Aren’t we glad we’ve changed that!)

Certainly many others throughout the centuries, besides monks, kept vigils for various reasons other than prayer. In the past many of our family members who fought in wars, kept vigil over their camps and trenches. We all have probably kept a vigil if a friend or family member was arriving late in the evening or during the night. Certainly parents (maybe ours?) kept vigil when we, as youth, were out late. More recently, we’ve all sat in vigil while a Sister or family member was nearing death, or when a loved one was in surgery. We know what it means to keep watch.

Tonight we keep watch in this vigil with Mary, Joseph, the angels, the shepherds, and the wisemen, as they all awaited an event that would change history. Of course, they didn’t all realize that at their point in history.

Tonight We Vigil:

• With Mary – as she writhed in pain as any mother giving birth does, waiting for the birth of Jesus;

• With Joseph - as he pondered still how this had all come about, and what it would mean to be a father of a child not fathered by him;

• With the shepherds, who sensed by the restlessness of their sheep, that something was afoot out on the hills and they did not know what to expect;

• With the Angels – yes even they were keeping vigil for the birth of Jesus – after all, they knew more than any of the others I’ve already mentioned that it was to be this night!

• And of course, with the wisemen – those sages who had seen an unknown star that drew them westward to a land they did not know, and an event about which they were not certain. However, they felt in their hearts that it would be a big enough event for which it was appropriate to bring gifts. They didn’t call them wisemen for nothing! They, like us, were drawn by a light.

For them it was a new sign in the heavens, yet they felt it must be a sign of something to come that was beyond their knowledge. This light as we now know, was the light that Christ brought TO the world, and the light which we must continue to carry in hope FOR the world.

Tonight, not only do we keep the Vigil of Christmas, and keep watch on the star that shown over the stable. Our Jewish faith relatives also celebrate a vigil tonight of their 8-day celebration of Hanukkah, which begins tomorrow at sundown. Hanukkah, as you may know is a feast of light – the light which the Jews lit in the menorah candles after Judas Maccabees defeated the Greeks and they re-gained their temple. They had barely any oil left. However, what they did have lasted for 8 days, until they could purify more. Thus, they celebrate this memory and feast each year. And this year both feasts are on Dec. 25.

So, who must we keep vigil with today?

• We Vigil with the immigrant, who travels in fear, and only wants to support a family, or make a home in peace;

• We Vigil with the poor, who have no way to feed, clothe, or educate their children to live a better life, than they have been able to provide them;

• We Vigil with the homeless, who have nowhere to lay their head or sleep peacefully and unafraid;

• We Vigil with those whose countries are at war this very night, and for whom the song of hope and joy which the angels sang is silent;

• We Vigil with those in fear, who don’t know who to trust, or even if trust is possible.

As we know, vigiling alone is insufficient. We must reach out further with our love, and prayers, hope and abilities to assist these immigrants, poor, homeless, and fearful.

Let us keep these people in our hearts and minds as we carry out our endeavors of love, and assistance for them in whatever ways we can.

I found a quote (not attributed to one person) in an editorial in the “National Catholic Reporter” last month which said:

“Hope is not a mere feeling. It is a choice we make every day. When we choose hope, we embody the essence of our Christian calling – to be angels of change and witnesses of love.” *

If we can make that choice everyday then our “vigiling,” our keeping watch, will bear fruit and will be a light for the world.

A Blessed Christmas to all. May your light shine in ways beyond your knowing, everyday – for one another, for those you love, and for the world.

Sister Susan Hutchens, OSB
Prioress

* National Catholic Reporter, Vol. 61 #4, Nov 22, 2024