The Real Presence of Jesus

Queen Victoria sent the first Christmas card, and Sir Henry Cole commissioned the first commercial Christmas Card in 1843. It depicted two acts of charity, “feeding the hungry”, “clothing the naked”, and a family party scene. Today, among the many cards we receive there are various depictions of the Nativity scene.

Some years ago an artist friend of mine designed his own Christmas card showing the Adoration of the Magi and the face of every character in the scene was a member of his parish.

This year, I went to see the exhibition on St Francis held at the National Gallery. Among the exhibits was a painting by Josefa de Obidos (1630-1684). She created this when she was only 16 or 17.

It shows St Francis and St Clare kneeling before Jesus in the manger. I loved the way she has lit the child Jesus. Near Clare, there is a monstrance containing a host. This reminds us of her strong Eucharistic spirituality. She was a woman in love with Jesus and she knew Christ as a real person. This Christmas as we contemplate Jesus laying in the manger and when we look at our own crib at home let us reflect on the real presence of Jesus in the Eucharist and his presence in our lives and in those we meet.

Here is a prayer I found on the Diocese of Derry website that can be our Christmas prayer.

Loving Lord, You came to us as a helpless child to share our vulnerabilities,
our joys and sorrows, and to teach us your way of love.
As we look upon this Crib, space of tenderness, may it open
our hearts and our homes to become Bethlehem spaces, open to
receive the Light and Love of God and share it with others.
May this Crib which was a home for an anxious couple in
search of shelter, and for a new-born child fragile and
vulnerable, remind us to open our hearts and homes: to listen
for the whisper of God; to listen for the voices of the anxious and the vulnerable in our
families and communities this Christmas.
Gracious God, bless us with an extravagance of patience,
insight, hope and love, as we celebrate the birth of our Saviour.
Pour down your blessings on all our families and homes and on