The Dawn Has Come

December 24, 2025 Wednesday of the Fourth Week of Advent 
Daily Readings: 2 Samuel 7:1-5, 8b-12, 14a, 16; Luke 1:67-79

Children of God: My first experience of an exchange gift happened in December 1998 when I was in Grade 1. Of the more than 30 pupils in our classroom, only three of us brought gifts for the exchange. When it was time to pick our manito or manita, pupil 1 got the name of pupil 2, and pupil 2 got the name of pupil 1. Naturally, I was pupil number 3, the one left out, holding my gift only for myself. The teacher didn’t seem to notice. When the time came to open the gifts, pupil 1 received a bunch of stick bread. Pupil 2 also received a bunch of stick bread. When it was my turn, I opened mine with excitement because my mother had lovingly wrapped it. To my surprise—and delight—I too received a bunch of stick bread! Somehow, despite the mix-up, we all ended up sharing the same kind of gift. Looking back, that simple experience reminds me that sometimes, God has a way of making sure everyone receives what they need—no one is left out of His blessings.

If we remember the story of Zechariah, filled with the Holy Spirit, he sings a hymn of praise after the birth of his son John. He proclaims, “The dawn from on high shall break upon us, to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death” (Luke 1:78–79). Zechariah recognizes that through Jesus, God is bringing salvation to His people. Just as the rising sun drives away the night, the coming of Christ scatters the darkness of sin and fills the world with light and hope. The long wait is over. The dawn of God’s mercy has arrived.

The image of dawn is powerful. It tells us that no night lasts forever. Many times, we experience our own kind of darkness—fear, loneliness, guilt, or suffering. But the promise of God is certain: light will come. Jesus is that light. His coming is God’s gift to every person who longs for peace and forgiveness. No one is left out of His love, just as no one was left without a gift that day in my classroom.

This passage invites us to open our hearts to the new light that Christ brings. Salvation is not just about being saved from sin, but about being restored to joy, hope, and purpose. When we allow the light of Jesus to enter our hearts, we too become bearers of light to others. Just as dawn spreads gently across the sky, God’s mercy spreads through every act of love and forgiveness we show.

Children of God: The dawn of salvation has truly come, and its light continues to shine through each one of us. Let us live as children of the light, sharing God’s mercy with joy and gratitude. May we never forget that in God’s great exchange of love, there is always enough for everyone.