O Ultimate mystery,

who comes to us in many pictures,

grant that the story of Christmas may

awaken the child within us, so that we may

experience child-like beauty and joy,

despite the sadness and destruction which

often surrounds us. May we be enabled to

let go of our desire to acquire, to abandon

our misuse of power and cease to view life

in segments, instead of as a whole.

This we pray in the spirit of the Babe of Bethlehem,

symbol of the eternal child. AMEN.