new church life: november/december 2015
not practiced in isolation from the various other strands out of which spiritual
life is woven, but is part of the whole fabric of such a life.
Among the qualities that make up the life of heaven are humility,
repentance, worship of the Lord, meditation on the Word, charity, looking
for and finding the good from the Lord in other people, trust in providence,
patience, perseverance, courage, appreciation of beauty, and so on.
But these things would be incomplete without conscious awareness of
them and how valuable they are, and the inner peace and happiness they bring.
As that awareness grows in us, gratitude to the One who gave us these gifts will
also grow. And the feeling of thankfulness itself will become one more thing
to be thankful for!
(WEO)
the gift of light
“In the beginning . . . let there be light.”
This is how the Lord coming into our lives begins – with a beam of light, a
ray of hope, piercing the darkness and showing the way.
Christmas – when the Lord is born with us anew – is the season of light.
It is lit with candles and stars, twinkling lights on trees and houses, a glow in
the heart.
The birth of the Lord was announced to the shepherds by a multitude of
angels appearing as a bright light in the dark sky, “the glory of the Lord shining
round about them.” A bright star in the East led the wise men to Him.
This is God’s gift to us at Christmas: “I am come a light into the world, that
whoever believes in Me should not abide in darkness.” (John 12:46)
This is why the Lord came on earth – and comes to us still: to save us from
a darkness threatening to overwhelm the world and our freedom.
The darkness of the human spirit will always be with us – in hate and anger,
jealousy and dominion. But the light of truth and peace and understanding
dawns every day, just as the promise of Christmas is always in the present
tense: “For unto us a child is born, unto us a Son is given.” And, “I am come
a light into the world.”
Light is the perfect symbol of the season because it reaches out and
includes. It illuminates and warms. Darkness leaves people on their own –
fearful and trusting only themselves.
How we use the gift of light is left to us. There is power in light, but also
power in darkness. In all of the drama before His crucifixion, Jesus said to
the chief priests and elders: “When I was daily with you in the temple, you
stretched forth no hands against Me: but this is your hour, and the power of
darkness.” (Luke 22:53)
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