This Sunday’s Scripture passages draw me to think about the themes of light and darkness. It makes me think of a dark, clear, cold January sky and how the stars seem to shine more brightly in the darkest days of winter. The new moon is this weekend, so the sky will be extra dark without the brightness of the moon. Jesus is the Light of the World (John 8:12), and we who have received His…
Think back to a time that you walked in the dark. Maybe you had to move slowly so you didn’t run into anything or fumble around to find a light. If you were somewhere unfamiliar, it might have even been a little frightening to not be able to see your surroundings. You needed something to light your way so that you would know where to go without hurting yourself or getting lost. Now remember a…
It’s late in the calendar year. The darkness increases as we draw nearer to winter, but on this first day of Advent—the very first day of our Church year—we are called to wake up early, while it is still dark. “It is the hour now for you to awake from sleep. For our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed; the night is advanced, the day is at hand. Let us then throw…
The days are getting shorter and darker each day now. But with the increasing darkness comes the promise of brighter days: “but for you who fear my name, there will arise the sun of justice with its healing rays” (Mal 3:20). Sun of Justice is one of the names of Jesus. If your family does a Jesse Tree during Advent, you might remember this from the O Antiphons that are recited during Vespers in the…