Go outside one night this week when the sky is dark and clear. Just take a little time for some stargazing. Notice how some stars are brighter than others. Pick out the constellations and clusters. Maybe you’ll even see a shooting star! Stargazing helps me to wonder or marvel at the majesty of God. That can also be called “fear of the Lord.” It’s not an “afraid” kind of fear, but more of an “awe”…
“They were overjoyed at seeing the star.” – Matthew 2:10 What does it mean to be “overjoyed?” It strikes me that in the King James translation when the magi saw the start they were so filled with joy that St. Matthew emphasized it twice: “they rejoiced with exceeding great joy” (KJV). The Greek words used here are chairo (rejoice) and chara (joy). To rejoice means to feel or show great joy or delight. Interestingly, another…
During His trial, Christ told Pilate His purpose: “For this I was born and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice.” To which Pilate famously asked, “What is truth?” (John 18: 37-38). His question was rhetorical—he probably didn’t really want an answer. But Jesus had given the disciples this answer already, and we hear it in today’s Gospel reading. Jesus…
Although you have not seen him you love him; even though you do not see him now yet believe in him, you rejoice with an indescribable and glorious joy, as you attain the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls. – 1 Peter 1:8-9 Last week we considered how we can come to believe in the Risen Christ without seeing Him face-to-face. Belief should not be limited to our human senses, such as…
I am the light of the world, says the Lord; whoever follows me will have the light of life. – John 8:12 Jesus loves analogies, similes, and metaphors. He uses these figures of speech to help His listeners–including us–grasp complex and lofty concepts, such as what it means to live in the Kingdom of God and be a Christian disciple. He gives us two metaphors for discipleship in Sunday’s Gospel passage: “You are the salt…
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…
What came to be through him was life, and this life was the light of the human race; the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. – John 1:3-5 Merry Christmas! During Advent, we prayed for Jesus, the Light, to come to brighten our world. We prayed to receive the Advent gifts of hope, peace, joy, and love. But we didn’t pray for these for ourselves alone. We prayed to…
The holy star guided the magi on their journey to adore the Christ child: “And behold, the star that they had seen at its rising preceded them, until it came and stopped over the place where the child was. They were overjoyed at seeing the star, and on entering the house they saw the child with Mary his mother” (Matthew 2:9-11). It must have been a beautiful sight, and a wonder as it led them…
And then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. – Luke 21:27 Advent is here! While the days are getting shorter and darker each day, 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” (Malachi 4:2). Sun of Justice is one of the names of Jesus. In…
But whoever lives the truth comes to the light, so that his works may be clearly seen as done in God. – John 3:21 Have you noticed that the sun sets later each evening now? The vernal equinox—the start of spring!—is just a week away on March 20. The light will increase from now until it begins to decrease after the summer solstice on June 20. Interestingly, this is just a few days before we…