When I woke up this morning and went into the living room, a splinter of light was shining on the Christmas tree and on the Nativity scene. It was dark all around except for the light falling on the manger and the backs of everyone looking upon the Christchild. It took my breath away. I ran to get my camera hoping to get a shot before the light moved on. OK, the photo is blurred (I was shaking a bit in awe of this event) but captures enough of the drama of the moment. Yesterday I watched a video of the Winter Solstice at the oldest burial mound in Europe at Newgrange in Ireland. It was too foggy for the dim, pink light of the sun to illuminate the interior of the structure which is 5,000 years old (older than the Egyptian pyramids) but they did show last years video of it. The structure is based on cruciform or cross shape and is an accurate clock for the winter solstice to strike the interior every year. A place where ashes were placed so that the souls of the departed could find their way into the light.
Today is Chanukkah, a Jewish celebration of the Festival of the Lights, the miracle of the lamplight oil in the menorah staying brightly lit for eight days which took place during a terribly oppressive time for the Jewish people. The Festival commemorates this miracle of Light!
Christians and others are preparing to welcome the Light of the Christchild into their lives this week. The 3 Wisemen followed an amazing star to Bethlehem where they brought their precious gifts and to meet Him even as a baby, humbly born in a manger in a stable to ordinary folks, Mary and Joseph.
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning.
Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it.
John 1:1
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