Rebirth - Advent Reflections: Day 18

thanks to dogsbody on flickr for the photo

Birther of the human race
You summon the day to dawn
And call us to live in communion

Lord Jesus Christ, Light of the world,
By your cross you have overcome all darkness that oppresses.
Come and shine on us in our communities
That we may grow and live together in your love
Which makes us one with all humanity
(a prayer from A Holy Island Prayer Book)

The times and seasons, the patterns of our year, month, week and day all serve to provide moments of renewal, reminders and rebirth. It used to be common belief that all consciousness ended at the time of sleep, that we were all but dead and it wasn’t until we awoke that we became ‘alive again’. Even though we now know that our brain is very active when we sleep, even creating unique images and ideas without our awareness, I think we often feel that way about the cycle of day and night. Or maybe you’ve experienced this when you have a milestone birthday or at other milestones like the birth of a child or grandchild - it’s like you’ve been sleeping all along and THIS, THIS is what it is like to really become alive.

Taking it even deeper, I think we often find ourselves in our modern age, lacking consciousness, not seeing the world around us, walking in darkness. Christians usually refer to the “non Christian” world as living in the dark and we bring light with the Gospel (not untrue of course). But I think we ourselves are also often in darkness and the cycles of feast and fast, repentance and remembrance are times when we can pause and see Christ’s light shine - not only UPON us but AROUND us so that it can also shine THROUGH us.

Related posts:

1. Advent Reflections: Day 9, praying for peace I feel like I’m surrounded by pain and heartache right...
2. Mary the Revolutionary:Advent Reflections Day 12 This is an overview of my teaching on Sunday at...
3. Advent Reflections: Day 3-4 Mt. 24:36-44 I’m enjoying reflecting on the second coming parallel...
4. Advent Reflections: Day 8, first day week 2 Ps. 72:1-7, 18-19 Ro. 15:4-13 (Is. 11:1-10, Mt. 3:1-12) Romans...
5. Are you disturbed? : Advent Reflections Day 15 (third Sunday) Matthew 2:1-12 Today at Revolution, David taught on the Magi....

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.