Holy
Nights
John
1: 1-18
 |
| Pantocrator, Monreale, Palermo |
In
the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was a God.
This
was in the beginning with God.
Everything
came into being through the Word, and without it was not anything made that was
made.
In
the Word was life, and the life was the light of humankind.
And
the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
There
was a man sent from God whose name was John.
He
came as a witness, to bear witness to the light, so that through him all may find
faith. He was not the light, but a witness to the light, for the true light
that enlightens every human being was coming into the world. It was in the
world, and the world came into being through it, but the world had not
recognized it.
 |
| The Transfiguration, Fra Angelico |
Into
those who had recognized it the light had come, but those individuals did not
take it in. But all who did take it in received authority to become children of
God. Those who trusted in its name are born, not of blood, nor of the will of
the flesh, nor of the will of the human beings, but are born of God.
And
the Word became flesh and dwelt among (in) us.
And
we beheld its revelation, the revelation of the only begotten son of the
Father, full of grace and truth.
John
bore witness to Him and cried out, saying, “This was he of whom I said, ‘After
me comes one who was before me, for he is the very first’.” For out of his
fullness we have received grace upon grace. For the law was given through
Moses, but grace and truth have come about through Jesus Christ.
Until
now human senses never beheld God. The only begotten Son, who was within the
Father, has become the guide to this beholding.[1]
[1]
Translation inspired by Craig Wiggins
New
Year’s Day
January
1, 2014
John
1:1-18
Every
day the sun rises, and gives us back to ourselves. We begin each new day fresh;
a new beginning.
Each
year also gives us new possibilities. The twelve days of Christmas are a time
set apart, for celebration, for thanksgiving, for contemplation. They can be a
time to assess the year just past and a time to peer into the future. And in
the midst of these twelve days we are given a New Year. It is as if the angels
say to us: now, in the middle of everything, between past and future, start
your new beginning. Begin afresh. For here and now is where it begins.
John
O’Donohue sings of the possibilities:
Somewhere,
out at the edges, the night
Is
turning and the waves of darkness
Begin
to brighten the shore of dawn
The
heavy dark falls back to earth
And
the freed air goes wild with light,
The
heart fills with fresh bright breath
And
thoughts stir to give birth to color.
I
arise today
In
the name of Silence
Womb
of the Word,
In
the name of Stillness
Home
of Belonging
In
the name of the Solitude
Of
the Soul and the Earth
 |
| Healing Angel, Iris Sullivan |
I
arise today
Blessed
by all things,
Wings of breath,
Delight of eyes,
Wonder of whisper,
Intimacy of touch,
Eternity of soul,
Urgency of thought,
Miracle of health,
Embrace of God.
Wings of breath,
Delight of eyes,
Wonder of whisper,
Intimacy of touch,
Eternity of soul,
Urgency of thought,
Miracle of health,
Embrace of God.
May
I live this day
Compassionate
of heart,
Clear
in word,
Gracious
in awareness,
Courageous
in thought
Generous in love.[1]
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