Jesus’ Light Shines through the Darkness

The Seventh Day in the Octave of Christmas

By Beth DeCristofaro

I write to you not because you do not know the truth but because you do, and because every lie is alien to the truth. (1 John 2:21)

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  He was in the beginning with God. All things came to be through him, and without him nothing came to be.  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 1:1-5)

Piety

Oh Brother Jesus, grant me the grace to recognize you when you are near.  Fill me with the conviction to act with praise and gratitude no matter who wears your face each day.  May your light shine through me in the darkness and may you be glorified in all.

Study

As parents, we and friends enjoyed speculating whether it is nature or nurture which shape our children.  One of our daughters read numbers and did simple addition in her head as a six-year-old while our other daughter can make a friend within minutes no matter where she travels.  Mozart was born in harmony with music.  Einstein seemed to view into the secrets of the universe and be able to interpret them for others.  Both Serena and Venus were early athletes yet with persistent practice Serena Williams has become great.  It appears that we have talents beyond what we might understand, buried deep within who we are.

During this sacred season we have met those who “knew” the Messiah even before John, who testified to the Light, began to proclaim.  Elizabeth, Anna, Simeon and John himself all recognized Jesus’ presence.  Perhaps it is a talent we all actually have because the Word, through which all Life came to be, is at our core as children of God.  If we but knew how to see would we find that we have God’s light encoded in our DNA, powering our cells, nourishing our genes?

 

Action

To hone the talent calls for us to spend time with Him, asking for grace to be in His Light always.  St. John Chrysostom spoke about the radiance of living Christ-like.  He pointed out the real impact of all people living like real Christians would be that there would be no unbelievers at all. How are we developing our innate drive to be Christ-like?  In this New Year, review prayer practices and consider how we can better embody our time with God through our everyday lives.