Prayer of the Day/Collect for Christmas Eve/Day

 

Jesus our light: There is so much darkness in the world, and even in our own hearts and lives. Political, economic, social, mental, physical and spiritual darknesses have way too much power and influence in the world. How we long for your coming in the church, the world and within each one of us to fill us with your light which is eternal and has the power to transform all things, all situations, all people. All praise and thanks to you Jesus, light of the world; may your light fill us and the whole universe with joy, hope, peace, and love, as we celebrate your birth today. In your holy name, we pray. Amen.

Christmas and the 'Great Conjunction'

 This year we have enjoyed gazing and photographing the 'Great Conjunction' of Jupiter and Saturn. It is with a sense of awe that we experienced God the Creator's work. 

It is interesting that some refer to this as similar to the biblical 'Christmas Star.' Of course, chronologically, if one reads Matthew's account of the magi visitation of Jesus, one realizes that they did not see Jesus until some time after his birth. 

I think for those of us living in the northern hemisphere, light is a significant symbol of life-especially during the long winter nights and short days. Where I live, the sun sets in December, prior to the solstice, at 4:13 P.M. Added to the short days, often our winter sky is a cloudy blueish-grey, making it seem like night. 

So when we look at the heavenly bodies of Jupiter and Saturn in conjunction with each other, they are a symbol of life and hope that, for the faithful, Jesus is the light of life, the light of the world, the light that shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not and cannot overcome. For that, thanks be to God!

The following are a couple of photos I took of the Jupiter-Saturn Conjunction.

Taken with my iPhone

Taken with my Nikon camera

Wishing all of my readers peace and good will, and a blessed Christmas.