The Weekend in Black & White: August 29, 2025

 

                                                                          Let there be light

                For Weekend in Black & White

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. 

Prayer of the Day-Collect for Transfiguration Sunday Yr B

Photo by Eclecticity, Rocky Mountains

God of majesty and mystery: We praise and thank you for the mountaintop revelations that you bestow on us; through the transfigured light of Jesus, the light of the world. May the transfigured light of Jesus inspire us as we go down from the mountain into the valleys of this world to shine your light and share your love in all the dark places. In the name of Jesus, our Saviour and Messiah, we pray. 

Epiphany

Winter sky by Eclecticity

Epiphany Light

Epiphany Light, shines so bright,

Makes everything right.

What a wondrous sight,

That brightens up the night.

-Eclecticity, January 7, 2018

Wordless Wednesday - March 9, 2016

Lamp bringing light in the darkness

For other Wordless Wednesday photos and/or to participate click here. 

A brief prayer: The radiance of light

May the radiance of your light, O Christ, that bathes these trees and shrubs with life bathe me with life today.