The words of Isaiah are etched rather deeply into my mind, but for a rather cynical reason rather than joyful! At seminary, each Monday morning office began with those words, and more often than not, it was led by a monastic who possessed the most glorious “north of the Tweed” drawl! (If you know, you know!) Somehow, it seemed to mock the joy of being back for the week!
But we are called into Christ’s marvellous light, and in the context of an Australian summer, where the north wind is more than tossing the leaves, it is shredding the branches, and about to bring temperatures of in excess of 40ºC during the coming week. On the pleasant side, if the sky isn’t too illuminated by the future Full Moon, another geomagnetic storm is about to be unleashed on planet Earth, and the southern and northern lights (auroras) will be visible beyond the (Ant)arctic Circles.
Astrologers from the East had “seen the King’s” star, and, to borrow a joke from Ted the Sheep, began the first ever Star Trek to Jerusalem. Herod the Great, a Jewish convert and appointed puppet of Rome, was none too pleased to hear that one with a better claim on the throne had been born. And…what followed as a result was a minor genocide, the Holy Family fleeing to Egypt, and only returning when Herod had died. They settled in Nazareth, in the northern hills of Israel. History is once again rhyming, prophecy fulfilled, and all sorts of wonderful stories began.
We, too, are called to follow the ‘light’, not as much as a result of forbidden Astrology, but rather, the true light that comes into the world. The start of the new year (in terms of whatever calendar you prefer to follow) is often seen as a time for new beginnings. And we celebrate that new beginning often with fireworks, bursting forth into the night as bright shining stars. Millions flock to see the lights. For Christians, this is a time to pay our homage, and then, arise, shine, and let the light not only guide us from any wilderness, but to show the path to others that they, too, may come and pay homage to the child.
May this be a year of letting the divine spark of life in essence within us, the image of God in which we were created, shine as we share our countenance with all whom we meet.
Breaking Open 