The Star
In his beautiful prayer The Canticle of Creation, St Francis reminds us that all of the created world is a herald of God’s love and abiding presence.
All praise be yours, my Lord,
through Sister Moon and Stars;
In the heavens you have made them, bright and precious and fair.
The star that St Francis called Sister, was a miracle, its radiance travelling for many light years to shine brightly in our skies and to guide those journeying from afar to the birth of Jesus. The Christmas Star shines a light on this fundamental truth that every life is sacred, every human birth is a sacrament of love, every moment is a gift (Newell. 2014. 122).
This Advent we are invited to be open to the blessed light, which comes through all of creation, the light of God’s presence and grace in our lives.
May we this day turn ourselves toward it.
May we lift our faces to let it find us.
May we bend our bodies to follow the arc it makes.
May we open and open more and open still to the blessed light that comes.
(Jan Richardson. Circle of Grace. Wanton Gospeller Press: Orlando. 60)
Holy One
Essence of Kindness
As we journey through this Advent Season
Inspire us to be bearers of love
through our messages of hope
our shared smiles
our generosity and forgiving hearts
our listening ears and words of understanding.
Help us to be living signs of your love dwelling amongst us. Amen
(Adapted from: Joyce Rupp. Return to the Root. 2021. 225)
Reflection:
When can you celebrate the light of God’s blessing in this Advent Season?
How will you include the star in your Christmas creche?
Advent offers us time to consider our oneness with all of creation and to know … the unnameable, and untameable presence of the Divine in all things
(J. Newell. The Rebirthing of God. 2015. 1).
