It is my favorite night of the year. Christmas Eve for me is a luminous time of God’s Light shining through the darkness of humanity and all of creation. There are a couple of scenes from working as a pastor of various sized congregations over the years, which remain etched in my heart and mind. An inner-city church provided simple beauty to urban plight by lining the church walks and parking lot with luminaries. The Light shone into the dark recesses of human violence on Christmas Eve.
The crescendo of Christ Light was experienced at a large church. With five worship events moving from mid afternoon to the midnight silence, through children’s plays, carols singing, and Scripture story dramatized, the felt sense of God’s exuberant joy was experienced. Then at the stroke of midnight in the fullness of silence as the Christ candle illumined the stillness and the Breath of God kissed the congregation into the dawning of Christmas Day.
I wonder how the crescendo of Christ Light will shine through surging pandemic, despair in the aftermath of deadly storms and tornadoes, and political division experienced within both society and the church this season?
The Scripture
“The people who walked in darkness
have seen a great light;
those who lived in a land of deep darkness—
on them light has shined.”
Isaiah was speaking to people that were plagued with darkness. Illness, violence, routine or nominal practices of faith bristled among clans. It is easy to imagine how low morale might have been as the Israelites may have felt that evil seemed to triumph over goodness. Yet, it was into the very lowliness of life that the Light of God’s prophetic Word found its voice from the prophet Isaiah.
Today’s Prayer Practice
I love Van Gogh’s starry night painting. Today you are invited to pray Visio Divina with a print of Van Gogh’s starry night painting. A selection of Van Gogh’s painting may be found here. Choose the rendition you would like to pray with.
Once you have selected the painting you would like to pray with, then gaze upon the image for five minutes in silence. As you gaze, consider what portion of the masterpiece speaks most deeply to your heart. You may choose to journal your reflections after your five-minute silent gazing.
Then in five-minute gazing intervals and journal reflection writing, gaze at the timeless starry night scene two more times. After the second gazing, consider what is the invitation from God to you personally through this picture? After the third gazing, journal your wisdom insight to the query of what is the invitation from God to our world on this Christmas Eve night?
When you complete your starry night prayer, offer thanksgiving to God for the wisdom your have received.
Enjoy praying.
Brenda
