FIREWORK!

You just gotta ignite the light
And let it shine
Just own the night
Like the Fourth of July
Cause baby you're a..firework!
-Katy Perry 

***Let Your Light Shine!!***

Candle Light, Moon Light

Candle light, moon light,
star light,
the brightest glow is
from love light.

-Grey Livingston

Shine the Brightness of Your Light

"God of glory and power,
those who have put all their trust in you are happy indeed.
Shine the brightness of your light on us,
that we may love you always with a pure heart."

(Liturgy of the Hours, Week IV, Wednesday Morning Prayer, Psalm-Prayer)

What we ask of God for ourselves in prayer, we must also be willing to share with others. Our gifts, our light, our lives are not given to us for the sake of ourselves alone, but are meant to be shared with others. Let us become as mirrors, reflecting the brightness of God's light that shines upon us out to others with whom we live, and work, and encounter on the street - and out to all the world!

Peace, blessing, and LIGHT!

~Cindy

'Tis Candlemas!

In the Catholic and early Christian Tradition, today we celebrate the the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord, also known as Candlemas - a feast of light! For more detailed information, you can read this article: All About Candlemas (Presentation of the Lord) Candlemas History, Information, Prayers, Resources, Traditions, & More.

In additon, today our most famous groundhog, Punxsutawney Phil, announces by the appearance (or lack thereof) of his shadow, the early or late coming of Spring. This tradition also traces back to Candlemas. Check it out!

Back to today's reading - I was so taken by the beautiful and multiple images of light in the words written so many centuries ago. I hope you are taken by it, as well:

"In honor of the divine mystery that we celebrate today, let us all hasten to meet Christ. Everyone should be eager to join the procession and to carry a light.

Our lighted candles are a sign of the divine splendor of the one who comes to expel the dark shadows of evil and to make the whole universe radiant with the brilliance of his eternal light. Our candles also show how bright our souls should be when we go to meet Christ.

The Mother of God, the most pure Virgin, carried the true light in her arms and brought him to those who lay in darkness. We too should carry a light for all to see and reflect the radiance of the true light as we hasten to meet him.

The light has come and has shone upon a world enveloped in shadows; the Dayspring from on high has visited us and given light to those who lived in darkness. This, then, is our feast, and we join in procession with lighted candles to reveal the light that has shone upon us and the glory that is yet to come to us through him. So let us hasten all together to meet our God.

The true light has come, the light that enlightens every [one] who is born into this world. Let all of us, my brethern, be enlightened and made radiant by this light. Let all of us share in its splendor, and be so filled with it that no one remains in the darkness. Let us be shining ourselves as we go together to meet and to receive with the aged Simeon, let us sing a hymn of thanksgiving to God, the Father of the light, who sent the true light to dispel the darkness and to give us all a share in his splendor.

Through Simeon's eyes we too have seen the salvation of God which he prepared for all the nations and revealed as the glory of the new Israel, which is ourselves. As Simeon was released from the bonds of this life when he had seen Christ, so we too were once freed from our old state of sinfulness.

By faith we too embraced Christ, the salvation of God the Father, as he came to us from Bethlehem, Gentiles before, we have now become the people of God. Our eyes have seen God incarnate, and because we have seen him present among us and have mentally received him into our arms, we are called the new Israel. Never shall we forget this presence; every year we keep a feast in its honor."

-From a sermon by Saint Sophronius, bishop (Office of Readings, February 2, Presentation of the Lord (Candlemas)

Let your light shine!

Cindy

Thy Word

Lord, as daylight fills the sky, fill us with your holy light.
May our lives mirror our love for you
whose wisdom has brought us into being,
and whose care guides us on our way.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.
(Concluding Prayer for Wednesday Morning Prayer, Week III)

From the beginning of Daytime Prayer this day:

Antiphon I:

Whoever follows me does not walk in the dark; [s]he will have the light of life.

Psalm 119:105
You word is a lamp for my steps and a light for my path....

Psalm-prayer
Let your Word, Father, be a lamp for our feet and light to our path,
so that we may understand what you wish to teach us
and follow the path your light marks out for us.

Antiphon:

Whoever follows me does not walk in the dark; [s]he will have the light of life.

"Thy Word" by Amy Grant and Michael W. Smith: A beautiful rendition of this morning's psalm.



Amen!

Blessings of peace & light,

Cindy

Morning Prayer

There were so many references to light in this morning's Liturgy of the Hours Morning Prayer, that I could not ignore them. It is Tuesday of the Second Week of Ordinary Time.

Antiphon I
Lord, send forth your light and your truth.

[Gospel quote introducing the first psalm, Psalm 43]
I have come into the world to be its light (John 12:46).

Psalm Prayer [after the first psalm]
Almighty Father, source of everlasting light, send forth your truth into our hearts and pour over us the brightness of your light.

Reading
You are not in the dark, brothers [and sisters], that the day should catch you off guard, like a thief. No, all of you are children of light and of the day. We belong neither to darkness nor to night. (1 Thessalonians 5:4-5)

Canticle of Zechariah
...the dawn from on hight shall break upon us,
to shine on those who dwell in darkenss...

Intercessions
Let us bless our Savior who enlightens the world by his resurrection....

Lord Jesus, we honor your ressurection in our morning prayer,
-the hope of your glory enlightens our day....

Make our light shine so brightly before [all people],
-that seeing our good works they may give glory to the Father.

Prayer
Lord Jesus Chist,
true light of the world,
you guide all [hu]mankind to salvation.
Give us the courage, strength and grace
to build a world of justice and peace,
ready for the coming of that kingdom.
You live and reign for ever and ever....

Amen!

Perhaps now you can see how these words and images of light just leap off the page and draw my attention. They're everywhere! It happens all the time. It is for this reason that I first started this blog and I hope that by sharing what draws and captivates my attention, that perhaps you, too, may come to see this marvelous light in many obvious and unexpected places, too.

Live in the light, in peace, and in blessing....

Cindy

A Candle Loses Nothing...

"A candle loses nothing by lighting another candle."
-Fr. James Keller

"Let your light shine!"

~Cindy

That Little Candle!

"How far that little candle throws his beams!
So shines a good deed in a weary world."

-William Shakespeare

Light From Light

Oh, my goodness....I look at the date of my last post and I am amazed. I've often thought of this space; I've thought, "I really should write on my blog today - I found this great quote about light....it's been a while...." and the days would pass by, my words unwritten.

In many ways, my mind and heart have not been, shall we say, spiritually focused these past many months. I think our hearts and minds often wander from what brings us light and life, perhaps seeking something other than the true light that perpetually and persistently burns in our hearts and enlightens our being, our sense of purpose, and thinking that maybe, just maybe, there's something else we should be looking at, looking for. Or, perhaps we just become distracted, or doubtful, or tired, or bored, or even imagine that what we've given our lives to for so many years may just have been pretend, or images of our imagination, or even foolishness.

Whatever the case may be, I still do believe that if we continue to seek the light, and open our hearts to receive it more fully, the light will shine forth upon us, pour over us and into us, and will grow more strongly within us, more brilliant and bright, until it bursts out of us! Then, our personal and particular reflection of the Light, the light that is given to us and that spills out of us will be the light that we were created to share with the world. That's the light that we often put a basket over, but that we are called to put on a lampstand and share with others. (Matthew 5:15-16)

Anyway...what finally prompted me to write today is that, not only is today January 1, 2011 (1/1/11 !), but also at the Saturday afternoon Mass of Anticipation today, we celebrated tomorrow's feast of The Epiphany of the Lord. This is the day that we commemorate the coming of the Magi, those who followed the star and found the Christ-child, laying in a manger. There are so many images of light at Christmas and in the Christmas story, all pointing to the one true Light. (John 1:1-12)

One of my favorite sayings that is often found on Christmas cards is, "The wise still seek him." Let us join the wise men in that first caravan and follow the star that leads us to the Light. I close with some of the beautiful prayers and scriptures of this day as together we follow the light in the dark night sky.

Father,
you revealed your Son to the nations
by the guidance of a star.
Lead us to glory in your heaven
by the light of faith.....
(Opening Prayer of the Eucharistic Liturgy)

Father of light, unchanging God,
today you reveal to men [and women] of faith
the resplendent fact of the Word made flesh.
Your light is strong,
your love is near;
draw us beyond the limits which this world imposes,
to the life where your Spirit makes all life complete.
We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.
(Alternative Opening Prayer)

First Reading: Isaiah 60:1-6

Rise up in splendor, Jerusalem! Your light has come,
the glory of the Lord shines upon you.
See, darkness, covers the earth,
and thick clouds cover the peoples;
but upon you the Lord shines,
and over you appears his glory.

Nations shall walk by your light,
and kings by your shining radiance.
Raise your eyes and look about;
they all gather and come to you:
your sons come from afar,
and your daughters in the arms of their nurses.

Then you shall be radiant at what you see,
your heart shall throb and overflow,
for the riches of the sea shall be emptied out before you,
the wealth of nations shall be brought to you.
Caravans of camels shall fill you,
dromedaries from Midian and Ephah;
all from Sheba shall come
bearing gold and frankincense,
and proclaiming the praises of the Lord.

From the Gospel of Matthew (Matthew 2:1-12)
....
"...We saw his star at its rising and have come to do him homage."

"...And behold, the star that they had seen at its rising preceded them, until it came and stopped over the place where the child was. They were overjoyed at seeing the star, and on entering the house they saw the child with Mary his mother. They prostrated themselves and did him homage. Then they opened their treasures and offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh...."

Father,
guide us with your light.
Help us to recognize Christ...and welcome him with love....
(From the Prayer After Communion)

Wishing you a....

...Merry Christmas!
...Blessed Epiphany!!
...Happy New Year!!!

...and a deep, abiding, lasting peace.

~Cindy