Suggestion for Daily Use

Follow the ‘Daily Prayer’ at the side+++Suivez le ‘Prière Quotidienne’. Read the bible passages and then the meditation. Pray, tell God how you felt about the reading and share the concerns of your life with him. Maybe you will continue the habit after Lent. Lisez les passages bible et après la méditation. Priez, dites à Dieu que vous avez ressenti à propos de la lecture et de partager les préoccupations de votre vie avec lui. Peut-être que vous allez continuer l'habitude après le Carême. Daily Prayer Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, where for forty days he was tempted by the devil. Luke 4.1-2 Now is the healing time decreed For sins of heart, of word or deed, When we in humble fear record The wrong that we have done the Lord. (Latin, before 12th century) Read: Read the Bible passage. Read the meditation Pray: Talk to God about what you have just read. Tell him your concerns - for yourself, your family, our church family, our world. Praise him. Pray the collect for the week – see next pages. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me bless his holy name. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits. Prière Quotidienne Jésus, rempli de l'Esprit Saint, revint du Jourdain et le Saint-Esprit le conduisit dans le désert où il fut tenté par le diable durant quarante jours. Luc 4.1-2 Maintenant le temps de la guérison est décrété Pour les péchés du cœur, de la parole et des actes, Lorsque nous nous souvenons avec humilité Le mal que nous avons fait au Seigneur. Lire : Lisez le passage de la Bible. Lisez la méditation. Prier : Parlez avec le Seigneur de ce que vous avez lu. Parlez-lui de vos préoccupations pour vous-même, votre famille, notre famille de l’église, notre monde. Louez-le. Priez la collecte pour la semaine. Voyez les pages suivantes Mon âme, bénis le Seigneur ! Que tout qui est en moi bénisse son saint nom. Mon âme, bénis le Seigneur, et n’oublie aucun de ses bienfaits !

13 December 2019

Day 13 of Advent+++ Lesser Festival for Lucy, martyr, 304+++ Light in the darkness


2 Corinthians 4.6-15    2 Corinthiens 4.6-15   2 Corinthiërs 4.6-15
Psalm 45.10-17   Micah 5.1-4   John 19.25-27
Psaumes 45.10-17  Michée 5.1-4  Jean 19.25-27
Psalmen 45.10-17   Micha 5.1-4   Johannes 19.25-27

Light in the darkness

St Paul is giving us a wonderful insight into the condition of human life. The imagery of light shining in the darkness and radiating hope and comfort is especially precious in these uncertain and troubled times. As we contemplate Christmas, we think of that light displayed in the face of the Christ child. This brings to our minds another image – of a face that is being ‘lit up’. What a lovely moment it is when someone’s face lights up as we approach them. It sends the clearest message that we are loved and accepted and valued. As we approach Jesus, whether in praise or penitence or supplication, we know that His face lights up with unconditional love for us. If God loves us unconditionally, what do we have to fear? We may be fragile and vulnerable like jars of clay, but, however dark the world appears and however difficult our own circumstances, we can know in our hearts that ultimately all will be well because of the treasure within us. Perhaps we can extend this analogy of the hidden treasure to our world – we often focus on bad news but fail to see hope, for example the hope in small acts of kindness.

Gayl Russell & Nicholas Deliyanakis


Editors’ note: St. Lucy, Italian Santa Lucia, (died 304, Syracuse, Sicily; feast day December 13), virgin and martyr who was one of the earliest Christian saints to achieve popularity, having a widespread following before the 5th century. She is the patron saint of the city of Syracuse (Sicily) and of virgins. Because of various traditions associating her name with light, she came to be thought of as the patron of sight and was depicted by medieval artists carrying a dish containing her eyes. (https://www.britannica.com/biography/Saint-Lucy).

The Light of the World (at the Manchester Art Gallery).
By William Holman Hunt - http://www.bg-blog.ru/comments.php?id=555 [dead link], Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=3400556
 
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