Light in the Dark
- Peter Mansour
- Dec 31, 2020
- 2 min read
This is a reflection I wrote for Georgetown University's Advent Devotional. It's a small meditation on the New Year and today's readings from the Catholic lectionary.
“Children, it is the last hour;…but you have the anointing that comes from the Holy One, and you have all knowledge.”
As we come to the closing of another year, we find a deep contrast in the readings presented to us today. On the one hand, we have the Epistle of St. John reminding us of the coming age and the Antichrist(s) we are to fight. On the other hand, we rejoice and sing to the Lord in the psalm and meet Christ who has come into the world in the Gospel of St. John.
What better perspective can we have heading into this new year than what is given to us here in these readings? As we come to the end of the year, we must remember that we are sojourners here on earth and that our real home is in communion with God eternally. We must be motivated by this thought at all times, living lives that are “worthy of the calling with which we are called” and ever being transformed back into His image and likeness.
And as hopeless as this seems sometimes, we are reminded to rejoice! Why? Because God Himself has come and made His dwelling among us! The Greek translation literally says, “He became flesh and dwelt in us.” How beautiful that our God did not leave us to fend for ourselves but took on our humanity to give us every opportunity to encounter His glorious and loving divinity.
In this coming year, may we always seek to live out our anointing that comes from the Holy One and rejoice and sing to the Lord for He has come to reveal Himself to us, share with us all knowledge, and usher salvation to the world which He loves!
Grant me Your grace O Lord Jesus, the long-suffering, and be with me that I may dwell in You unto the end. You are the peace of my heart and the shelter of my life; therefore, in this peace which is in You, the Eternal Good, I am able to rest. Yours is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever. Amen.
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