Good morning…
Resting amid a golden cloth, green branches and red berries, the baby Jesus was swaddled on the altar at the Ignatius House Retreat Center. Surrounded by Christmas ornaments, glowing candles and the winter woods, the hands of the Christ child were held open and uplifted. The moving image took my breath away. So real. Sacred. Powerful.
Then my eyes looked up. Just above the altar hung our dying Savior upon the cross. Hands held open and uplifted. Nailed for us all.
The contrast between these two sets of human hands captured my attention. One set of hands was tiny and newly born; the other set was pierced with excruciating pain, an ugly means to God’s gracious end, everlasting life for all. So real. Sacred. Powerful. I agree with Reverend Dr. Paul Hooker who says, “We cannot understand the meaning of the beginning of the story until we have seen it through to its end.”
As we concluded our women’s Advent retreat, we were each given silent individual time to walk up to the altar, to touch the baby Jesus, to whisper to the Christ child the feelings in our heart.
We were invited to take from the altar a small wooden star symbolizing the light of Christ being born in us anew. I cupped the star in the palm of my hands and asked God to glow through me. Returning to my seat, I marveled at the gift in my hand, help open and uplifted.
Then Jesus said, “I am light to the world, and those who embrace me will experience life-giving light, and they will never walk in darkness” (John 8:12, TPT).
Igniting his own light in us, Jesus hands us real, sacred power. “You are like light for the whole world. A city built on a hill cannot be hid. No one lights a lamp and puts it under a bowl; instead it is put on the lampstand, where it gives light for everyone in the house” (Matthew 5:14-15, ERV).
Open-handed to all, Eternal Christ, please shine your light through us.
…Sue…
