Psalm 62: “In you alone is my soul at rest. My help comes from You.”

In my part of the world in mid-December the sun rises not too long before eight and sets a bit after four. If the weather is mild, that is, hanging around the freezing point, we're likely to have a cloudy day also. Information about when the sun rises and sets has to be taken on faith, one might say. We often don't actually see it. At this same time of the year the Advent texts read in church seem most appropriate: “Though darkness cover the earth and thick clouds the peoples, upon us the Lord shines” and “A people living in darkness has seen a great light; on those overshadowed by death a light has arisen.”

Christ is that light, the Son of God come in the flesh. If those around us are to sense that the Lord does offer illumination, brightness, warmth, that will certainly require faith on their part. But we ease it for them, we bolster the faith of others, if some of that light shines out in our behavior. If some hope, joy and confidence are apparent in what we do and say. The light of the Lord only becomes actual, meaningful for our world through the illumination, warmth and raising of spirits that Christians bring with them.

Psalm 27: “I believe I shall see the Lord’s goodness / in the land of the living.

Wait for the Lord; be strong; / be stouthearted, and wait for the Lord!”

Reply to Fr. Don at: DTalafous@csbsju.edu

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