Today is the day of the Winter Solstice, when the sun reaches the lowest point relative to the celestial equator, the shortest day and the longest night of the year. Sunrise is at 7:18 although we have light for about 30 minutes beforehand, and sunset at 4:34. We will have about one minute more of daylight tomorrow. The theme for this Fourth Sunday of Advent is love, which is a slow growing emotion, just as our days here slowly grow longer.
Although the stores are full as we purchase gifts for our love ones, there doesn’t seem to be much love in our body politic. Greg Bovino, the DHS deportation chief who seemed to get a real thrill out of having his agents terrorize neighborhoods, is flying about the country increasing fear. But we can overcome the fear.
And then there’s Congress, which showed no love by adjourning before protecting millions who now face health insurance costs that may destroy their lives. And that’s only the beginning. But, surely as we have increasing daylight, we can take heart and show the same courage Joseph did in taking Mary, now pregnant as wife. Small actions can change lives.
Prayer for the Day
Even, perhaps because, as we hear the song of Mary, O Lord,
We fear that the rich and powerful will be saved, but not us;
Even, perhaps because, as we witness the chaos of distribution,
We are fear that our lives will not be considered as worth saving.
Move us beyond the paralysis that fear causes to work for justice
In this time and in the days to come so all are saved.
In the name of the One who shows us the way,
Even Christ Jesus our Lord, Amen.
Thoughts for the Day
Love doesn't just sit there, like a stone, it has to be made, like bread; remade all the time, made new.
Ursula K. Le Guin, American writer (1929-2018)
Strange, this love announced by our Lord turns all of life right. To love others is to fill our own empty spaces.
Thomas A. Becket, Archbishop of Canterbury, martyr (c. 1118-1170)
Now faith, hope, and love abide, these three, but the greatest of all is love.
Paul in his letter to the church at Corinth, 1 Cor. 13: 13