Link to PDF Love’s Pure Light
https://tinyurl.com/yysjvwjm
Psalm 125 Malachi 3:16-4:6 Mark 9:9-13
𝘈 𝘴𝘶𝘳𝘦 𝘴𝘪𝘨𝘯 𝘰𝘧 𝘢 𝘭𝘶𝘬𝘦𝘸𝘢𝘳𝘮 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘥 𝘴𝘰𝘶𝘭 𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘯 𝘤𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘭𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘭𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘯𝘦𝘨𝘭𝘪𝘨𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘭𝘺 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘢𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘦𝘥𝘪𝘤𝘪𝘯𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘥𝘴 𝘸𝘩𝘪𝘤𝘩 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘰𝘰 𝘻𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘰𝘶𝘴𝘭𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘰𝘰 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘭𝘺 𝘶𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘪𝘵.
–St. John Cassian
When was the last time you were truly overcome by joy? Perhaps it was upon seeing a dearly loved friend or family member after months apart. Or, you received news of a long-desired promotion or acceptance into the school of your dreams. For others, it was when a prolonged illness found surprising relief and lasting healing. Whatever it may be, this type of joy, one that overpowers and comes upon us with great force, can never be contrived or conjured up. It surprises, overwhelms, and shines light into even the darkest moments of life.
At Christmas, we are meant to be overcome by this kind of joy. The birth of Christ is nothing less than the very life of the world, hope and peace that meets us in our weak and weary state. As Malachi 4:2 reminds us today, “the sun of righteousness shall rise, with healing in its wings. You shall go out leaping like calves from the stall.”
The joy of the Lord is stronger than your greatest fears. It can handle your greatest doubts. It is saving medicine that cures even the most cynical of souls. And though it comes upon us as a gift, it is a gift that must be accepted. We must open our hearts and lives to receive the saving medicine offered to our sin-sick souls. Let us not neglect the healing on offer!
𝗣𝗿𝗮𝘆𝗲𝗿 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗪𝗲𝗲𝗸
Stir up your power, O Lord, and with great might come among us; and, because we are sorely hindered by our sins, let your bountiful grace and mercy speedily help and deliver us; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be honor and glory, now and for ever. Amen.
𝗥𝗲𝗳𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗣𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗲
You cannot give to others what you have not first received yourself. Prayerfully reflect today on the goodness of God in your life and ask him for the gift of joy in his presence, and the strength to share that gift with others.
