The Nativity of the Lord

December 25, 2024

For many reasons the theme of light and darkness is dazzling me as I consider these reflections for Christmas Day 2024. What a privilege it is to sit with this great mystery of the Incarnation at this time of the year.

On  21 December 2023, I viewed the illumination  of the passage that took place at the winter Solstice in Newgrange, Dunore, Co. Meath, as a most inspiring moment of transition in my own life. I held my breath as the alignment gradually came into place, with the sun’s rays piercing through the unique opening above the entrance called the roof-box; “there is a crack in everything, that’s how the light gets in”(Leonard Cohen).

The commentator from RTE invited all of us from around the world watching this spectacular event to be silent and to intentionally wait with expectation to see if the alignment would occur. Gradually the illumination of the narrow passage took place in front of us, when the cloud  blocking the sun from reaching the passage, slowly, in its own time, descended. The moment the cloud moved away the sun entered the chamber and my heart leaped. As the sun ascended the passage it bathed the central chamber in a warm glow of light that lasted just 17 minutes. This event marks the shortest day and the longest night of the year.

In our troubled world today, we find ourselves grasping for straws of hope as we stand at the threshold facing a future that is dark and unknown. Around us the world continues to face immense challenges- there are conflicts, divisions, loss, and uncertainty. These are heavy times, and feelings of despair are deeply felt by many. At the same time there is a shared longing for peace and justice.

Our Advent Prophet Isaiah spoke to a world in trouble and despair; into the ordinariness of human life “in the fullness of time God sent his only Son into the world “(Gal 5:5) He was unrecognized by many, yet unmistakably real.

Bernadette Farrell has a poignant song that speaks to the deep desires of the human heart -at the time of the Old Testament Prophets and down to our own day.

                                                 Longing for light, we wait in darkness,

longing for truth, we turn to you.

Make us your own, your holy people,

light for the world to see.

Christ, be our light! Shine in our hearts.

Shine through the darkness, Christ, be our light!

Shine in your church gathered today.

Christ is unchanging, be it, yesterday, today, or tomorrow.

This Christmas we enter a time of celebration for that life- changing moment when Jesus Christ, God himself, stepped into human history and gave birth to a new era. The Kingdom of God is one of truth, justice, peace, and light. All peoples need to hear this message, especially when around the world so many are caught up in devastation, war, poverty, and struggle.

The Gospel from John (1: 1-5) for Christmas morning tells us, “What came to be through him was life, and this life was the light of the human race; the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it”.

As the light of the winter solstice, gradually, slowly in its own time, entered the Newgrange chamber, we sat in silence and stillness.

This Christmas tide let us be still in silence and allow the true light of Christ to gradually fill our whole being with love, peace, joy, goodness and limitless blessing for every person and every community on planet earth.

Welcome the child within!

The illumination of the Newgrange Chamber