Lights

The candle flares and flickers;
the bright sun wheels and sets;
the torchlight leaps and shivers;
the coals bank, glowing red:
These dying flames and living
are shadows swiftly sped,
for Christ our light is risen
and death itself is dead.

And all these lights had promised
though fading from our view,
each burning match and star spark
said morning comes anew.
These hopes that shone in darkness
are hopes no more, are true,
for Christ our death has conquered
and shines out of the tomb.

Now day will have no ending
and night is luminous.
All lights that light foretelling
are no less glorious:
They shine out and we bless them
for still reminding us
that Christ, alive forever,
is shining in our dust.

Taper candles in a church. By Andrew Shiva / Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=52308084

Your Star

For the Feast of Epiphany:

We only saw your star by night,

and journeyed on by day

with nothing but remembered light

to guide us on the way.



And every day as evening fell,

exhausted, to the dust,

we sought the star again to tell

your wonders unto us.



But there were days we could not look,

we could not lift our heads,

and then it was your mercy took

and led our weary steps.



The way was hard, but it was sweet—

though it was roundabout:

You carved it out before our feet

through all our fear and doubt.



But day and night you led us here

to look upon your face,

and all our trials, all our tears

transfigured into grace.



As we take to the road again,

whatever comes, we know

your star led us to Bethlehem

and it will lead us home.

James Tissot: The Magi Journeying (c. 1890), Brooklyn Museum, New York City – Online Collection of Brooklyn Museum; Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 2006, 00.159.30_PS1.jpg, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=10195787

Phos Hilaron

First half based on this text; second half is all Advent:

O gladsome light of God on high

and glory of eternity,

O heaven's holiness most bright,

Christ shining down on all we see,



we come now to the end of days,

the glow of evening fading fast.

In growing shadow still we praise

the Father, Son, and Spirit Blest.



Whether in darkness or at dawn,

still do we raise unwearied voice

in praise of you, our shining sun,

in whom we glory and rejoice.



Still do we hold the hope of sight,

whether at morn or midnight deep,

of you who shine forever bright,

whether we wake or deathly sleep.



Dwelling in shadow of our doom,

waiting beneath the dark'ning skies,

still do we know that day comes soon.

Yet will the sun of justice rise.



Light of the world, world's only light,

whether we see your face or not,

give us the hope that dawn shines bright,

strength to yet praise your glory, God.  Amen.

A flock of Red-winged Blackbirds (Agelaius phoeniceus) flying into the sunset. Taken at Quivira National Wildlife Refuge in Kansas. By Jerry Segraves (en:User:Jsegraves99) – http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/byways/photos/64091, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=733208

Testify To the Light

A man named John was sent from God.
He came for testimony, to testify to the light,
so that all might believe through him.
He was not the light,
but came to testify to the light.
John 1:6-8

There is a light that never dims,

no matter what we see,

and all the blinded wait for him

to set the captives free.



There is a light that we mistake—

more bright than flame or sun—

until we see the morning break

and know the glorious one.



Come, prophets, see what we cannot,

for we can only guess

the way marked for us in the dark

across this wilderness.



Come take our hands and lead the way

around pitfalls and stones

until he makes a level plain

to bear an easy road.



Or—yes—until we see it clear,

for then it shall be smooth.

When that great light is drawing near,

this wilderness will bloom.



And all the mountains bow to him,

and all the valleys rise,

the lame leap up and run to him

when morning greets our eyes.

Observing a sunrise on the National Elk Refuge is truly a memorable experience. Photo: Kari Cieszkiewicz/USFWS Scenes from the National Elk Refuge By USFWS Mountain-Prairie – A Frosty Morning, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=110781726

And As We Slept

For Christmas, but also the end of Advent, to the tune FINLANDIA:

And as we slept, the sky awoke with angels;

and as we dreamed, a new world came to be.

A light shone out through clouds of death and danger,

a brand-new star to show what none had seen:

the king of kings laid helpless in a manger,

the lord of lords a gentle prince of peace.



And only they who kept the midnight vigil,

who stayed awake in weeping or at watch,

beheld the light, the new king's sign and sigil,

though what it meant their human hearts knew not—

that David's son was earth and heaven bridging—

'til angels sang that they could look on God.



And off they ran to offer up their worship,

or took the road, led onward by that star,

and fast or slow, their driving on was urgent,

for now the light shone brightly in their hearts

to show new paths, to lead them in their searching,

and bring them still in safety through the dark.



And when we wake, that light will still be shining

to draw us on, right to the manger side.

Wake us, O Lord, to see your world arriving;

awake our hearts, enkindled by your light.

Open our eyes to see you here beside us,

and keep us all forever in that sight.

Annunciation to the shepherds By Rembrandt – http://www.facebook.com, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=50707534

Comfort

Comfort, give comfort to my people,
says your God.
Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and proclaim to her
that her service is at an end,
her guilt is expiated;
indeed, she has received from the hand of the LORD
double for all her sins.
A voice cries out:
In the desert prepare the way of the LORD!
Make straight in the wasteland a highway for our God!
Every valley shall be filled in,
every mountain and hill shall be made low;
the rugged land shall be made a plain,
the rough country, a broad valley.
Then the glory of the LORD shall be revealed,
and all people shall see it together;
for the mouth of the LORD has spoken.
Isaiah 40:1-5

We dwell within a shadow here

beneath the wings of death

and feel it ever drawing near,

as close as every breath.



Yet do we hear a voice cry out,

“Take comfort, says your God!”

Come, then, into this fear and doubt;

give comfort to our hearts.



For we have seen the mountains fall

and crumble to the dust,

and wondered if you hear us call,

if you will come to us.



We've seen the valleys quake and split

and thrust into the sky.

And does it move you where you sit?

And do you hear us cry?



Then why do you stay so far off?

Why do you stand apart,

not tear the heavens with the earth

and come to us, O God?



But see! A light begins to pierce

the cloud that covers us.

And can it be that hope draws near,

that comfort comes to us?

The Creation of Light by Gustave Doré – Bible by Doré, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=298147

Half-Light

The lightening sky before the dawn,

the gray that tells us morning comes,

the paling east whose stars are gone,

the flaming clouds that hold the sun:



So creeping, as the old earth turns,

reveals a new world to our eyes.

The stars fade out; a great light burns:

We see the sun of justice rise.



But first, the half-light heralding,

to run before the break of dawn.

Ere stars wink out to greet their king,

this prophesies, as sure as John,



of stars that fall before the sun

and dying embers lifted high,

rekindled by the burning one,

while brightest gutter out and die.



And all the mornings long foretold

shall rise as one and still be dim,

and all the prophecies of old

shall be fulfilled at last in Him.



O Mary, glimmer of Christ's light,

your shining was his shining first.

May he make us, as you, shine bright

when he fills all the waiting earth.

This picture shows the sunrise at its best and it was taken at 5am at dawn and you can see how the lighting rolls apart in this picture As you can see the house and the trees shown in the picture had the shadow to cover them in black too it was taken on 5-3-2019 By Morjana Jalal – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=81516889

Watch

Jesus said to his disciples:
“Be watchful! Be alert!
You do not know when the time will come.
It is like a man traveling abroad.
He leaves home and places his servants in charge,
each with his own work,
and orders the gatekeeper to be on the watch.
Watch, therefore;
you do not know when the lord of the house is coming,
whether in the evening, or at midnight,
or at cockcrow, or in the morning.
May he not come suddenly and find you sleeping.
What I say to you, I say to all: ‘Watch!’”
Mark 13:33-37

Awake my heart, O Lord,

for I have been asleep,

but now the night is creeping toward

the watch that I must keep.



And touch my weary eyes:

The sun has long gone down,

and I must wait a new star's rise,

outshining even dawn.



You, sun of justice, rose,

and oh! your day was bright!

You went as every evening goes;

now we wait out the night.



For day will come again

a shining, searing blaze:

the presence of the Great Amen,

light thrown on all our ways.



A day without an end,

a night without a dawn,

where day and night abide as friends

and all our fear is gone.



Then wake my heart, O Lord;

let me not miss that light 

but keep me ever yearning toward

your glory in the night.

Il Cristo Redentore By Melozzo da Forlì (attributed) – http://www.piosodaliziodeipiceni.it/img/24sede.jpg, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=43654623

Sparks

We live in one unending night
where thieves and brigands roam,
yet do we walk in endless light
whereby we see our home

and kindle from its hearth a flame
to guide us through the dark.
We take our measure and our aim
by that undying spark.

But staring ever at the light,
our vision blurs and swims
'til we see colors in the night,
and in all faces, him.

A weary world we see renewed,
redemption born of scars,
a thief who comes to do us good,
the night aswarm with stars

where every spark is, too, a seam
as earth and heaven touch,
and pouring through each tiny gleam
the kingdom come of love.

O Christ, feed all our little flames
until your sun shall rise.
Give us the eyes to see your day
in lanterns lifted high.

15th-century candle lantern from Germany, perforated metal By Wolfgang Sauber – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=12738703

Oil

The seed is in the soil now,
but still the rains don't come.
The lamp has no more oil now,
but still the night goes on.

The earth cries out for blessing,
and its voice could be mine.
The water jars are empty:
How shall I pour out wine?

I trust you as the sparrow 
and love you in my lack.
My hand is on the harrow,
and I have not turned back.

The wisdom of the maidens:
I filled my flask with oil,
made ready for the waitingm
made ready for your joy.

But where now is the bridegroom?
Why is he so delayed?
I've burned all my supply through,
and oh, the hour is late.

How can the lamp keep burning
as night turns into days?
Come, Lord, into the yearning
and set my heart ablaze!

An oil lamp made of clay used for the diwali festival in India (Haryana). By Arne Hückelheim – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=12395926