Wednesday Within the Octave of Christmas December 29, 2004 Scripture: 1 John 2:3-11; Luke 2:22-35 Reflection: In this season of glowing lights and scented candles, let us remember the many peoples of our world who still sit in the very real darkness of poverty, ignorance, loneliness and oppression. Light seems such a simple, ordinary thing that we often fail to appreciate it, much less desire it for others, and even less seek it for others. In today’s gospel, one old man proclaims the light of revelation to the Gentiles, that is, to everyone, not just the chosen, and one old woman tells the price that must be paid that all might have that light. Sustaining a particular quality of eagerness all their lives, the presence of these faithful people lifted up and carried others into the light. Persevering themselves, they became beacons of light for others. That’s the spirit of this post-Christmas season. Having been graced with such light and abundance, how can we be satisfied in a world where such darkness still persists? I once read that the greatest sin is “the failure to feed on the light.” How true! For those millions who literally sit in darkness and for those millions more of us who take the light for granted, may the quality of our hope and the power of our love and the persistence of our efforts extend the gift of light to everyone. Only when we all “feed on the light” will the darkness finally pass away and the true light shine. -1 John: 2:8 Suggested Action: Today, light a candle and reflect on the power of light and hope. Choose one immediate and one long term way you can concretely illumine one part of your world. Don’t settle for a “nice thought.” Do the immediate action before dawn. Set a deadline or calendar sequence for the long term action. Sr. Kathryn Kurdziel, IHM Scranton, Pennsylvania

Graphic: Sr. Patricia Woll, IHM