For all of today’s readings: Click on today’s date at http://www.usccb.org/bible/
Sunlit peaks, sun-drenched valleys
Monday, December 29, 2014
Fifth Day of Christmas
1 John 2:8-9
The darkness is passing away, and the true light is already shining. Whoever says he is in the light, yet hates his brother, is still in the darkness.
John’s unspoken imperative is simple: “Come into the light!” It is the light of God’s grace that changes everything. In the darkness I will continue to sin in my anger. When someone does something hateful, I will continue to fall flat into hatred. The darkness … the world without God … the world of my own making … might recognize justice but not grace. And so when I live there, I am powerless to forgive.
Most important, I don’t see how to forgive myself. And there is so much to forgive! Brene Brown calls her generation (ours too!) “the most in-debt, obese, addicted and medicated adult cohort in U.S. history.” That not-so-lovely description cries out for love and forgiveness. The alternative is to pretend we’re fine when we’re not. Then, as Brown says, “ we numb vulnerability.” This is darkness.
In the light of God’s grace I don’t have to hide as much. I can locate and name my shame, then accept it, or at least begin to accept it. When I don’t work so hard to protect my image, I carry myself more freely. When my eyes aren’t hooded and suspicious, they become clear and alert. They might even sparkle.
God’s grace does not need to be named to be God’s grace. In his PBS blog, Chris White writes of this miracle, “Down in the vulnerability is where are the goods are. Mixed down in that caldron of very unpleasant feelings is where true happiness lies, where our desire and capacity for intimacy sleeps, and where qualities such as kindness and compassion and sweetness are sourced. Our joy can only be as deep as our capacity to feel sadness. The depth of our compassion is directly proportional to our ability to feel hurt and rejection.”
Chris is writing about the light. John heard Jesus call him into the light, and he is calling us there too. Step right in.
Let me sit down with you, Lord and receive your Spirit. You are an instrument of peace in my life; make me an instrument of your peace in the lives of others. This light you have given us is already here, and it is here for all of us. Shine, Jesus, shine.
http://www.christiancounselingservice.com/archived_devotions.php?article_id=1324
