On the Threshold-Week 2

"I arise today through the strength of heaven: light of the sun, radiance of the moon, splendor of fire."
– St. Patrick’s Breastplate 

A Poem :The Waking Light

In the dim hush before dawn’s ascent,
a quiet stirring hums through the dark,
a breath, a pulse, a waiting flame—
holding the promise of what’s to come.

Earth gathers close in patient hope,
tucked under frost’s crystalline shroud,
while bare branches stretch skyward,
thin arms lifted, longing for light.

Deep in the soul of every sleeping seed,
the mystery of birth takes root unseen,
and in the silence of the heart’s deep cave,
a flicker of wonder begins to grow.

This is the season of watchful pause,
the slow unfolding of love’s tender flame,
where darkness is but a cradle of stars,
and emptiness a womb for radiant life.

May your spirit breathe with this holy stillness,
like the dawn shyly nudging the night,
and may each small spark within you rise—
a waiting light to guide the coming day.

For Thought

What does it mean to awaken to the light within you, and how might that awakening transform the way you see yourself and the world around you? 

[For Use as Sermon, Small Group Reflection or Personal Meditation]

Scripture Reading: Luke 1:78-79
"By the tender mercy of our God, the dawn from on high will break upon us, to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace."

Message:  Awakened by the Waking Light

There is a sacred moment before the dawn, a threshold when the world is still cloaked in shadow, but the promise of light is already stirring. It is this moment—the cusp of transformation—that we gather to reflect upon today.

The poem “The Waking Light” draws us into this liminal space, inviting us to pause at the edge of darkness, where the first glimmers of divine light begin to stir. It is not a light that forces or commands, but one that gently coaxes us awake, calling us to rise into something greater than ourselves.

This light is not merely a physical phenomenon but a profound spiritual truth. It is the light of divine love, of awakening, of revelation. It calls us from complacency to clarity, from darkness to purpose, and ultimately into the radiant mystery of God’s presence.

We are a people longing for light. We long for it in a world that often feels shrouded in uncertainty, division, and despair. Like the poet’s image of frost-sharpened fields waiting for the warmth of dawn, we wait for the light that heals, the light that transforms.

This longing for light is not new. In Luke’s Gospel, Zechariah speaks of “the dawn from on high” breaking upon us. This is no ordinary dawn; it is the light of Christ, a light that pierces through the shadowed valleys of human existence. It is the same light that Jeremiah foresaw as the righteous branch springing forth, bringing justice and healing to the land.

The waking light is not just something we see; it is something that awakens us. It calls us to rise—to become aware, to see the world and ourselves in the clarity of divine love.

This awakening is deeply personal. It begins in the soul, much like the light of dawn begins in the horizon’s faintest glow. The light first touches the places in us that we might prefer to keep hidden—the fears, the doubts, the wounds we carry.

But in touching these places, the light transforms them. In its warmth, we begin to see that we are more than our struggles, more than our limitations. We are bearers of the divine, called to reflect the light we receive into the world around us.

The psalmist prayed, “Make me to know your ways, O Lord; teach me your paths. Lead me in your truth, and teach me.” This is the heart of awakening: a willingness to be taught by the light, to let it guide our feet and shape our lives.

Yet awakening to the light is not merely a personal experience. It is a call to action. Just as the earth, awakened by the sun’s warmth, begins to flourish, so too are we called to bring forth the fruits of our awakening—justice, compassion, and love.

Paul’s letter to the Thessalonians reminds us of this communal call: “May the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all.” The waking light is not meant to be hoarded; it is meant to be shared. It compels us to see the suffering of others, to respond to the needs of the world, and to walk in the way of peace.

[An Advent Invitation]

As we stand at this threshold of Advent, the poem “The Waking Light” offers us a profound invitation: to let ourselves be awakened, to trust the light even when the night feels long, and to step forward with courage into the mystery of the dawn.

What is awakening in you in this season? What light is stirring in your soul, calling you to rise?

Like the earth waiting for the sun, may we open ourselves to the tender mercy of God, allowing the light to transform us and guide us. And as we are awakened, may we carry that light into a waiting world, becoming bearers of hope, peace, and love.

May the waking light of the divine find us ready, and may its dawn fill our lives with radiance.

Interfaith Connections

Buddhism

"If you light a lamp for someone, it will also brighten your own path." – Dhammapada

Judaism

"The soul of man is the lamp of the Lord, searching all the innermost parts of his being." – Proverbs 20:27

Hinduism

"The sun does not shine there, nor do the moon and the stars, nor do lightning shine. All the lights of the world cannot be compared even to a ray of the inner light of the Self. Merge yourself in this light of lights and experience the supreme bliss of the Self." – Katha Upanishad

Islam

"Allah is the Light of the heavens and the earth. The parable of His Light is as if there were a niche, and within it a lamp: the lamp enclosed in glass; the glass as if it were a brilliant star." – Quran 24:35

Indigenous Wisdom

"We are all children of the light. We carry the wisdom of our ancestors within us, and when we walk in harmony with creation, we awaken to our true selves." – Native American teaching

Celtic Spirituality

"I saw a great light within my soul, as if it were blazing with many colors, and in the center, the presence of the Holy One shining brighter than the sun." – St. Brigid of Kildare

Sikhism

"Through the Guru's teachings, the Divine Light dawns within, and one is awakened to their true self." – Guru Granth Sahib

Taoism

"When you realize where the light is, you will no longer stumble in darkness. Align yourself with the eternal Way, and the light will guide you." – Tao Te Ching

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Moment of Musical Reflection

I Want To Walk As A Child of the Light (Vs. 1, 2) -Chris Brunelle