On the Threshold-Week 3

"Darkness is not dark to you, O Lord; the night is as bright as the day." – Carmina Gadelica 

A Poem : Radiance

In this hour when silence is deepest,
when the world lies wrapped in winter’s cloak,
the air holds its breath, trembling softly—
for a hidden light waits to be unveiled.

The stars above seem to bow in witness,
each flickering as if to sing without sound,
while the earth beneath curls inward, listening
for the footfall of a holy whisper.

This light is not the sun’s bright blaze,
nor the flicker of any mortal flame;
it is the fire that first stirred the stars,
the glow that dreams in the heart of all things.

In the stillness, may you feel its warmth,
an ember pulsing, as near as your breath—
drawing closer with each beat of your heart,
bearing the touch of eternal promise.

For this is the sacred unveiling,
a moment held in the arms of night,
when the veil thins, and the heavens lean low
to reveal the face of Love’s pure light.

For Thought

What does it mean to stand on the edge of something transformative, where light is about to break through? How can we cultivate an openness to the mystery of that moment? 

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

Scripture Reading:  Isaiah 60:1
"Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you." 

Message:  Awakened by the Waking Light

Crossing the Threshold of Radiance

Opening Reflection
There comes a moment in every season when the horizon softens, the air seems to hum with expectation, and we sense we are on the edge of something sacred. Advent is such a moment—a threshold where we wait, not in passive stillness but in active anticipation, for the light that transforms everything. The poem “Threshold of Radiance” captures this holy pause, inviting us to step into the mystery of divine light breaking into the world, filling us and all creation with its unyielding love.

This season is not exclusive to one tradition or voice. It is a universal story—a longing found in every human heart and reflected in spiritual traditions across the world. Each faith reminds us that, even in the darkest night, light is waiting to be born, calling us to awaken and to walk in its warmth.

The Advent of Light in Many Faiths
In Christian tradition, Advent celebrates the coming of Emmanuel—God with us—the radiant light that enters a shadowed world to bring hope, peace, love, and joy. The Gospel of Luke proclaims, “By the tender mercy of our God, the dawn from on high will break upon us.” This light is not distant but intimately close, illuminating our paths and inviting us to be vessels of its glow.

In the Jewish tradition, light carries the story of miracles. During Hanukkah, the menorah’s flickering flames remind us of resilience and divine provision, even when resources seem scarce. The light multiplies, calling us to trust in what we cannot yet see.

In Buddhism, the metaphor of light represents awakening—seeing the truth of our interconnectedness and walking a path of compassion. As the Buddha taught, “Just as a lamp dispels darkness, wisdom dispels ignorance.” The radiance begins within and spreads outward to heal the world.

Indigenous wisdom often speaks of the sacred fire—a flame that holds the wisdom of the ancestors and the strength of the community. This light reminds us of our shared responsibility to protect creation and honor the sacred in all things.

Crossing the Threshold of Radiance
In every tradition, light calls us to action. Advent is not merely a time of waiting; it is a time of preparing ourselves to carry that light into a world that longs for healing. The Threshold of Radiance poem speaks to this journey:

"Step into the glow,
Where shadows soften
And what was hidden
Begins to shine."

What does it mean to step into the glow? It means opening ourselves to transformation, trusting that even in the small acts of love, kindness, and justice, we are reflecting the divine radiance. It means letting the light soften the hard edges of our lives—our fears, our doubts, our divisions—and allowing what was hidden to shine.

To cross this threshold is not to leave the world behind but to see it anew. It is to recognize the sacred in the ordinary, to find hope in unexpected places, and to become part of the light’s unfolding story.

The Call to Radiance
As we stand at this threshold, the light invites us to ask: What radiance do we carry? How can we share it in ways that bring healing and hope to others?

In the words of Rumi, “Be like a lamp, or a lifeboat, or a ladder. Help someone’s soul heal. Walk out of your house like a shepherd.” Advent calls us to step forward with courage, carrying the light we have received into a world that yearns for its warmth.

Closing Prayer
Spirit of Radiance,
As we cross this sacred threshold,
Awaken in us the light of love,
The fire of hope,
And the courage to walk in your glow.

May we carry this light into the shadows of the world,
And may it illuminate every heart we touch.

Amen.

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Moment of Musical Reflection

Let There Be Light - Brooke Ligertwood, Joel Houston and Aodhan King