Holy Spirit of Jesus, help me to prefer your light to my darkness

 
John 1:1-18 &1 John 2:12 -17
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The tragedy of Christmas is that Christ, the Light of the world, came into the world and yet the world did not know him. He came to what was his own, and his people did not accept him. The Grace of Christmas, on the other hand, is that as much as a man, a woman, or a child  receives Jesus into their lives, accepting him for who he is – the healer and redeemer of human history – that much he enters into their lives, giving them the power to become children of God. It is simple, really, this turning to the Light of Christ, this acceptance of Jesus’ incarnation as the Son of God who was the Son of Man, this preference for Light over darkness.  But it is not easy.  The temporal world with all of its desire of the flesh, the desire of the eyes, and the pride in riches is at best amazing, amusing and awe-full, particularly in this digital age when virtual connections and information are the norm. At worst it is death-dealing as our odyssey with pandemic lockdowns have underscored. We realize everyday that with a flick of a button this ‘world’ as we know it becomes just a byte of data in cyber space; and yet we are mesmerized by this darkness.  Breaking free from bondage to the dark inner workings of society becomes more and more challenging as time elapses. Today will I prefer the darkness of society’s activities and norms and become so immersed in that virtual reality that I turn my back on Jesus?  Or will I prefer and accept the Light of Christ, turning to him first and foremost hour by hour, day by day? Holy Spirit, help me to prefer your light to my darkness.
 
Ascribe to the Lord, O families of the peoples, ascribe to the Lord glory and strength  (Psalm 96:7)
 
He became what we are that he might make us what he is.
St. Athanasius
 
Soli ad gloriam
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