Tuesday, December 3, 2019

Convent creche

Amos 3: 1 – 11 

Psalm 5, 6

2 Peter 1: 12 – 21 

Matthew 21: 12 – 22

As I write this reflection on a warm day in July, Advent seems very far away; I have just returned from a trip to the Gaspésie in Québec. One of the highlights was a trip to the Musée des Anciens Canadiens in Saint Jean-Port-Joli.

As I toured the museum, filled with stunning wood sculptures, my attention was captured by a bas-relief carving which covered an entire large wall. It was entitled, The Birth of Christ, and was so enormous that it was hard to take in. 

The focal point was the Virgin Mary, sprawled out across the scene, while Jesus hovered above her hips, overseen by an angel. They were surrounded by swirls of clouds, waves, roses, and what can only be described as glory, streaming from the angel. The entire background was a stunning burst of texture.

Still thinking of the carving, the very thought that the Creator of the Universe, Divine Light, took on human flesh and came into our world as a vulnerable newborn seems unimaginable. What an amazing God we have!

A few days later, as I said matins, the brief gospel reading was from John 8:12: “I am the light of the world; anyone who follows me will not be walking in the dark, but will have the light of life.”

As we travel through Advent together, let us walk in the Light of Christ.

Gail Holland