Quiet Spaces 22 December 2023 St Mary's Church
- quietspacesplymout
- Jan 22
- 6 min read
The Mystery of Light - Dark - Hope - Peace - Love - Forgiveness and the mystery of our Faith at Christmas
Opening Prayer
Lord Jesus
Master of both the light and the darkness
send your Holy Spirit upon our preparations for Christmas
We who have so much to do -
seek quiet spaces
to hear your voice each day
We who are anxious over many things
look forward to your coming among us -
We who are blessed in so many ways
long for the complete joy of your Kingdom
We whose hearts are heavy
seek the joy of your presence
We are your people walking in darkness
yet seeking the light
and to you we say, ‘come Lord Jesus’ Amen
Amen
Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest Matthew 6:31(a)
Readings and Reflections
Lord Jesus
Master of both the light and the darkness
send your Holy Spirit upon our preparations for Christmas
We who have so much to do -
seek quiet spaces
to hear your voice each day
We who are anxious over many things
look forward to your coming among us -
We who are blessed in so many ways
long for the complete joy of your Kingdom
We whose hearts are heavy
seek the joy of your presence
We are your people walking in darkness
yet seeking the light
and to you we say, ‘come Lord Jesus’ Amen
Judy's words
When I was pondering a theme for our Quiet Space just before Christmas … light and darkness immediately came to mind … topics which we have reflected on quite recently. I then thought of carols, and Christmas music … and one of my favourite pieces of music immediately popped into my head! Some of you may already know the wonderful piece by Morten Lauridsen – O Magnum Mysterium – which was first performed in December 1994. Since then, it has been recorded scores of times and performed thousands more, making it one of the most loved pieces of Christmas music ever written.
We’re going to listen to it just before our time of stillness, but before that, let’s try to explore and ponder Mysterium – ‘Mystery’ During the Anglican Eucharist Prayer – we proclaim the Mystery of our Faith – often introduced by the words, Great is the Mystery of our Faith. However there is much more – which is mystery! (and perhaps all of these are essentially part of our faith). The mystery of light ….. of darkness …. the mystery of hope …. of peace … and of love and in God’s world of creation there is SO much mystery, and wonder, which we can see and experience each day.
The mystery of Love cannot really be pondered - without remembering the deep mystery of the love of Mary, as she said yes to God. I don’t know whether I have ever stopped long enough to really wonder what might have happened, had she not said yes.
The poet-priest Malcolm Guite writes about the Annunciation …..
‘But on this day a young girl stopped to see
With open eyes and heart. She heard the voice;
The promise of His glory yet to be,
As time stood still for her to make a choice;
Gabriel knelt and not a feather stirred,
The Word himself was waiting on her word.’
In our Quiet Spaces we often reflect on trees, one of the wonders of God’s creation - which, mysteriously, seem to play a big part in our lives, in so many ways. Many of us are emotionally affected by the changing seasons, and the different appearance of the trees -
as they morph through the rebirth of spring, the fruition of summer, the beauty, colour, during autumn, a rather wonderful prelude, I often feel, as they prepare to ‘let go’ during the winter months … to be ready to grow again as spring approaches.
Not just a mystery, we might say … but also an ongoing miracle – as with the many mysteries embodied and embedded in all of God’s creation.
For us to look at the mysteries of light, darkness, hope, peace and love in more depth might take a lot longer that the time we have here today … and you will find a number of thoughts and readings – to ponder - some here today … and some later, perhaps over Christmas, and also into the new year.
I hadn’t forgotten the mystery of Christmas, by the way …
the most wonderful mystery of all.
God coming to us – to be with us -
‘He will be called Immanuel, God with us.’
God came to meet us here on earth,
where we are,
as who we are,
to help us discover something of the mystery of our being,
and of our lives on this earth,
and about the mystery of hope –
the mystery of peace,
for us to be able to live within the mysteries of light and darkness,
not just the physical light and dark of creation,
but the seasons of darkness and light in our own lives,
and of the world….
It's something we have no doubt thought about quite a lot, during the past couple of months during the Israel / Gaza war. And – perhaps the greatest of all - for us to come to know about the mystery of God’s love … that love which was from the beginning of creation - for each of us - and became manifest in the mystery of that first Christmas in Bethlehem ….
Henri Nouwen writes, ‘the great mystery of Christmas that continues to give us comfort and consolation: we are not alone on our journey.’
So let’s just hear the words of Magnum Mysterium - in English - before listening to the beautiful, sung rendition in Latin, as we enter our time of stillness.
O Magnum Mysterium
O great mystery,
and wonderful sacrament,
that animals should see the newborn Lord,
lying in a manger!
Blessed is the virgin whose womb
was worthy to bear
the Lord, Jesus Christ.
Alleluia!
O Magnum Mysterium by Morten Lauridsen – sung by the Nordic Chamber Choir
Silence and Stillness
During our silence, perhaps think of one word which comes you today from our reflections
Reading
Christmas on the Edge by Malcolm Guite
Christmas sets the centre on the edge;
The edge of town, the outhouse of the inn,
The fringe of empire, far from privilege
And power, on the edge and outer spin
of turning worlds, a margin of small stars
that edge a galaxy itself light years
from some unguessed-at cosmic origin.
Christmas sets the centre at the edge.
And from this day our world is re-aligned
A tiny seed unfolding in the womb
becomes the source from which we all unfold
and flower into being.
We are healed,
The end begins,
the tomb becomes a womb,
For now in him all things are re-aligned.
Sharing and Group Discussion
So … how was your quiet time?
Words we mentioned
Emmanuel Evolution Blessings Peace Beautiful Love Preparation Fullness Touching Hope Angels Ensnared Restoration Joy and Sadness Blessing
WHERE THE LIGHT BEGINS
A Blessing for Christmas Day
Perhaps it does not begin.
Perhaps it is always.
Perhaps it takes a lifetime
to open our eyes,
to learn to see what has forever
shimmered in front of us--
the luminous line
of the map
in the dark -
the vigil flame
in the house
of the heart
the love
so searing
we cannot keep
from singing -
from crying out
in testimony and praise.
Perhaps this day
will be the mountain
over which
the dawn breaks.
Perhaps we
will turn our face
toward it,
toward what has been
always.
Perhaps
our eyes
will finally open
in ancient recognition,
willingly dazzled,
illuminated at last.
Perhaps this day
the light begins in us.
Amen
Jan Richardson from Circle of Grace: A Book of Blessings for the Season
Thoughts to Ponder:
L’enfance du christ – The Shepherds’ Farewell - Berlioz
From Lectio 365 – December 2023
Thank you, Father, that you sent your son to save us -
May the hope of Jesus be born again amongst us this Christmas.
Thank you, Lord Jesus, that you will come again in glory;
that all the kingdoms of this world will be your Kingdom,
and that every eye will see it.
We long for you to return, and to make everything new.
Thank you, Holy Spirit, for filling us afresh.
May the light of Christ be born again in us today.
As I look to a world that is despairing and adorned in darkness, I choose one situation I have recently seen in the news and pray for the ancient words of the prophet Malachai to be fulfilled …
O Lord, turn the hearts of parents to their children, and the hearts of the children to their parents. L365 - 19.12.2023
Lord, in this busy season, please help me to be still. I am opening my ears now to hear you, quietly preparing my heart for the wonder of your coming at Christmas. L365
Lord, by the mystery of your grace, we ask that we may truly see the gifts you have given us. May we always use them for your work, to show your love to others (and often to ourselves!) Help us not to try to overshadow your light,
in our enthusiasm or longing for praise; but may we always try to let your light shine brightly through us
Judy Greenfield
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