Photo was taken at Ennismore Retreat House, Montenoote, Cork (Irl)

Low winter sunshine floods the main corridor at Ennismore Retreat House. I took this photo recently and it also marks the winter solstice which takes place today.

Thought on Saturday – December – 21/12/2013

‘There is light in the world, and it is us!’ ~Eliezer Yudkowsky

Today (Dec 21st) is the winter solstice. Those lucky enough to get inside Newgrange, Co. Meath this morning will see an incredible sight but only if the sun shines at sunrise. It is a world historic site and the passage grave was constructed five thousand years ago. Above the entrance to the passage there is a small opening through which the sun shines at 8.54a.m on Dec 21st. Its rays penetrate some 50 feet into the inner chamber where the ashes of the dead were kept. It is an extraordinary construction that required painstaking and precise work. The people feared the darkest of days and thought the world was going to end. Building Newgrange instilled in them a great sense of hope and a reminder that in the darkest of corners light will always shine.

The same is so true of Christmas. Jesus is born into our world as a wonderful and inspiring light. The invitation is to allow Jesus to be born into those parts of our lives that need him the most. We all have dark corners in our lives. On our own the darkness could overwhelm us. Christmas is a reminder that we can’t journey through life on our own. We need support, love, companionship, friendship, light, hope and so much more. That’s why we make a special effort to reach out and include everyone at Christmas. The spirit of Christmas is meant to be alive every day of the year, not just on Christmas Day. Newgrange is an awesome spectacle. Christmas is equally an awesome event. We thank God for coming into our world to shatter all forms of darkness. We invite God’s light to touch every aspect of our lives this Christmas.