The last day of the year always seems to me a time for pausing. It’s a time to look back over the past year before we move forward into the unknown territory of the New Year. It’s a time for discerning what we need to take forward with us and what we need to leave behind.
As I look back over 2022 it seems as if the world stage has been overwhelmed by challenge, uncertainty and anxiety. At times it has felt like we were lurching from one crisis to another, and we face the New Year knowing that many of those have yet to be resolved.
In such circumstances it’s very tempting to have be gloomy, it can feel hard, and even dangerous, to hope in such situations. As I reflected on this I’ve been struck by today’s gospel. Writing from his own challenging and uncertain times John reminds us of the source of our hope:
“The Word was made flesh, he lived among us, and we saw his glory, the glory that is his as the only Son of the Father, full of grace and truth.”
His words take me back to the the heart of Christmas, Christ’s coming with light and truth into the messiness of our world. Even in these dark and uncertain times the light of Christ shines in the darkness, offering us hope and inviting us to trust.
If I look back honestly at this challenging year I find that there are glimmers of light in the midst of the challenges. This presents a new challenge, to actively seek the glimmers of grace and truth that Christ brings however unlikely the circumstances may seem.
As we prepare to enter a new year what gives you the courage to seek the glimmers of Christ’s presence in your life?