"And the Word became flesh
and dwelt among us,
full of grace and truth;
we have beheld his glory,
glory as of the only Son from the Father."
~John 1:14
Remembering the Sacred Presence of the One Who Dwells Among Us
~by Joyce Rupp
May we look for your
goodness in people who seem least likely to carry your love.
May we behold your
radiance in the ones we quickly pass by at home or work.
May we discover your
love in our deeper self when we feel unloving and irritable.
May we embrace you in
the persons whose faithfulness we take for granted.
May we see your empathy
in those serving the wounded of the world.
May we recognize your
courage in the valiant people who speak for justice.
May we notice your
non-judgmental acceptance in those who keep an open mind.
May we search for
your gentleness when it is covered with harshness in another.
May we observe your
generosity in every gift we receive, no matter how small it is.
May we reveal your
mercy when we pardon someone for having turned against us.
May we welcome your
joy in the delightful voices and happy play of children.
May we convey your
compassion when we visit those with illness and poor health.
May we detect your
patience in those who put up with our impatience and hurry.
May we unite with
your peace hidden beneath the layers of the world’s disharmony.
O Divine One, you
came into our world in the form of a newly emerged child, fresh and fragile as
all of us are at our birthing. You came
as a beloved one filled with the radiance of eternal Light. As you grew in humanness, your life and
teachings revealed the vast goodness of your inner being. We now carry your loving Spirit of radiance
within us. We can easily miss this gift
in the press of our activities and our clouded, inner vision. Skim away the inattentiveness of our minds
and the crusts of unloving on our hearts.
As we prepare to celebrate the wonder of your birth, help us discern
your concealed presence in each part of our life.
