Illuminate

Illuminate

Inspiring...challenging...beautiful reflections on John 1! Though ostensibly a book of Advent reflections, I will pray with it all year long.

Illuminate

I found that Illuminate... - on personal reading of the daily reads, was mildly inspiring with some probing questions - the length of each day's read was perfect - I did find the prayers at the end of each day read were very good - there were some very baffling statements that we were unable to comprehend/agree with: + (p33, von Speyr) "Life and light are not absolutely the same. Life means giving and surrender; light is participation." + (p41, von Speyr) sin is "not enduring the dark night of love, of wanting to throw light on the darkness of God." Sin is the refusal to endure the mystery. + maybe von Speyr and von Balthasar are not a fit for our parishioners here at St. Therese in Lansing, MI? - the leader's guide was not helpful - this is the 3rd book (Encountering Emmanuel, Prepare Your Heart, Illuminate) we've tried to use in a small group setting. We found the coordinating the week's reading and the discussion session all with the calendar just did not "work." We probably will not try another. - the fact that USPS lost our books did not help matters (we still have not received them); I tore apart my book and made copies I probably should have done much more preparation than I did; part of all the above is on me.

So much to ponder!

Illuminate is deeply thought provoking. Each reflection is short but after only a little more than a week, I've found many lines and ideas that have left me pondering throughout the day. For example, I have approached adoration and Mass differently calling to mind how I gazed upon my children as babies and considering that God chose to enter humanity in a way that allowed Him to receive that gaze of a mother. Then also yearning for heaven so I can receive the return gaze, as I remember the look in the eyes of my babies looking back at me. Fr. John has also transformed my perception of darkness considering the receptive love of God. I am motivated to walk through the darkness so as to see the Great Light. I see myself returning to this book again for Advent in future years.