麻豆约拍

A reflection and prayer to start the day with the Rt Revd Mary Stallard, Assistant Bishop in Bangor.

Good morning,

I鈥檒l always remember a mesmerising sight at Liverpool Cathedral on this day some years ago. It seemed like a triumph of beauty over health and safety, when a young woman with long hair, wearing a crown of candles, led a procession by a Swedish choir honouring Saint Lucy, or Lucia of Syracuse.

The story of this saint, whose name means 鈥渓ight鈥�, has a wonderful message for these darkest days of the year.

In the early centuries after Christ鈥檚 death, when it was dangerous to openly avow a Christian identity, Lucy was tortured and martyred for refusing to marry because she wanted to devote herself wholly to God and to serving those in need.

It鈥檚 said that she went to help fellow Christians hiding in the catacombs 鈥� in dark underground caves - and so that her hands could be free to carry gifts of food and provisions, she wore candles on her head to light her way. There are gruesome details in her story about her eyes being gouged out, and so she鈥檚 remembered also as a patron saint of the blind. But to me, the most compelling part of her story is about her bearing a light that enabled her to do good. This speaks to me both of the practical gift of imaginative resourcefulness that has the capacity to bring hope to others and also the inner grace of a faith and trustfulness that can overcome fear with a bright witness for the power of goodness and love.

God of grace, thank you for all light-bearers; for St Lucy, and all who inspire us and help us to find our way in life. Free up our hands today to do good. May the light of love burn brightly in our hearts that we might be re-energised as signs of hope for others. Amen.