Reflection for January 2026

 O Morning Star 
This is the darkest time of the year. The sun is out of sight for many hours each day. Since time immemorial, darkness has been synonymous with the unknown, with fear, with uncertainty and doubt.
 
Our world is benighted and dark in so many other ways. Too many nations are at war; too many people are trapped in abuse; too many cities are in a cycle of despair. Sometimes it seems that the cycle cannot be broken, the darkness will never end, that fear will last for ever for so many people.
 
Emmanuel the Morning Star tells us that is not true. As Psalm 27 tells us “The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom then shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom then shall I be afraid?”
 
The Morning Star brings the truth that dawn will come, that wrongs will be put right, that pain will end, that the fallen will stand. The Morning Star tells us that justice, mercy and peace will prevail.
 
For just as the Son of God came to earth two thousand years ago, the sun will rise, the day will dawn. And the light of God will rise as the Morning Star to claim his world and to redeem it for ever.
 
As Malachi the prophet says “But for you who revere my name the sun of righteousness shall rise, with healing in its wings.”
 
Prayer
Sovereign Lord,
Of old you spoke through the prophets,
but in our days you speak through your Son.
Grant us, your people, to walk in his light.
That the light of God’s coming may dawn
on all who live in darkness;
that in Christ you may bind up the broken-hearted,
restore the sick
and raise up all who have fallen.
By your coming, raise us up to share in the joy of your kingdom
so that we may shine as lights for the world.
Amen.                                                                                                                            Rev Chris Shore