O dawn of the East, brightness of light eternal, and Sun of Justice: come, and enlighten those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death. Amen.
Thousands of people are reported to have applied for tickets to see the winter solstice sun shine into the Newgrange tomb this week. (20 tickets only are available). How many will make their way to church on Sunday to see the same sun rising in the East window during the 8 am service. The ritual inside will echo the glory of the heavens. The host, the Sun/Son of Righteousness held aloft at the great moment, rising in the East. Christ will come, will come, will come.
Sadly the sun did not shine in Newgrange this morning. Still some 600 people joined together to celebrate the solstice.
But as always, probably since the time the great tomb was built, the "great and the good" got to go into the chamber while the rest welcomed the sun outside.
I hope that at least some of them may come and join us in church this Sunday. But I won’t hold my breath!
Michael in Drogheda at the mouth of the beautiful and sacred Boyne Valley.