The Vesper Light

There is a beautiful prayer that I like to say at the close of day. It is from the daily office.

O gracious Light,

pure brightness of the everliving Father in heaven,

O Jesus Christ, holy and blessed!

Now as we come to the setting of the sun,

and our eyes behold the vesper light,

we sing thy praises, O God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

Thou art worthy at all times to be praised by happy voices,

O Son of God, O Giver of life,

and to be glorified though all the worlds.

When possible, I like to go to the oratory at my church where they have evening prayer services. I like to sit where I can see out of the door, across a hallway, and through a window. I can watch as the sunlight fades. It's nice when the sun is just going down and the congregation says this prayer. In winter, it's already dark by the time we start. In summer, the sun doesn't go down til much later in the evening. But there are times in the year when it's just right and I very much enjoy it.

Seeing the beauty of the sky reminds me that God is maker of heaven and earth. He knows were all the stars are. He knows where I am and wraps His big arms around me. I see the sunset and think of the glory of its beauty, the glory ~ all glory ~ belongs to God.