Are you Living in the Light?

Are you Living in the Light?

“Arise, shine; for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you. For darkness shall cover the earth and thick darkness the peoples; but the Lord will arise upon you, and his glory will appear over you. Nations shall come to your light,

and kings to the brightness of your dawn.” Isaiah 60:1-3

Light is an ancient symbol central to ancient Judaism and

early Christianity and particularly the celebration of Christmas. Jesus is born in the deepest darkness, in the middle of the night at the winter solstice. Pope Julius of Rome declared December 25 as the date to celebrate Christ’s birth (in the year 350). This date integrated Christ’s birth with a Roman winter solstice festival and so the Roman birthday of the sun became the Christian birthday of the Son. Jesus is the light that comes into the world in the darkness.

            In the Old Testament there are stories filled with symbolism of light—creation- God said, “Let there be light”, and there was light. (Gen.1:3-5). Light imagery often symbolizes the presence of God, the nearness of the sacred. Abraham imagined God as “a smoking fire pot and a flaming torch” appearing to him “in a deep and terrifying darkness”(Gen 15:12,17). It is also “a pillar of fire by night, to give them light’ which leads the Hebrew people into the Promised Land (Exod. 13:21)

Light is also defined as illumination not in seeing physically, but understanding God’s word which enables us to live His way. “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” (Ps 119:105)  Light is also used in Isaiah where the prophet associates the coming of light with the coming of the ideal king. “The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who lived in a land of deep darkness- on them has light shined (9:2) The great light that has come in the promised One. This light also is recognized as God’s glory which takes away darkness.

In the New Testament, light is used in Paul’s story of conversion as a lgith from heaven shining upon him. (Acts 9, 22 and 26) The light images are radiant, luminous presence and give glory to God. This light is also known through how God has shone in our hearts, how he gives the light of the knowledge of the glory of God and then all three are seen in the face of Jesus.  There is also images of light in Revelation (no night there) and the city of Jerusalem will be a city of light and its light is the glory of God and Jesus.

Light is shared and experienced in Luke and Matthew. The imagery of light is both personal and political. The contrasts between darkness and light are correlated with other central contrasts: bondage and liberation, exile and return, injustice and justice, violence and peace, falsehood and truth, death and life. And when we reflect on these contrasts, it is important to see the political implications as well. What does seeing the light of justice mean if we do not see how it will impact politically in a community of hope?

           

REFLECTION:

Borg and Crossan write about the significance of Jesus’ birth in the darkest time of the year, and in the darkness of night. For practical reasons- the star would be better seen and with the light of day, Mary’s visitors would have left her and Joseph and the baby to rest after Jesus was born. The star shone brightly over the place where the baby was and it is through the light in the sky that people far from Bethlehem see a tremendous star. They are drawn to where this Star was and travel to worship the baby. These learned men see the light and go to see the baby.

Saul in his regular trip to Damascus to round up Christians for trial and imprisonment has a conversion experience where there is much light. A light from heaven shines upon him and Jesus speaks to him asking him why he is persecuting his followers. But it is through the light and the voice of Jesus that Saul becomes Paul. Later he tells many people of the glory of God, the light of the world—Jesus.

Light is different from dark and it is the Light of Christ that comes into the world to show us the way of living life as God calls us. It is Jesus who shows us how to live and love as God first intended. Yet there are many who have experienced the light and wonder about Jesus. There are many who return to the darkness and do understand the love of God shown to us in Christ’s birth.

When you hear about Jesus as the Light of the World, what does this mean to you?

Where has Jesus’ light shone for you when you have been in dark places and moments?

How does this help you to know who you are in relationship with Christ? Are you walking in the light of Christ?

PRAYER

Christ’s light is shining amongst us and what do we do? We turn away from Him and walk in the darkness because it is what has become familiar and it sees us through or at

least we think so. We pray O God that your light will touch our lives, illumine us and call us to be faithful followers walking in the light of Christ. Show us your light o God so that we might always follow it. Amen.

This reflection is based upon ideas of by Marcus J. Borg and John Dominic Crossan.  The First Christmas: What the Gospels Really teach About Jesus’ Birth. New York: Harper One,1989, p.99-127, ch.7.