Light for the World

I woke up a little late one morning (almost 7 am) and it seemed particularly light out--then I realized the sun was shining!  

The sun breaking through the wintry clouds for a couple of days makes such a difference.  People seem to smile more, walk lighter and become more energized.  It is almost as if hope has arrived.  Admittedly, the daily challenges are not removed, but they somehow seem easier to manage.

It's like that with God.  His light penetrates the darkness, bringing hope to the world.

What is is light?  What is darkness, and what is the hope light brings?

Let's talk about it.

In religious terms, when we talk about light and darkness, there are these characteristics:

Light is illuminating.  It gives you sight where you were not able to see.  Being a person of faith, you understand that light, as a descriptor for God, helps you to see more.  You see God as Father, as Creator of the world.  You see Jesus as the human/divine savior who actually walked this earth, suffered for us, and raises our humanity above and beyond mere physical beings.  With the Light of Christ, we come to understand the Holy Spirit as our transcendent guide, the third person of the Trinity.

All of this is missing from our awareness, if we are not open to God.  You simply will not be able to see any of it if you have closed off your mind to the possibility of the existence of God.

Darkness.  So much is hidden in darkness.  Carly Simon has a song whose lyrics begin, "My Father sits at night with no lights on, his cigarette glows in the dark" (That's the Way I've Always Heard it Should Be). I had a friend whose father sat in the dark.  There was a sadness to it, a loneliness.  Even an emptiness.  Without illumination, darkness can feel hopeless.  Nothing can be seen.

Hope.  This is what the Light of Christ brings to the world.  God's light breaks through the isolation of darkness, and brings an awareness that there is so much more than we can ever imagine.  In fact, working through a sense of loss, hope--if we are open to it--is a powerful force that can be transformative.

Some would say that we are living in darkness, here on earth, because compared to the perfection of heaven, it would seem to be. 

But, gladly, God has provided the solution.  He sent his son Jesus to us.  Jesus is the Light of the World.  If you have not yet allowed for the possibility of God's existence, I would like to invite you to observe his presence in the world.  It is everywhere.

The world is not lost to darkness, as some might claim.  At least not so long as there are people of faith among us who are striving to bring God's light to the world.  After all, God is not the one who encourages us to live in darkness.  He is the one who offers light. 

Janet Cassidy
#lightoftheworld
#carlysimon