The Rev. Virginia W. Nagel
Episcopal Diocese of Central NY (Retired)
Today's Bible readings are full of the theme of light. That is very fitting,
because we call Christ the Light of the World. That's why we have candles on the
altar when we celebrate Christ's life in the Holy Eucharist, the Holy Communion
service. That's why churches are filled with candles for Morning and Evening
Prayer. It almost seems as if every time we set out to worship Christ, God the
son, we feel the need of light all around us to remind us of who and what Jesus
really is.
Christ is the Light of the World, yes. But what does that mean for us?
The Old Testament is full of light that comes, shines, and fades. God leads
his people out of Egypt with a pillar of fire, giving them light in the dark,
light to follow, light that leads them away from the dreariness and darkness of
slavery. That pillar of light and cloud leads them to the mountain where, amid
clouds and great fires, God gives to Moses the Law that is supposed to enlighten
the lives of his people. Then the pillar of light and cloud leads them to the
land God has promised to give to Abraham's descendents, the land of Israel. They
cross the river into the Promised Land, and there, the light starts to fade as
the people begin to forget to live according to God's Law. They forget all that
he has done for them, and start to think it was their own intelligence and
strength and power that got them to Israel and claimed the land for their own.
They started living for themselves, making Look Out for Number One
their theme, and the light faded, and almost went out.
Every now and then the light flared up again. God sent the prophets, and they
preached and taught and encouraged the people to return to God's ways, to keep
following the light, living in the light. But again and again the people let the
light fade.
There were times the light flared up, true and strong and brilliant. The
Temple was built. Israel obeyed God and won victories. And then the light faded
again, as the people forgot God and thought only of themselves. The light on the
altar in the Temple went out when Israel was defeated, not once but twice, and
her people dragged away to be slaves in other lands.
But the light had not gone completely out. There were still a few coals left
smoldering. The people were allowed to return to Israel, the Temple was rebuilt,
the Law was read to the people again, and the sacred fire was kindled on the
altar in the Temple once more. The light burned high and bright for awhile. And
then...it faded again. And again. And again.
And then, one night, in Bethlehem of Judea, the southern half of Israel, the
light came back, strong and steady and bright. This time it was not the light
from a pillar of fire. It was the light of a star, a light so intense and strong
that it drew people from thousands of miles away to come and see what was
causing this light. Shepherds from nearby hills came, too, dazzled by the lights
they had seen in the heavens, their heads ringing with the echoes of angel
voices.
They found only a baby, in a cave used as a stable, asleep on the straw, with
his parents nearby.
But that baby was the Light of the World, Jesus. He grew up, and his life was
so bright and clean and shining that it attracted all sorts of people. Even
after his death and his resurrection, and his departure again to his home in
heaven, that light still shone, bright and steady. It still shines today,
showing us all the impurities and nastinesses in the world, that we are drawn to
do our best to correct and make right again. It still draws people...that is why
you and I are here in this church today. We celebrate that light by trying to
live as Jesus lived, showing forth God's love and forgiveness to everyone, and
trying to make right the wrongs that the light shows us in our world, our
culture and our society.
The light still shines, and every one of us carries it with us, whether or
not we can see it. Others, however, always can. Others can see if we have chosen
to walk in the ways of the light, or if we have turned away and let our lights
fade and go out. John talked about both kinds of people in his gospel. Which are
you?
Amen.
