The Light shines forever!

As we prepare for and celebrate the birth of Christ, certain symbols, traditions and trappings of the season – some Christian, some secular – bring us joy, comfort and peace.

Light is among those I most treasure. It can be the simple strands of lights outlining a house or a wildly animated display in someone’s yard. It can be the sky filled with stars on a winter night or the twinkle of light on a frost-kissed lawn. The light can be the steady glow from a fireplace – or the flickering flames of candles. My favorite tree in our house has clear lights with gold and white ornaments. We call it the tree of joy, but it is actually a tree of light.

When we sing “Silent Night” on Christmas Eve, pass the light, lift our candles and push aside the darkness, the tears of joy will come. In the midst of it all, I will recall again the words of John’s Gospel.

“In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God. The Word was with God in the beginning. Everything came into being through the Word, and without the Word, nothing came into being. What came into being through the Word was life, and the life was the light for all people. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness doesn’t extinguish the light” (John 1:1-5, CEB).

“The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness doesn’t extinguish the light.” This year, I not only recall those words; I also hold them tight, as the darkness seems to be spreading.

Evil is not a newcomer to this planet. But the events of the past weeks and months – terrorism at home and abroad, gun violence that kills or maims many or one, racism and race-based conflicts, calls to action that create “others” or “them” – make it seem as if evil is gaining power, growing in strength, tainting all that it touches. This evil kills and destroys – and creates fear. This evil also tramples hope, denigrates groups of God’s children for the actions of a minority, uses power and privilege to oppress – and creates and feeds on fear.

As I remember and am comforted to know the Light has and will continue to overcome the darkness, two other bits of Scripture come to mind.

The first is “fear not” or “be not afraid.” (Whether it actually appears in Scripture the 365 times some sources cite or a few more or a few less, it is a lot.) The words both comfort and command. We cannot let fear drive our action or inaction. To take precautions to protect those we love and ourselves is one thing; to see a threat in every stranger whom we might encounter is quite another. To let fear supplant actions of mercy, compassion and justice moves us further outside the boundaries of a people called to love God and to love our neighbor.

We remember that nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus – and nothing should prevent us from extending that love, which brings us to the third phrase from Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount:

“‘You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:14-16, NIV).

Christ is the Light. We are the bearers, carrying that light into the world and carrying the light of God’s love and grace into the places of darkness with our words, actions, courage and trust in God’s ever presence with us. At times, the light may seem a barely discernible spark, but it is still there, and it will grow.

The darkness will not extinguish the light.

Fear not.

Let your light shine before others.

Good words to carry us into Epiphany – the season of light – and beyond.

Kathy

The Rev. Kathy Noble is editor of Interpreter, Interpreter Digital and Interpreter OnLine at United Methodist Communications. She is a deacon and a member of the Great Plains Conference.