The Light Shines in the Darkness
It’s November – a month in which the lovely, golden days of autumn are lingering, and we gratefully soak up that sunny warmth. But then, somewhat surprised, we realize that the alarm clock is going off before it’s daylight, and it’s too dark after supper to go outside and do a few things around the yard. And we’re reminded that, warm days notwithstanding, they’re getting shorter, and the dark hours start early and stay late. The natural order of the seasons marches on, and we have no choice but to make the necessary adjustments.
As the days get shorter and the darkness closes in, we search for some brightness. This Sunday, we’ll light candles and say prayers of thanks and remembrance for those saints who have gone before us. Some of those saints were early followers of Jesus centuries ago, who taught and preached and built upon the foundation of which Christ is the cornerstone. And then we honor and recall those saints closer to us – family members, friends, teachers, or mentors, who would hardly consider themselves saintly.
But we don’t define saints as perfect people, who never made a mistake,or got angry, or fell down on the job in some way. Every one of us is a saint by virtue of being called by Christ to be his hands and his voice in the world, to care for his people whoever and wherever they are. The New Testament and its letters to the new churches is filled with references to the new Christians as congregations of saints. Martin Luther put forth the concept of “the priesthood of all believers”, emphasizing that every one of us is entitled to go directly to God in prayer and supplication. With faith that God will show the way and give the strength needed, ordinary people can accomplish extraordinary things.
Contrasting images between light and darkness are used throughout both Old and New Testaments. The first chapter of Genesis describes darkness covering the face of the deep, and then God’s creative work begins with a command for light. Humans are naturally drawn to warmth and light, and are equally uneasy and even fearful of the unknown nature of darkness. Christ coming into the world is described with poetry and eloquence in the first chapter of the Gospel of John: “What has come into being in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.” (John 1: 3b-5)
Darkness takes many forms – spiritual struggles, personal disappointments, conflicts among individuals and nations – and often has frightening, nearly overwhelming power. But the light is there. We may not always see it, but it’s there. We can be that light to others, sharing with assurance the Good News of God’s love for all of his people. “Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, ‘I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life.'” (John 8:12)
Your friend in Christ,
Mary Rogers