By Sister Cheryl Jacobs

There was once someone who said such amazing things and did such wonderful things that people began to follow him. And as they followed him they asked him who he was. One time when they asked him, he answered: “I am the Light of the world.”

– a Godly Play (r) candle-lighting introduction

In Zechariah’s prophesy at the naming of his son John (the Baptist) he says:

 By the tender mercy of our God,

“the dawn from on high will break upon us, to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.” (Luke 1:78-79)

This hearkens back to a prophesy of Isaiah (9:2):

“The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who lived in a land of deep darkness— on them light has shined.”

In these days that are the shortest of the year, when we have more dark hours than light (particularly up here in the north), we celebrate Advent – the season of getting ready to celebrate the coming of Jesus.

Advent is first about preparing to remember the coming of Jesus as a baby born into this world – God with us. We are told he was born in the dark of night and during dark times for the people of God. But those who were paying attention saw his light.

Advent is also about being expectant of Jesus’ promised coming again, at which time there will only be light. Darkness, perhaps both figuratively and literally, will be no more. We must still pay attention and watch for the Light.

Finally, we also remember that God comes to us regularly in our daily lives by the Holy Spirit, to give us light in our own dark times: loss of loved ones, difficult situations, unmet expectations, being hurt by others; and in our own wrong thinking and selfish or hurtful actions. May we see and keep our focus on the light that is with us.

And so we pray with the Apostle John and all the Church in these days,

 

Come, Lord Jesus, Light of the world, come quickly!