While he was saying this, a woman in the crowd raised her voice and said to him, ‘Blessed is the womb that bore you and the breasts that nursed you!’ But he said, ‘Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it!’
When the crowds were increasing, he began to say, ‘This generation is an evil generation; it asks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah. For just as Jonah became a sign to the people of Nineveh, so the Son of Man will be to this generation. The queen of the South will rise at the judgement with the people of this generation and condemn them, because she came from the ends of the earth to listen to the wisdom of Solomon, and see, something greater than Solomon is here! The people of Nineveh will rise up at the judgement with this generation and condemn it, because they repented at the proclamation of Jonah, and see, something greater than Jonah is here!
‘No one after lighting a lamp puts it in a cellar, but on the lampstand so that those who enter may see the light. Your eye is the lamp of your body. If your eye is healthy, your whole body is full of light; but if it is not healthy, your body is full of darkness. Therefore, consider whether the light in you is not darkness. If then your whole body is full of light, with no part of it in darkness, it will be as full of light as when a lamp gives you light with its rays.’ Luke 11:27-36
This coming weekend we will turn our clocks back to standard time, and with that, gain an hour of sleep in the morning and a shockingly early sunset in the evening. It's a jolt to animals and people alike, and often it takes all of us awhile to adjust. We all crave the light, both within and without and many are bothered by seasonal light changes. We lived in Alaska for the better part of two years, and the winter sunshine, or lack thereof, took time to get used to. And yet, I found so much light there, even in the depths of winter. Folks sing and dance despite it all, carrying light and love to everyone they meet. Jesus invites us to have light within ourselves, something so much needed in this time, which seems quite dark.
Holy Creator, you created the sun, moon and the stars
so we might always have your light within each of us
and teach us to carry your light and love to others.
These times seem dark, full or violence and creulty
leaders who should be dignified sling insults and dirt
and the world seem poised to explode in darkest anger.
Give us your light today, dear Jesus, so we might carry light
to the sad alleys of pain, to the grieving and the exhausted
so your light might renew our hope and love for the world. Amen.
