Light of the World

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.’ Then the Pharisees said to him, ‘You are testifying on your own behalf; your testimony is not valid.’ Jesus answered, ‘Even if I testify on my own behalf, my testimony is valid because I know where I have come from and where I am going, but you do not know where I come from or where I am going. You judge by human standards; I judge no one. Yet even if I do judge, my judgement is valid; for it is not I alone who judge, but I and the Father who sent me. In your law it is written that the testimony of two witnesses is valid. I testify on my own behalf, and the Father who sent me testifies on my behalf.’ Then they said to him, ‘Where is your Father?’ Jesus answered, ‘You know neither me nor my Father. If you knew me, you would know my Father also.’ He spoke these words while he was teaching in the treasury of the temple, but no one arrested him, because his hour had not yet come. John 8:12-20

Gracious Creator, source of all light

you make the sky dance with stars

you paint the night sky in winter

and break our dark with your dawn.

We are people wandering in darkness

surrounded by despair and deep grief

some have given up on new mornings

for others it seems always light night.

You walked with the sad and lonely

you gave sight to the blind and life

to those who were at their very end

and you promise to be with us now.

Lord, give us the light of your love

help us to be beacons in the dark

let our lives reflect your glory

so the world might know your love. Amen.