Walk in Light

l

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 judgment 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

For many years, when I was a child and when we had children, we would rush to finish supper and chores so that we could go to the beach and watch the sun set. My parent's home was just two blocks from the ocean and we loved being there and with them. As children we would run in and out of the waves while the light changed colors and spread beauty as the sun set. Light on the water is stunning, and sunsets over the water are magnificent, changing with the seasons and the weather. Jesus called himself the light of the world, aways giving us a way forward, always delighting us and surrounding us in all seasons.

Loving Creator, giver of all good things

you shower us with light in the morning

you send shade for the heat of the midday

and paint the sky for us as night falls.

We take your presence and blessings for granted

we try to manipulate your natural world

we assume we are in control of the small island

when in fact we are heled in your hands.

Let us open our hearts to receive Christ's light

let our actions and our words always serve you

may we carry your light and love to the aching

and model your peace and forgiveness in our time. Amen