Walk While You Have Light

‘Now my soul is troubled. And what should I say—“Father, save me from this hour”? No, it is for this reason that I have come to this hour. Father, glorify your name.’ Then a voice came from heaven, ‘I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again.’ The crowd standing there heard it and said that it was thunder. Others said, ‘An angel has spoken to him.’ Jesus answered, ‘This voice has come for your sake, not for mine. Now is the judgement of this world; now the ruler of this world will be driven out. And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people* to myself.’ He said this to indicate the kind of death he was to die. The crowd answered him, ‘We have heard from the law that the Messiah* remains forever. How can you say that the Son of Man must be lifted up? Who is this Son of Man?’ Jesus said to them, ‘The light is with you for a little longer. Walk while you have the light, so that the darkness may not overtake you. If you walk in the darkness, you do not know where you are going. While you have the light, believe in the light, so that you may become children of light.’ After Jesus had said this, he departed and hid from them. John 12:27-36

John brings us all the messy human questions and shows us the real human confusion when they come in contact with Jesus. They were as confused as we are now. We struggle to figure out how to follow Jesus in this world filled with division and in our country struggle with the future. Sometimes our personal challenges overwhelm us and we forgot how to go forward. We are invited today to walk in the light, one foot in front of the other, trusting that the way will be illumined for us. We are and will be children of light, the light which pours love on our aching world.

Precious Creator, you speak to our hearts 

you adore us and treat as beloved children 

showering us with light and deep love

leading us step by step bathed in wondrous light.

We are torn by all the division around us

we are pressed down with worry and care

we forget how tenderly you care for us

and often sit stunned, hopeless and afraid.

Make us your children again and again

help us to step up and to step out in faith

carrying your light, carrying your love

bringing hope to all the broken places. Amen.