Light and Darkness

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

A few weeks ago, many people on the East Coast were able to witness the Arora Borealis, the northern lights. This is a rare phenomenon here. Folks were recommending taking photos with one's phone, in order to capture the image better. I have always found that a wondrous phenomenon like that does not need to be captured but rather fully delighted in. Every time we try to capture something to show off to others, we lose the experience of total wonder. To make our bodies and our lives full of light we might stop proving our worth through captured images and rather revel in the light and wonder given. It is time for us to shine in this season of impending darkness. There is so much darkness and hatred that we need to illuminate the love of God to this hurting world.

Loving Creator, source of all light

you challenge the world's darkness

by showering us with great love

and feeding us with your spirit.

The world has turned to darkness

and we are all anxious and afraid

we worry that we have been abandoned

and don't trust you or our neighbors.

Turn our hearts and softened them

so we might embrace the light given

give us your strength to always share

your wonder, love and your saving light. Amen.