Light and joy, these two just seem to
go together like chocolate and almonds, like ice cream and Hersey’s chocolate
syrup.
John begins his gospel by going way
back before the beginning of time, the time when there was chaos, a time when
the Word and God were one and through the Word and God all things came into
being.
In the Word was life and in that life
was the light that drove back the darkness. It was light that no amount of
darkness could overcome, not even the blackest dead star in the universe. This
Light was the creator of that star that died but still lived in the
darkness…and this Light could restore that star to life.
The Light of the World, the Word,
brings joy to a dark and dismal world, much like new babies make those holding
them radiate joy. The Light of the World finds the chink in the darkness and
breaks through and fills the void with light.
The One who was the Light became flesh,
became human, and lived among us. John came to testify to the Light and then to
decrease so the Light could increase.
Think of John as the summer solstice,
the longest day of the year with the most light. After that day the amount of
daylight decreases until the winter solstice, the time when we celebrate and
remember the birth of the Light and from that day on the Light begins to
increase as Christ’s ministry increased.
John testified about the One who would
surpass him, the One who would increase as John’s ministry decreased.
On this day of bitter cold our hope is
that as the days lengthen the rays of light will strengthen and the land will
come alive with the warmth and power received from the light.
May the Light of Jesus Christ that
streams from heaven make us come alive with the grace and power of Jesus
through the Holy Spirit. May it be so.
Thanks be to God for sending the Light
into the world. Amen.
