The Light Has Come

Dwelling on the theme of Light – so appropriate to the seasons of Christmas and Epiphany, and featuring so prominently in the introduction to John’s Gospel – we’ll spend three weeks celebrating the dawning light of Christ, and pondering what this might mean for our lives, and for our world.

Today, we conclude by shifting our focus closer to home: to the stories which are represented in our own community, of people who are faithfully (and often quietly, with little fanfare) witnessing to the light of Christ. Following in the footstep of fellow saints, near and far, we take up our place in Christ’s grand story – shining the light of God’s goodness to the ends of the earth.

The Light Has Come

Dwelling on the theme of Light – so appropriate to the seasons of Christmas and Epiphany, and featuring so prominently in the introduction to John’s Gospel – we’ll spend three weeks celebrating the dawning light of Christ, and pondering what this might mean for our lives, and for our world.

Today, we continue by considering the stories of three witnesses to the light of Christ: John the Baptist, Mary Magdalene, and Saul of Tarsus. What did each of these witnesses come to see, and how did each of their encounters with Jesus the Christ profoundly transform their vision of God and God’s way with the world? How might our vision be similarly transformed?

The Light Has Come

Dwelling on the theme of Light – so appropriate to the seasons of Christmas and Epiphany, and featuring so prominently in the introduction to John’s Gospel – we’ll spend three weeks celebrating the dawning light of Christ, and pondering what this might mean for our lives, and for our world.

Today, we begin by wondering how Jesus’ story functions as the all-encompassing story – for, “Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.” Is it by violently taking over and erasing rival stories (in the mold of King Herod – Matthew 2:13-18)? Or, by gently gathering up and including each story within a much bigger story in which every one belongs?