A baby’s birth is celebrated today, one whose “life was the light of the human race; the light that shines in the darkness.” The darkness was and is a world of division, in which suffering is justified, and violence assumed as salvific. The light is that of Christ, a light shown as communion transcending division, as love compassionately responding to suffering, and as creativity healing violence. “To those who accept the light, power is given.”
The power given us is to be a Light of communion, love, and healing. It is the power to be luminous energy, radiant and attractive. In that light we are awakened, made aware, able to see, illuminated by all that is Beautiful and moves us to powerful action. Such powerful light surrounds us, external to us radiating as it does from the natural world. It radiates through stars, as the one seen over a stable in Bethlehem, and through the sun and fire. Such light is also a power radiating from within. Scientists call it bioluminescence and we know it best in fireflies that flicker across a summer sky. Spiritualists call that inner radiating light a halo and we know it best in human souls that glimmer across life. It is the one same power of vitality and zest, exuberance and vigor. We are Christ, born this day and every day. We are lit up, physically and spiritually, to be Light for the World. Into the darkness spread by harmful words, beliefs, and actions, we light up the world with togetherness, with unending embraces of love, and with eternally creative healings.
‘Longing for light, we wait in darkness. Longing for truth, we turn to you. Make us your own, your fiery people, light for the world to see. Longing for peace, our world is troubled. Longing for hope, many despair. Your (loving way) has pow’r to save us. Make us your living voice. … Many the gifts, many the people, many the hearts that yearn to belong… Shine in our hearts. Shine through the darkness. Shine in the (people) gathered today.’ (Bernadette Farrell)
Prayer: Spirit of Life, may all children be welcomed with joy, given all they need by parents and society to be Light for the world.
Question: In what ways do I express my true identity, a light for the world?
December 25, 2016 Gospel John 1:1-18 The Nativity of Christ