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When I was a pastoral intern, I moved from St. Paul to Dennison, Minn., (population: 160). I grew up in a town of 5,000 but, at that point, I had lived in bigger cities for over 10 years. I was used to lots of street lights, parking lot lights outside my apartments, lighted signs, and more.
So one of the first things I noticed about Dennison was that it was dark — and I mean dark! At night, I couldn’t even see my yard outside the window. I had to get used to driving on dark country roads again, and using my headlights on bright. I quickly discovered how dependent I was on light — especially during the short days of winter.
The seasons of Christmas and Epiphany fall during some of the shortest, darkest days of the year in the Northern Hemisphere. That makes it is a perfect time for Christians to celebrate Jesus Christ as light of the world. The prophet Isaiah tells us, “The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light” (Isaiah 9:2). Darkness and light are presented in sharp contrast — despair and anguish vs. hope and joy. We all know how dreary these dark winter days are, but we also know that, in Christ, we live always in light.
The festival of Epiphany on Jan. 6, celebrates the magi who followed a bright star to the young Jesus. From there, the light of Jesus’ presence begins to spread throughout the nations. Jesus Christ is the light of the world (John 8:12), the light no darkness can overcome (John 1:5). He is the source of hope and joy that breaks through the darkness of despair and anguish.
Jesus also tells his followers, “You are the light of the world” (Matthew 5:14). How can this be — that both Jesus and his followers are the light of the world?
When we follow Jesus, we no longer walk in darkness, as Isaiah says, for we have seen a great light. Our lives are in Christ, the true light of the world. So the light of Christ shines within us, and we become the light of the world by reflecting Christ’s light to all those around us.
That’s why we present the newly baptized with a burning candle and call them to share our Lord’s light: “Let your light so shine before others that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:16).
This season, as we await the light that comes with longer days, may the light of Christ break into all the dark corners of your life, filling you with hope and joy!
