We are born from it. We hide it in our homes behind closed doors and in closets. We
keep it secure in our garages and attics and in dresser drawers. At night it follows us to
bed. We stumble around in it.
During the day we carry it with us everywhere we go, tucked into pockets and under
bulky jackets. I’m sure you brought some with you this morning.
Deep sea explorers and astronauts alike venture into it. It has no form, no shape, no
substance.
It is darkness.
Darkness is all around us. And I know sometimes we prefer it.
Then there is Light.
Light is a form of energy, a form of radiation, electromagnetic waves. It comes from a
source, emitting outwards and travelling in a straight line. It has no mass but has the
properties of both particles AND waves. It can be bent, reflected, absorbed, refracted.
Light and darkness cannot coexist. Where there is light there is no darkness. Darkness
has no power over light. We may think of darkness as a thing, after all, it has a name.
But darkness is just the absence of light.
14 And God said, “Let there be lights in the vault of the sky to separate the day from the
night and let them serve as signs to mark sacred times, and days and years, 15 and let
them be lights in the vault of the sky to give light on the earth.” And it was so. 16 God
made two great lights—the greater light to govern the day and the lesser light to
govern the night. He also made the stars. 17 God set them in the vault of the sky to give
light on the earth, 18 to govern the day and the night, and to separate light from
darkness. And God saw that it was good.
In John’s gospel we read, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with
God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 Through him all things
were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 4 In him was life, and
that life was the light of all mankind. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness
has not overcome it. “
Light and darkness. Seen and unseen. Knowledge and ignorance.
The light, when lifted up, shines the brightest and the farthest. It exposes the secrets, it
reaches even into our deepest darkest places in our soul. In light, good things grow and
bad things fade away.
In John’s letter we find this: 5 This is the message we have heard from him and declare
to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. 6 If we claim to have fellowship
with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth. 7 But if we
walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the
blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.
Walking in the light is fellowship with God. Walking in the light is living out the truth. In
the light we have fellowship with one another and with God. Jesus is the light and the
life. That life we cherish and recognize as the flesh and blood of Him who walked this
earth. It is what is represented by that which we hold in our hands right now, the light
of our life. We live in the light; we reflect the light. His light is in us, so let His light shine
brightly in our lives.
Lord of light, bless this bread and this wine, as we give thanks for you your light that is
lifted up and glorified, may it shine brightly in our lives.
Thank you for this bread, representing your flesh, that was given as a sacrifice for our
lives.
Let’s take the bread.
Thank you for this cup, representing your blood, poured out as an atonement for our
sins.
Let’s take the juice.
And thank you for your life. Live in us.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.