10 July 2017
Text: John 1:9-18
In the name of +
Jesus. Amen.
Dear
brothers and sisters, it goes without saying that we live in dark times. The light of our culture here in America is
indeed a dimly burning wick, and around the world, the lamp of those who hold
to goodness, truth, and beauty grows ever dimmer. The holy Christian church on earth is surrounded
by deep shadows of hatred and restlessness and resentment.
That
which is good is called evil. That which
is evil is called good. And any attempt
to shine the light of the Gospel upon the darkness of this world is met by resistance,
and in some cases, violence.
“In
the beginning,” before there was light, there was the Word. He was “with God, and the Word was God.” And God said, “Let there be light, and there
was light.” And in Him, the Word, “by
whom all things were made,” there “was life, and the life was the light of men.
The light shines in the darkness, and
the darkness has not overcome it.”
“Jesus
Christ is the Light of the world, the light no darkness can overcome.”
This
struggle between light and darkness is more than just the cyclical rotation of
the earth that brings us night and day. Nor is it a struggle between two equals. This contest that pits the chaos of darkness
over and against the goodly order of light is the history of the universe. It is the story of man. And it is the victory of our Lord Jesus
Christ over evil.
For
even in our fallen state of sin and of our dark night that seems to have no
end, there is good news: “The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming
into the world.” And this world, dear
friends, was so smothered by the darkness, that “it knew Him not.” His own people, darkened by sin and the
specter of death, “did not receive Him.” And yet, in spite of the rejection of the
light by a people who “dwell in darkness and the shadow of death,” some did
reach out in faith through the murky shade toward this Light, and to those who
received Him, who “believed in His name, He gave the right to become children
of God.”
God
of God, Light of Light, very God of very God.
And
when light chases away the darkness, we see ourselves as we are: broken, sinful,
in a state of decay, of ourselves with nothing to look forward to but the
eternal darkness of death and hell. Perhaps
this is why our base instinct is to reject the Light and those who bear witness
about the Light.
But
something else happens, dear friends. This
illumination has not come only to expose our blemishes, and certainly not to
use them to condemn us, but quite the opposite. For “the Word became flesh and dwelt among us,
and we have seen His glory, glory as of the only Son of the Father, full of
grace and truth.” And in the midst of
this blazing Light, this eternal Light, this uncreated Light who created light,
“from His fullness we have received grace upon grace.”
We
are truly enlightened. The darkness that
clung to our souls to drag us down to the grave and to hell itself, has
vanished, being vanquished by one single Light: for “Jesus Christ is the Light
of the world, the light no darkness can overcome.”
We
are transformed into being creatures of light ourselves, reflections of the
Light who is Christ. And our blessed
Lord sends us into the darkness where He sees fit, to obliterate the darkness,
bringing the light of Christ to those whom we find in this dark and dreary
world.
His
glory is His cross, and His cross illumines men’s souls and ignites them with
forgiveness, life and salvation.
Yes
indeed, we live in dark times. We are
surrounded by darkness. But this just
means that the darkness has nowhere to escape!
For
“Jesus Christ is the Light of the world, the light no darkness can overcome. Stay with us Lord, for it is evening, and the
day is almost over. Let Your light
scatter the darkness and illumine Your Church,” O “joyous Light of glory.” Amen.
In the name of the Father
and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
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