The Second Sunday of Christmas
" The true light, which enlightens
everyone, was coming into the world. ...
He was in the world, and the world came to be through him, but the
world did not know him. ...
From his fullness we have all received, grace in place of grace,
because while the law was given through Moses,
grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. " John 1
It is so obvious that the world still does not know Jesus.
The world - and all that we can mean by that single word - seems
to oppose Jesus. The way of Jesus - his kind of choices, his preferences,
his way of loving and caring for others. It is such a vivid image
to imagine the Light trying to push back the Darkness.
On this Second Sunday of Christmas, it can be good for
us to take a deep breath after Christmas and look forward with some
hope and some peace in our hearts. God is so faithful. We have received
grace after grace from our God. All God asks of us is that we bring
his Light into areas of darkness in our world, just as God has brought
Light into areas of darkness in our own lives.
I know that I'm more positive, and have more energy and
hope, when I focus on what my mission is, rather than on how others
might be falling short of theirs. When I slip into doing that, it
feels like I'm "spreading darkness," if one can say that.
At least it is more difficult for others to believe that Jesus has
filled my darkness with Light. When I give in to frustration with
others or anger at what I perceive as behavior of theirs which irritates
me, then it feels like I've received Light and refuse to share it,
refuse to accept my mission to share his Light - letting it pass
from me to others.
One summer I lived in a L'Arche community with mentally
handicapped adults. These communities, founded by Jean Vanier continue
to signs of power of community, living together in hope. There was
a song we used to sing. It was so simple, and so profound. It is
one of those songs that can be added on to and sung almost endlessly.
"This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine, Oh, this
little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine. This little light
of mine, I'm gonna let it shine, let it shine, let it shine, let
it shine." Then the verses can be whatever individuals in the
group make up - usually repeated three times, followed by the refrain.
"Even when I'm sad, I'm gunna let it shine." Or, "When
I'm overwhelmed, I'm gonna let it shine." Or, "You and
me together, we can let it shine." "So many need his Light,
so I'm gonna let it shine." It's very contagious and transforming,
just to sign.
"The light shines in
the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it."
And, it never will.