Circle of Days: Bringing Back the Light
Guest Writer: Paula Franck
“The light of Christ shines out, and his witness goes forth against the greatest odds—sometimes despite the struggle that touches us most deeply: the one within ourselves.” —H. King Oehmig.
I live in the northwest corner of the state of Washington, close to the Canadian border. This is an amazingly beautiful part of the country where it stays green even in the winter months. It’s no wonder that Washington is known as the “Evergreen State.” But because we are so far north, as autumn turns into winter, it becomes dark at 4:30 in the afternoon. Every year I eagerly anticipate the winter solstice—the longest night—knowing that on the following day the hours of daylight begin to get longer. Each day I faithfully check the weather forecast on my computer: statistics for temperature and precipitation, along with the length of visible light and length of each day. How much more daylight will tomorrow bring? At first, it is only two or three seconds more—until I can finally notice the difference.
“The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.” —John 1:5.
The metaphor of light versus darkness is a familiar theme in Scripture, and in this season of Epiphany, we celebrate Christ as the light of the world. The word Epiphany comes from the Greek meaning showing forth, appearance or manifestation. An epiphany is an experience of transformation and profound grace that reveals something about who God is. Jesus is the ultimate revelation of God through whom we see God’s glory face to face.
In this post-Christmas season, may we reflect anew on how Christ is revealed or made known in the world and in our lives. Beginning with the Baptism of Our Lord on the First Sunday of Epiphany and culminating with the Transfiguration on the Last Sunday of Epiphany, we are invited to celebrate Christ as the light who shines in the darkness, bringing God’s grace to all.
The last year has brought a time of nearly unprecedented darkness into the world in the form of a relentless worldwide pandemic that continues to claim thousands of lives each day. The resulting economic crisis has deprived millions worldwide of their jobs and livelihood. And now waves of violence in our country have exacerbated our feelings of despair and disbelief. In 2021 is it truly possible to find light amid our darkness?
An epiphany may be a moment of sudden revelation or insight; or it may be a gradual but nonetheless exhilarating revelation of God’s light and truth in the world. Just as we know even in the longest night of winter that day is coming—so we also have hope through Christ that this present darkness will not defeat us. Every day we can look for unlikely places in which the light still shines through.
Because of the mystery of the Word made flesh, there is a new light in our hearts. The words of the hymn “I want to walk as a child of the light” assure us that in Christ there is no darkness at all: “The night and the day are both alike” (The Hymnal 1982, p. 490). As we rejoice in this marvelous gift, may we be strengthened in our own call this Epiphany season to bring the light of Christ to all the world.
—Paula Franck is co-author with Isabel Anders of Circle of Days: A Church Year Primer — Year B, a theologically based reflections on the Scripture readings of the Revised Common Lectionary.
https://www.amazon.com/Circle-Days-Church-celebration-Christian/dp/B08KQYG6Y7/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1610240032&sr=1-1-38d0a374-3318-4625-ad92-b6761a63ecf6
Paula