December 25:
Luke 2:21-35 “On the
eighth day, when it was time to circumcise him, he was named Jesus, the name
the angel had given him before he had been conceived. When the time
of their purification according to the Law of Moses had been completed, Joseph
and Mary took him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord (as it is written
in the Law of the Lord, ‘Every firstborn male is to be consecrated to the Lord’), and
to offer a sacrifice in keeping with what is said in the Law of the Lord: ‘a
pair of doves or two young pigeons.’ Now there was a man in
Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the
consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. It had been
revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the
Lord's Christ. Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts.
When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of
the Law required, Simeon took him in his arms and praised God,
saying: ‘Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you now dismiss your
servant in peace. For my eyes
have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all
people, a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your
people Israel.’ The child's father and mother marveled at what
was said about him. Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his
mother: ‘This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in
Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, so that the thoughts
of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too.’"
Last night, we attended our church’s
Christmas Eve Candlelight Service. It is
my favorite service of the year because of its intimacy and holiness.
As we sat in the pew, my husband and
I were the bookends for our kids; Nick was on my left, and Erika was on Mike’s
right.
At the close of the service, our
pastor always lights his candle from the center candle, the Christ candle, in
the Advent Wreath. Then, he lights his wife’s candle, and the two make their
way down the center aisle of the church, lighting the first person’s candle in
each pew. From there, each person’s candle is lit until the whole church is
suffused in a soft glow.
As I awaited my turn, I considered
the significance.
Christ is, indeed, the light of the
whole world. Light is necessary for life, and He is the source of it. Without Him, there is no life – physical or
spiritual. Likewise, as the True Light, only He provides direction. He is Good,
in every sense of the world. It is from
Him that all Good originates: Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness,
Gentleness, Faithfulness, Self-Control, Humility, Faith, Compassion, Mercy,
Forgiveness, Love.
Just as “love” is the bookend for
the list, I started thinking about my husband and me in relation to our kids
and the light. Like “love,” in the above
paragraph, Mike and I have been the bookends in raising these kids in the
light. Obviously, we can only do so much.
Christ is the only True Light. Nick and Erika have to choose for themselves
to accept that light, and only Christ can provide the light (direction/moral
path) for their lives. Even so, we all, parents and beyond, carry a
responsibility to nurture that light in others.
Once my candle was lit, Nick tilted
his candle to mine, and a flame erupted, ready to be passed on. The symbolism
was not lost on me. I have done my best
to help him find the Light, which I am confident he has. It is now his turn to take that flame and
pass it on.
As I reverently considered the warm
glow of the sanctuary, I was both awed and encouraged by this satisfying yet
challenging task that God has given each of us.
As I looked around me at all the candles wavering in the room, I was
reminded that we all have the responsibility to take that light and share it
with someone.
A sea of candles provides strength
and encouragement. The unity of light eliminates loneliness, as all are one in
the light. Likewise, the mass of light
eliminates darkness; everything is clearly illuminated.
And yet, when one is alone, cold,
and wandering around in the dark, the light of one small flame can be like a
cup of cold water to one who has been wandering in the desert.
As we celebrate the entrance of the
Light of the World today, we need to be reminded of the fact that it is our
opportunity to serve Him by sharing that light with those whom God has placed
in our path every day of our lives. Everyone.
Matthew 5:14-16 14 “You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. 15 No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.”
Merry Christmas today and everyday!
No comments:
Post a Comment