The Light of God

The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light;
Those who lived in a land of deep darkness—on them light has shined.
For a child has been born for us, a son given to us;
Authority rests upon his shoulders; and he is named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
His authority shall grow continually, and there shall be endless peace for the throne of David and his kingdom.
He will establish and uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time onward and forevermore.
Isaiah 9:2, 6–7

This light is the light of God who came to be here with us. Not in spite of our suffering, but to share in our suffering. Not in spite of our darkness, but precisely because of it. As the Gospel reading suggests, we were sitting in darkness, and now we can see a great light. This light is the light of God who fills us with the eternal hope of our eternity and security in the Kingdom of heaven. To each who believes this Good News, He gives the power to become children of Light. This light shines in the darkness, and the darkness will never overcome it. Our own sorrowful darkness will never overcome the Light.

God has come here to be with us. We have been sitting in the darkness of pain and sorrow, but now the Gift of Light, Jesus Christ, is in the world to push out the darkness. God’s light will shine through all of the obstructions of life. This Light brings the gifts of hope that will not fade; peace that will not be understood; love that will never let you go; and joy beyond all that we can imagine.

This is the Light that tells each one of us that we are not alone. We have a companion in this journey so we do not travel alone. This is the Light that punches holes in our darkness and guides us safely into tomorrow.

Thought for the Day: Let us embrace this Divine Light that will transform our lives.

Prayer: Thank you, Lord, for the amazing gift of Light that breaks through the chaos and darkness of some of our days. Open our eyes so that we may recognize the Light in our midst. Amen.

Rev. Susan Ritts,
Deacon of the United Methodist Church