Guest Post by Dr. Dennis Ortman: Light Show
LIGHT SHOW
“I am the light of the world.”
--Jesus of Nazareth
“White Christmas,” written by Irving Berlin
in 1942 and sung by Bing Crosby, is the most popular Christmas song ever. That
is surprising, since most of the world never experiences snow at the end of
December. The southern hemisphere is bathed in summer warmth, while half of the
land north of the equator only experiences a winter chill.
LIGHT SHOW THEN
Christmas, at its heart, is
really a light show. History displays its meaning. We do not know precisely
when Jesus was born in Bethlehem. It was not until the fourth century that
December 25th was established as its official date by the Church.
That date was set to compete with the pagan feast of the “Birth of the Invincible Sun.” Christ was the rising “Sun of Righteousness.” December 25th was four days after
the winter solstice, the shortest day of the year. The gradually increasing
daylight signified light overcoming darkness. Today we celebrate Christmas as a
festival of light, with candles, Christmas trees, and outdoor lights.
The coming of the light was
announced long before the Christ’s birth. Isaiah proclaimed, “The people who walked in darkness have seen a
great light, upon those who dwelt in the land of gloom a light has shone.” The prophet added, “For a child is born to us, a son is given us;
upon his shoulder dominion rests. They name him Wonder-Counselor, God-Hero,
Father-Forever, Prince of Peace.” (Isaiah 9: 1,5) We wait in hope for Divine
Light to dispel the darkness of our sin and ignorance.
The Word became flesh and
dwelt among us in Jesus Christ. John begins his Gospel proclaiming the coming
of God’s Word, present from the dawn of creation, as
an enlightening: “The true light,
which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world. He was in the world, and
the world came through him, but the world did not know him.” (John 1: 9-10) Jesus of
Nazareth proclaimed, “I am the light of
world. No follower of mine shall ever walk in darkness; no, he shall possess
the light of life.” (John 8: 12)
The angels and the Magi
looked upward and were captivated by the brilliant light in the sky. They
witnessed a light show and followed it to the stable where Jesus was born. They
were enlightened and went away glorifying God.
Jesus, the light of the
world, taught, healed, and expelled demons. His followers heard his message of
love and saw his miracles. Those who believed became enlightened, reflecting
his truth and goodness. Jesus told them: “You are the light of the world. A city set on a
hill cannot be hidden. Men do not light a lamp and then put it under a bushel
basket. They set it on a stand where it gives light to all in the house. In the
same way, your light must shine before others so that they may see goodness in
your acts and give praise to your heavenly Father.” (Matthew 5: 14-16)
LIGHT SHOW
NOW
That light now illumines
the darkness of our world, revealing its shadows. All is exposed. Nothing can
be hidden. We see ourselves as we really are. Both complete brightness and
total blackness are blinding. But we are a shadow people, a mixture of light
and darkness. Now we can choose to live in the dawn of growing daylight or the
dusk of sunset. Do we want to live as children of the light or of darkness? St.
Paul encourages us: “The night is far
spent; the day draws near. Let us cast off deeds of darkness and put on the
armor of light. Let us live honorably as in daylight; not in carousing and
drunkenness, not in sexual excess and lust, not in quarreling and jealousy.” (Romans 13: 12-13) We
lighten up by casting off the weight of our self-centered illusions and
attachments.
This casting off takes time
and effort. Christ’s light shines from a distant peak. The road to
reach it is narrow, winding, and treacherous. We walk in darkness through
unknown territory. It can be a slow climb. Care is needed. We keep our eyes
both on the goal and on the path so we do not stumble over our illusions and
distorted desires. Christ’s light beyond and within guides us as we
journey to the heights. As we progress, our inner light shines more brightly.
Our path becomes clearer.
The Divine Light now shines
through us. Will we let it show?
For more posts about and by Dennis Ortman and his books, click HERE.
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