By Revd Phil Gough, District Secretary for Ministry and Vocations
Reading: John 1 v. 3 – 4
‘What came into existence was Life, and the Life was Light to live by.’
Notes:
Today, Advent Sunday, marks the start of our Advent journey, from darkness to light.
For many of us, this last year has had, at times, an overwhelming amount of darkness and gloom, with catastrophic world events, and personal challenges.
It is into such a world that Jesus, ‘through whom everything was created’ enters, as ‘LIFE-LIGHT’ (LIFE that brings LIGHT to all people).
All across the Christian church, the first of a series of Advent candles will be lit today, as the path towards Christmas is gradually illuminated.
Today, a focus on the ‘LIFE-LIGHT of HOPE’.
The One through whom all things were made, says the compiler of this gospel, John, in the glorious prologue, comes into existence, enters the very LIFE which God breathed into being, and does so as a LIFE-LIGHT to all.
I remember walking a remote path from where we were once staying on holiday to a pub to watch a football match with our young son at the time. The walk there was fine, in daylight, and the anticipation of the match kept our pace fast and determined. We hadn’t banked on the pitch darkness which surrounded us as we walked home, with no street lamps to light the way.
We walked tentatively, and nervously home, anxious about not straying off the path. We were both a little scared.
After a while, and once we were not far from ‘home’, I remembered that the primitive mobile phone I had at the time had a torch on it, and with the little battery charge left, we had some light to illuminate our path back to the holiday cottage, which we did, in one piece, rejoicing at our safe return (and at our football team’s victory).
The LIGHT that Jesus’ LIFE brings, John tells us, is ‘LIGHT to live by’, light that illuminates a path in the midst of darkness, anxiety, concern; a light to bring us comfort and lead us to safety. A true ‘LIFE-LIGHT of HOPE’.
Wonder:
I WONDER how we might encounter LIGHT and HOPE today and throughout this first week of Advent, and what the first candle lit today might reveal to us about what we HOPE and long for this Advent-tide?
Prayer:
‘LIGHT of the world, You stepped down into darkness
opened my eyes, let me see,
beauty that made this heart adore You
HOPE of a life spent with You.
So here I am to worship, here I am to bow down
Here I am to say that You’re my God.
You’re altogether lovely, altogether worthy, altogether wonderful to me.’
LIFE-LIGHT of HOPE, Lord Jesus,
illuminate our lives,
guide our paths,
into all Your ways of truth, justice, liberty and HOPE for all.
AMEN
(lyrics by Tim Hughes)