“Where Have You Seen the Light?”
Isaiah 60: 1-6 & Mt 2: 1-12 ~ Rev. G. Scott Turnbrook ~ Northwood United ~ January 7, 2024
As we have been exploring, Epiphany has a lot to do with light. Now before we get into the reflection, I thought it might be fitting to start with a little bit of Epiphany humour. Many have heard jokes about how many people it takes to change a light bulb. This is the church version… How many evangelicals does it take to change a light bulb? One, since their hands are in the air anyway. How many Pentecostals does it take to change a light bulb? 10, one to change it and 9 others to pray against the spirit of darkness. How many Atheists does it take to change a lightbulb? One. But they are still in darkness. And finally, how many Catholics does it take to change a lightbulb? This is a trick question. None. Catholics always use candles. And lest we not poke fun at our own denomination, how many United Church folk does it take to change a light bulb? At least ten, as they must form a committee before they can decide on how many.
Today is Epiphany Sunday in the seasonal life of the church. All the readings, all the hymns, and all the candles point to the brightest star, the guiding light of Christ Jesus. Thinking back a few weeks. How many enjoyed the Christmas Eve candlelight service? For me it is when the sanctuary lighting is dimmed, we each hold a candle, and together celebrate Jesus’ birth in a humble way by singing “Silent Night”. Those emotions are still fresh in many of our minds. It’s interesting to note that if we were to look back historically, we would find that in the early church, the candlelight service was not exclusively held at Christmas. It was also held today… on the feast of Epiphany. In the church, there are two festivals suited for candlelight: Christmas but Epiphany. So, as we see the wonder of candles burning in the church today, we celebrate the power and wonder of Epiphany.
Today, everything is about light: Matthew’s recollection of the Magi following the brightest star to the Bethlehem manger. Isaiah’s words of liberation to the Babylonian captives: “Arise, shine, your light has come. Those of you who walk in darkness, your light has come.” Other possible readings for this Sunday include: “God is light and in God, there is no darkness at all.” (I John 1: I John 1:5). And the creation story’s reflection on the origin of light: “God said, let there be light and suddenly there was light. God saw that is was good and that pleased God. God separated the light from the darkness and called the light, day, and the darkness night, and there was evening and there was morning and that was the first day.” (Genesis 1). Epiphany is truly a day for all things bright. It is informative to note that there are 235 references to light in the Bible. Light is a way that God arrives! Light is at the heart of our celebrations!
Have you ever noticed how often we like to celebrate with fireworks? We gather on Canada Day, Halloween, New Years Eve – and when we celebrate, we gather around light. Over and over again, we are amazed when the light show begins: a rocket flies up into the air, exploding with effervescent light, and the whole crowd goes oooooooohhhhh…ahhhhhh. Irregardless of language or culture, the crowd reacts the same all around the globe. In every nation and every nationality, all around the globe, they have firework displays and the crowd always reacts the same to the colorful explosion in the sky. …ooooohhhh ….aaaaaahhhh. Have you ever wondered why? Why all this shared fascination with a display of light? I would like to suggest to you that it stems back to our very creation. We learn in the second creation story that we are made in the image of God. We are ‘somehow’ like God. But how is it that we are like God? From the scriptures we learn that God is light, and light is in God. In God, there is no darkness at all. And because the light of God is in each and every person, when we see exploding lights in the sky, we all go ooooooohhhh….ahhhhhh. All human beings react positively and appreciatively to light because we are made in the image of God; we are like God who is light itself and the light itself is in all of us.
Take a six-month old baby and place her in front of a Christmas tree. The baby just sits and doesn’t do anything. But if you plug in that Christmas tree and all the lights go on, her eyes sparkle and light up and the baby’s eyes go oooooooohhhh and aaaaaaahhhh. Why do all babies around the globe respond the same way to light? What is it about human beings that we are so fascinated with and attracted to light? The baby grows older and is out walking at night. and gazes at a full moon and she goes ooooooooohhhh….ahhhhhhh. She sees the stars and goes ooooooooohhhh….ahhhhhhh. While serving my first congregation in Prince George, I remember how struck I was when I saw the Northern Lights - ooooooooohhhh….ahhhhhhh. It happens all over the world wherever there is light. Why is it that all human beings are fascinated by light? …
It is because we are made in the image of God. God is light. In God, there is no darkness at all. And that divine spark of God is in all people; God’s light is in all people; and therefore all people are attracted to light. The negative corollary is also true. Because we are attracted to light, that means we don’t like darkness. We are not attracted to dark spaces and places. Psychologist warn that prolonged exposure to darkness can make us depressed: ‘Seasonal Affective Disorder’. And we know that it is all too real. I, personally, could not get through this season without my light box that supplements the sunlight we miss. What I am suggesting is that we humans are drawn to God because God is light. And we have a natural predisposition to live in the light. The spark of God is in us and therefore we react and respond positively to the sparkles of light in the world. We crave light and we don’t like darkness.
And this is why Epiphany Sunday is so critical for those who follow Jesus. Because Jesus is when God’s light burned its brightest; when it shone its strongest; when it captivated all to see. The light was birthed in human form. It was found in that Bethlehem stable. As ones guided and drawn towards light, the Magi followed that star until they arrived at that Bethlehem stable. The light in the sky guided. But the light in the manger filled them! Their experience of the light allowed them to witness the birthing of God’s pure light in this humble Bethlehem babe. It was a true Epiphany. The birth of God’s pure light in Jesus.
How about you? Where have you experienced the birth of God’s light? Do you have any Epiphany moments that rest in your heart? I believe that if we think on it, we have all had some. What would your Epiphany moments be? Those times when we were present for the birthing of God’s light, a glimmer of hope amidst hopelessness, the shining of a light of guidance amidst despair, the light of pure grace.
As you are thinking about yours, I’ll close with one of mine. My daughter Mikayla was born on New Year’s Eve at BC Women’s and Children’s hospital. Some complications had us staying for several days into the New Year. So, we were there at exactly this time of the year 24 years ago. My Epiphany moment occurred in the hospital. When I was holding my daughter in the hospital room. It was nighttime. Her mom, exhausted, had managed to nod off for a bit of well-earned sleep. Mikayla was nuzzled up in a blanket and I was holding her in my arms. Her sparkly, star-filled eyes were looking into mine. The room was calm, the lights were dimmed. Yet it was not dark. There was light. It was coming in from the outside. I went to the window to investigate where the light was coming from. As I looked out into the dark night and I could see a large illuminated Christmas decoration. It was a star that was mounted on the outside of the hospital – just adjacent to our room. It must have been 8 or 10 feet tall. It’s epiphany star-light was shining into the room. I was holding God’s precious gift of life as I basked in the light of this bright star. That is what Epiphany is about. God’s light shining into the uncertainty…God’s light shining into the darkness…God’s light shining into all the moments we live.
I wonder where the darkness and uncertainty of God’s light is shining upon each of us today? Where is the darkness in your life where God’s light yearns to be found? Where are those moments where God’s light shines in the darkness allowing you to behold God’s glory?
We might think of the outreach ministry projects of last month: Christmas hampers as light shining into people’s uncertain December. Winter Shoeboxes filled with toiletries for children of God leaving a shelter and going back onto a cold, dark street. A Quiet Christmas Service providing light amidst the shadows of one’s grief journey,
Where is the darkness and uncertainty of God’s light is shining for you today? Where is the darkness in your life where God’s light yearns to be found? Where are those moments where God’s light shines in the darkness allowing you to behold God’s glory? And so, as we continue through these dark winter months, I’ll invite you to finish this reflection as you consider where the darkness in the world is found and where it is that you yearn for the birthing of God’s light. Amen