The Rev. Donna Schaper serves as senior minister at Judson Memorial Church in New York City. Her most recent book, Advent 2013 God's Gift of Love, includes this statement on page 45 where she reflects on the meaning behind Isaiah 9:2 which says ..."The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness on them has light shined." Schaper writes, "These words offered hope to the people of Judah during a time of great political turmoil and war. How can we hear them? We have lived in darkness by looking for love in all the wrong places - in our appearance, our success, our ability to give to others. When we have stopped looking to receive love because of our accomplishments, we have turned toward the light. When we see God's long promised light in the baby Jesus, we see that we are loved by God. We begin to turn around, to change our ways. We no longer stare at the darkness because we love the light."
Rev. Schaper has given us some significant words to meditate on, and I encourage you to ponder her statement and see what it means for you. For me, Rev. Schaper reminds me of how often I try to create light in my own life and others by the things I do for God and others. I allow myself to think that the lights of human appearance, human achievement and human generosity will create a warm glow that makes us all feel loved. But all too often, these lights are artificial and easily broken. Yes, even my human generosity can be an artificial light when my impulse is to give so I can feel good. Artificial lights reflect only our human persona. These kind of lights will fade away in the darkness.
But if we can stop looking to receive love because of our accomplishments, then these artificial lights will fade, and in the darkness we will be given eyes to see the light promised by God in Jesus Christ. This is the light that tells us we are loved, not because of what we do, or don't do, but because we are, God's children, and in Christ, God's children being redeemed. This Advent season take time away from all the artificial lights that shine in our world and find a sacred place where you can be warmed in the glow of God's eternal light in Jesus Christ. This is why we journey in Advent. This is why we celebrate Christmas. This is why we look forward to his coming again. It is in His light that we see that we are loved by God, and it is the warmth of His light that woos our heart to turn around, to live differently than we lived before. It is His light that gives us the assurance and the power to live a life with God. We no longer have to squint in the darkness to see artificial light. We love God's light.
Blessed Advent to Everyone,
Dennis
