WITNESSES TO THE LIGHT

3^rd Sunday of Advent

Christmas Lights and Blights           

Light Displays are a favourite feature of Advent and Christmas. Many people will make the trip to Simcoe or Niagara Falls to see the Christmas lights that are ablaze at this time of year. Some homeowners really outdo themselves in setting up colossal light displays on their properties. I suppose the classic movie example is Chevy Chase as in Christmas Vacation: most of us have seen that film and remember the famous over-illuminated “Griswald House.” I recently read of the Osbourne family in Little Rock, Arkansas whose Christmas display grew to over 3,000,000 lights. Complaining neighbours finally managed to shut it down and it was eventually relocated to Disney World! People generally hear about the most impressive light displays in their own neighbourhoods and will often make the effort to do a drive-by in order to see them.

Christ our Light

All of these seasonal lights are well and good, but they would be meaningless if it were not for the light spoken of in today’s Gospel. Christ came as a light in the darkness. He is the Light of the World. Whether we string lights on a Christmas tree, hang them outside, or light the candles of an Advent Wreath, they should all remind us of a deeper truth - that Christ is THE light.

A Man Named John

That light image is strong in our Gospel reading today, taken from John. (Father Mark didn’t steer you wrong last week when he referred to this as the Year of Mark’s Gospel; but that gospel is so brief that it won’t stretch over fifty-two Sundays, so here and there it is interspersed with other gospels - especially John.) In this passage we are introduced to “a man named John.” In this gospel, he is never referred to as John the Baptist, although it is clear that he baptizes. The emphasis here, as compared to the other gospels, is not on John as a forerunner to Christ, but rather as a messenger. He is not the light; he serves as a witness to the light. Much of what John says in the fourth Gospel highlights his role as someone who points to the true light. He makes very few claims for himself. When the messengers from the Pharisees come to pose the question, “Who are you?” he spends more time telling them who he isn’t. He is not the Messiah, not the Prophet, not Elijah come back to life. But rather he is a voice crying in the wilderness, “Prepare the way of the Lord.”

I’m reminded of an old joke, which theatre people may or may not like.

How many actors does it take to screw in a light bulb? Just one, because they don’t like to share the spotlight!

That attitude is hardly unique to actors; human selfishness and pride mean that we can all tend to fall into that at times. We are prone to a certain amount of self-promotion, even conceit. John the Baptist, though, never sought the limelight. In fact, he shirked it, in order to promote Christ as the true light.

Christians as Christ-bearers

This is an essential posture for us as Christians in the way we live our faith. We are not the light. Jesus Christ is. It’s never about us, it’s about him. Through baptism, we take on the role of Christ-bearers. We are called to witness to His light, through the love we extend to others, through the works of compassion and mercy. There is a certain irony here: the people who try to focus attention on themselves don’t usually earn much respect or esteem. We are much more drawn to those whose lives are focussed on others;. We recognize that they burn with a light other than their own, and that is a powerful witness.

In his Christmas letter last year, Bishop Crosby reflected on how the lights of Christmastime lead us to a deeper truth; that Christ is the light who comes into the darkness of our lives bringing healing, peace and joy. Along with that, the Bishop reminded us, Christ sends us out to bring His light to others. We have opportunities to do that, especially at this time of the year when hearts are a little more open, and folks a little more generous. There is the potential for so much good to be done, so much light to be shared within schools, communities and families.

Sharing the Light

The writer Ann Lamott has written several books in which she chronicles her own search for God in her troubled life. In one of them, she reflects that her son Sam is the only kid in his circle of friends who goes to church. She writes of why she wants her poor little Presbyterian church to be a part of her son’s life: “I want to give him what I found in the world; a path and a little light to see by. Most of the people I know who have what I want - that is to say, purpose gratitude and joy - are people in community, who pray or practice their faith. They follow a brighter light than the glimmer of their own candle.” Ann Lamott found light in her own life, and is doing what she can to share that gift with her son. In that spirit, I commend you mothers and fathers who buck the cultural trend and make the effort to bring your children to church and help them to know and love God. You are being Christ-bearers in your most important job as parents. You are fulfilling the call of your baptism and the promise you made at their baptism.

The days of Christmas are quickly approaching, days when we will celebrate the birth of Jesus and joyfully proclaim him as the light of the world. As we strive to live by His Light, may this Eucharist strengthen us to share that gift with others.

Father Dan Miehm

December 11, 2011