A Season of Light(bearers) and Truth

Greetings of the new year and a new season of Light and manifestation!

The Advent installation in the Chapel

In Advent we anticipated the Light overcoming the darkness.

At Christmas, we celebrated the arrival of the Light into the world through the birth of Jesus, and the literal ‘lighting’ of the world, as daylight hours begin to increase.

We are now in Epiphany-tide. Celebrated on 6th January (or the nearest Sunday), the Feast of the Epiphany recalls the visit to the infant Jesus by the Magi, wise men from the East.  The name comes from the Greek ‘epiphaneia’, meaning ‘manifestation’. The common use of the word ‘epiphany’ often relates to ‘a sudden, profound realisation or manifestation’, like being struck by a lightning-bolt of insight. The Epiphany we celebrate is the manifestation of Jesus to the nations of the world. It is the world’s ‘epiphany’ of Jesus, as he is manifest, revealed – the Word that became flesh now dwells among us. This manifestation transformed the world forever. God sent the Son into the world because God so loved the world. God so loves us. And this love – steadfast and true – transforms us.

This year, ‘Epiphany’ struck me as importantly participatory – as a strong call to us to carry light into all parts of the world, becoming light-bearers. This image feels timely and important, especially given the disorienting events happening in our world in this moment, events which can evoke great concern, sadness, fear or anger in us. Now more than ever, I long for revelational light to shine in dark or vague corners of our world, its issues, and its politics.

And with this manifestation of Light, I long for an accompanying revelation of Truth. Not the sort of truth that primarily pits one side against the other to parse which is ‘correct’, but instead a deep understanding of what is right, good and true – an understanding that comes from ‘seeing the Light’ – the one true Light that we have anticipated and celebrated since Advent began in November . . . the Light that reveals the Truth of the great love of God.

Being a ‘light-bearer’ is not about pushing our agenda or politics or dogma. Instead, it is about first seeing and acknowledging the Light in the world and in our lives. And then bringing that Light and its accompanying 'truth' to those places and situations that most need it. Amidst situations in the world in which we may feel quite helpless at times, seeing ourselves as light bearers, especially in simple ways, may help us participate in productive and hopeful ways that illuminate the Truth.

In the Epiphany reading from the Gospel of Matthew, we hear that the Magi, after bringing their gifts to the new-born king, adjusted their travel plans and left for their own country by another road, having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod. This revelation from their dreams may not have made sense to them (or to a travel agent advising the best, fastest way!).  But the Magi were attuned to the light of the star and the Light of the World in the infant Jesus, and therefore they recognised the truth of the vision revealed in their dreams – the truth, the real agenda, behind Herod’s request that they return to him with news of the child.

May we see the truth in our current world.

If we can attune to the Light made manifest in the world that we celebrate in this season of Epiphany, perhaps we can better discern Truth – not just about particular facts, but about the Light and love of God and how that manifests in our lives and in the world.

From that recognition, may we bring that Light and that Truth to places and situations that most need it, and to people who most need to know God’s great love. For God SO loved the world . . . that he sent Light and Truth.

O send out your light and your truth, let them lead me... (Psalm 43.3)

~ Karen