“the life was the light of all”

(John 1:1-18)

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  He was in the beginning with God.  All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being.  What has come into being, in him was life, and the life was the light of all people.  The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.

            There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.  He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him.  He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light.  The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world.

            He was in the world, and the world came into being through him; yet the world did not know him.  He came to what was his own, and his own people did not accept him.  But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God, who were born, not of blood or of the will of the flesh or of the will of human beings, but of God.

            And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father’s only son, full of grace and truth.  (John testified to him and cried out, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me ranks ahead of me because he was before me.’”)  From his fullness we have all received grace upon grace.  The law indeed was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.  No one has ever seen God.  It is God the only Son, who is close to the Father’s heart, who has made him known.

As of yesterday we have entered the season of Epiphany.  January 6^th was, in fact, the day of Epiphany.  Please don’t let this date be ruined by the smear of insurrection from the year 2020. 

For us Christians, January 6th holds a long tradition of our theology and faith.  It is the day of Epiphany and heads up the season of Epiphany. 

This particular season of the church lasts until Lent begins on February 14^th this year, and it is a great time of the year—so rich with meaning.  The word Epiphany means manifestation—God made real in our lives in the person of Jesus Christ.  It’s about the coming of God’s light to the world and so much more.  It seems to me that there is no more perfect scripture reading for this day than the prologue to the Gospel of John.  As you heard while listening to the reading, this is a very deep theological dive into how we understand Jesus the Christ, the Word, who was present from the beginning, even at creation.  “The Word was with God, and the Word was God.”  I love this stuff.  It is wonderful and so full of meaning…. 

            “In him was life, and the life was the light of all people.”  Now, in the birth story that Matthew gives us, the Wise Men followed the star, followed the light, and found the Christ child.  As you can see, John’s prologue, that is, the beginning of John’s Gospel, is another way of talking about how the Christ, how the light came to us.  I like to call Epiphany the Adult-rated Christmas because it’s another way of speaking about God’s presence in Christ among us.

            I like Epiphany because I love light.  I love sunlight.  I love candlelight.  I loved waking to snow on the ground on Thursday because it makes everything LOOK bright—even on these drab winter days.  And there are plenty of them during this time of year.  Without snow our world was beginning to look pretty gray after Christmas, especially on the rainy days.

             So, I like Epiphany because it celebrates light, ironically, at precisely the time of year when light is at a premium.  I think of those of you, like Bill and Nancy Clifton who spent 12 years living in Alaska or of Chuck and Pat Simons who are, as we speak, making an extended visit to Alaska, spending time with their family there. I can only imagine how very dark that world is right now.  So, just when I’m tempted to feel all closed in by the dark in Ohio, I remember those who have practically no light at all.

            I like Epiphany because it seems like the power of Christ is just multiplied when I hear John speak of the Christ as the life who was the light for all people, as the light coming into our lives, dwelling in our lives—exactly when we need it so very much.

            …because, you know, things can seem pretty dark at times—and not just because of the lack of daylight.  We may have clear reasons for our dark and down feelings that have little to do with the Seasonal Affective Disorder.  We may be participating in arguments and disagreements with our loved ones.  We may be the receiver of unkind comments from a co-worker.  Some of our loved ones may be going through a difficult phase. We may have the yearly post-Christmas blues.  Our homes and possessions may feel out of control.  We may have a vehicle that has become unreliable.

            There may be something that is looming large: a worrisome health problem; a friend’s illness; financial woes; a job crisis; a relative who is drinking excessively or using drugs; a family member’s determination to create chaos all the time; the responsibility of caring for an ill, elderly parent; a mental illness, either our own or someone near and dear to us.

            …Or the darkness may be global in scope.  We can look across our world and see many reasons for worry and concern: the out of control war in Gaza is in the news daily; the miserable situation in Ukraine as deep winter sets in, not to mention the ever-increasing violence in several African nations.  And don’t get me started on the hatred and division in our own nation.  This darkness, can sometimes seem to take us over.

            …But there is hope.  Epiphany, Christ’s Epiphany, comes at just the right time to let us in the Northern Hemisphere know there is light at the end of the tunnel.  There is always light.  We can focus on the Word, the Christ, the life that is the light of all people, and that light can truly shine into our dark places.

            During my young adult life things seemed almost always dark.  I know now that I was depressed, but what I thought, then, was that I would never feel really happy; I had no hope that I would one day experience joy.  It was a long process for me to find health emotionally, physically, mentally and, especially, spiritually. 

            One day many years ago, I thought to myself, “I’m happy.  I’m content.”  There was no external reason for it.  My situation was still chaotic, and there were plenty of problems still, yet I found happiness inside that was just spilling over.  It was a God thing, I know now.  It is the light of Christ.  We no longer need to be overcome by the darkness because:

             “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God….  In the Word was life, and the life was the light of all people.  The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”

            Our lives need not be controlled by the darkness because we can be inspired and led by the light.  We can take on the light so that it’s a part of us.  It can shine in our darkness.  In it is hope.  We can claim the light even though we may still experience darkness.

             The light of Christ can give meaning to a sometimes or always-difficult existence.  I don’t deny that there are many folks who are living with a great deal of darkness.  Yet, this light of Christ shines forth to engulf us and then can go out from us to touch others, to give light into their darkness.  We can shine the light of Christ into the lives of those around us.  We have the light of Christ to share!

            We can truly be “enlightened people,” enlightened by the true light of God in Christ, the light in the darkness brings hope to what might seem a hopeless situation.  The light gives meaning to each of our lives not because I’m someone’s son or daughter, someone’s wife or husband, someone’s father or mother, or someone’s friend, but because I’m God’s—and God’s light has come into my life and shone into my darkness….

            My Epiphany blessing for you is that you can receive God’s light into your life.  If you’re going through hard times, you need not be fundamentally frightened because your own darkness CANNOT overcome God’s light.  The world’s darkness cannot begin to shroud the life that is the light of all people.

            The light of Christ shines in the darkness, and the darkness will not overcome it.  The world’s darkness CANNOT overcome it.  The light is God’s.  The light is Christ.  The light is you.  The light is me.  Thank God for the light.  Amen.