December, 2007
Jesus said: “You are the light of the world” Matthew 5:14
There is a true story about an old church in a small town in Switzerland that annually votes not to use any electric lights in the sanctuary. For over a hundred and fifty years they had no electricity in the church and like all churches used candles at the end of the pews, around the altar, and next the pulpit and lectern. Each family would bring a candle with them every Sunday and as more and more people arrived the church became brighter and brighter. When a family was absent, that part of the church remained dark. Each family understood their importance in the life of the congregation through this weekly visual reminder.
During the next two months we will be journeying through the seasons of Advent, Christmas, and Epiphany. Each of these seasons is a season of light. During Advent we will talk a lot about Jesus as the light that came into his world to dispel the darkness of our sins in order that we may live whole forgiven lives of light with Him. During the Christmas season we journey to Bethlehem to celebrate the light that has come into the world for all men and for all women to see and hold close to their hearts. In Epiphany we journey with the wisemen who followed a light in the dark sky to the infant in order to worship Him.
During these seasons of light ask yourself who you can bring to church in order to help provide more “light?” That was the question that was on the minds of that small Swiss church. Not only were they aware of who was missing because of a darkened area of the church but also by adding others – by inviting them to come in from the cold if you will the new people brought with them their own light and that co-mingled with the existing lights made the church brighter and even warmer. The three seasons call us to be proactive in helping others to prepare for a spiritual journey to Bethlehem year after year, Sunday after Sunday. There is always room for one more candle –one more light.
Fr. Ken †
